Arco’s £16 M Fruit Market Headquarters Begins Construction

Arco’s £16 M Fruit Market Headquarters Begins Construction

Arco, the UK’s leading safety equipment supplier, have seen the beginning of their brand new headquarters in Hull’s Fruit Market.

The Blackfriargate site, soon to house 550 staff, and a 350 space car park, is only a stones throw to the company’s first site back in 1893. The new HQ will be a five-story £16m development, and parking to serve the wider Fruit Market area. The building is set to be open in late 2020.

The construction, the largest of its kind in Hull since the late 1960s, is also part of the £80m rejuvenation of the Fruit Market area, which itself is one of the North of England’s most significant urban regeneration projects currently.

The new HQ secures the company’s future in Hull, with Arco being one of the city’s leading employers, along with their £25m National Distribution Centre. It has been supported by a £1m grant from the Humber’s Local Growth Fund, led by the Humber LEP.

According to the Hull Daily Mail, Arco’s Managing Director, David Evison said: “This is a significant step forward for Arco, as we continue to invest in the growth of the business. The new head office will provide us with the facilities and the work environment to meet our needs into the future.

“We’ve taken this opportunity to create a modern workplace that has been designed to ensure our colleagues thrive and new talent emerges. Features such as open plan, collaborative workspaces, social meeting areas, a glass fronted atrium and an auditorium for colleague presentations will boost our company culture and drive employee engagement.”

Further stages of the development will feature 3,000 sq ft of retail and leisure opportunities and 34 residential units, to further the Fruit Market renovation, with the aim of becoming a thriving urban village.

The entire scheme is being led by regeneration company Wykeland Beal as part of the Fruit Market LLP joint venture with Hull City Council.

Wykeland Beal’s Managing Director, Dominic Gibbons said: “This development is enormously significant for Hull and the wider region. There hasn’t been a new office building of this size in Hull for a single user for more than 50 years and the development will see a showpiece facility of exceptional quality and prestige occupying a key, strategic site.

“We’re delighted one of the city’s most successful and respected businesses has chosen the Fruit Market for the next chapter in its rich history.”

Wykeland Beal has worked closely with Arco to develop the project, and enable the company to move from their current Waverly Street head office, which has been purchased by Hull City Council as part of the Castle Street improvement and regeneration scheme and investment in the city centre.

The development will create around 200 jobs during the construction phase.

If you’re in need of scaffolding for your construction needs in Hull, contact us at Burflex today

Contact Us

Ready to work together?

Get in touch