company which supports SMEs with finance and a range of other services is gearing up for its next phase of growth after moving to new headquarters which are double the size of its previous base.
WeDo Business Services has taken almost 7,000sq ft of office space at Annie Kenney Mill in Chadderton, Oldham, a short distance from its former HQ at Meadowbank House.
Annie Kenney Mill, developed by The Mills Hollinwood, provides 20,000sq ft of modern office space over three floors. The building has an EPC rating of A, with electricity generated by solar panels, an energy-efficient heat pump system, EV charging points and LED lighting.
It is named in honour of a leading suffragette from Oldham. Annie Kenney worked for many years in the cotton mills which inspired the name of The Mills office development on the site of the historic Ferranti operation. Annie Kenney Mill is the first of seven office blocks planned for the 4.5-acre business park.
WeDo has taken the entire first floor, providing scope to expand its workforce in line with its growth strategy. The DL Company, based in Sheffield, managed the design and fit-out project for the new HQ.
The WeDo group, which provides invoice and trade finance, asset finance, loans and start-up funding as well as accountancy, HR, back-office and IT services, was established in 2019 by joint chief executives Mark Lindsay and Chris Robinson with just four staff.
It has grown organically and through acquisition, and currently employs more than 70 people in Oldham and acrossits network of offices.
WeDo’s overall lending exceeds £50m and it aims to reach £100m within the next three years. Its nationwide client base spans sectors including recruitment, engineering, manufacturing, logistics and wholesale distribution. Last year, the group secured £50m in funding from alternative investment manager Waterfall Asset Management to significantly expand its support of SMEs across the UK.
Other major recent developments have seen WeDo launch an asset finance division, as well as being named in the 2024 Sunday Times Best Places to Work list.
Mark Lindsay said: “When we set up WeDo back in 2019 with just four staff, we had a dream and a goal of making a difference, with a mission to look after each other, always do the right thing and have fun along the way.
“Fast-forward six years, and it’s amazing to think we now have a vastly-expanded team and have doubled our HQ office space as we make further strides towards becoming the business we want to be, looking ahead to our next phase of growth based on a plan to reach £100m of funds out within three years.
“Our new base provides additional meeting rooms and quiet spaces, a media room for content production, and larger spaces for events, team collaboration and visits by brokers and clients, who are integral to our business. There are also great amenities for our team, such as a larger kitchen and a breakout area with pool table.
“When searching for a new head office, it was important for us to remain in Oldham, as many members of our team live around the town and some walk or cycle to work.
“We’ve found a fantastic location with excellent transport links and, after an extensive fit-out, we are delighted with the end result. The DL Company managed the entire design and fit-out project and did so brilliantly. Nothing was too much trouble, and the team delivered excellence on time and on budget.”
Chris Robinson said: “We have stayed true to our roots as a business, as Annie Kenney Mill is only about 300 yards from where we set up originally.
“The new offices enable us to provide the best possible service to our clients and brokers, as well as a layout whichfosters greater collaborative working where we can operate more efficiently.
“Our strategy for sustainable growth is focused on developing our finance offering. We continue to have a stronghold in the recruitment industry, due to our value-added services and excellence in this sector, and over the past 12 months we have branched out strongly into working with more engineering and manufacturing firms.
“With a variety of options available for SMEs seeking support for their expansion, along with a growing network of brokers, we look forward to the future with confidence, as the industry indicators still show robust demand for alternative funding solutions and providers.
“We pride ourselves on providing a relationship-led service and listening to our clients in order to support them. This approach will continue to be the cornerstone of who we are and what we do.”
