Freight business creates new pinnacle for Bradford's City Hub

THREE new jobs have been created by an international freight company which has become the latest business to join City Hub, Bradford.

Pinnacle International Freight, which has its headquarters in Leicester and operates globally, has taken  773 sq ft offices at City Hub, Peckover Street, with three years rates-free as part of Bradford’s City Centre Growth Zone initiative. The business also has access to local warehouse facilities. 

City Hub, based in a former 19^th century wool warehouse in the Little Germany conservation area, which has undergone a £2m refurbishment, was developed by the Business Enterprise Fund, part of Bradford Chamber of Commerce and its international trade division, Chamber International, and is part of a drive to attract and enhance professional services businesses in the district. Tenancy provides automatic chamber membership and access to support to help grow the business.

The new office in Bradford is the first regional base for Pinnacle International Freight which was founded in 1972 and has 45 staff in Leicester and a £20m turnover. The business has specialist experience with the Far East, US and Indian sub-continent and also specialises importing ceramic tiles from Spain, Portugal and Italy.

Pinnacle International Freight office manager, Rick Holloway, says: “ Our newly-recruited staff are specialists in their field and are all local people. City Hub has all the facilities we need and the central location gives us easy access to the motorway network. We are also keen to be part of the regeneration of Little Germany and  with its historic international links with the textile industry. 

“As well as giving us a presence in the North of England and a chance to win new business and develop existing relationships with northern based customers, we will be able to extend our range of services by using local transport and warehousing facilities.

 “We’re hoping to double our staff by the end of the year, and would ideally like to have our own warehouse and distribution facility within 12 months.”  

Pinnacle International Freight is the 11^th business to move into City Hub where other tenants include accountants, Armstrong Watson, insolvency practice, Walsh Taylor, brand management specialist, The One Company and PR marketing and design business, Bulletpoint.

The property, which has a ‘very good’ BREEAM rating, comprises 19 units, ranging from 120 sq ft to 917 sq ft with a combined total of 7, 168 sq ft. Of these eight offices, totaling 3,783 sq ft, remain to let at the premises where tenancies offer flexible terms, access to grants targeted at professional services businesses, training, free WiFi to public areas, mentoring and networking and Bradford City Centre Growth Zone rate rebates.

Bradford Chamber of Commerce property director, Andrew Robertson, who manages City Hub and was involved its acquisition, design and refurbishment, says: “City Hub provides a much needed quality home and focus for professional services businesses in Bradford and the region with added value on site support for tenants and the associated network and we’re pleased to welcome Pinnacle International Freight to the mix of tenants.” 

City Hub is supported by the European Regional Development Fund.