All posts by Neil Fordyce

Tesco call on Sharkey for Dundee Contact Centre

The programme of work for the FTSE 100 Company included the significant upgrade of two existing buildings to provide high-quality space to house a total workforce of 1500 employees.  The contact centre deals with phone calls, emails and social media messages from around 9 million customers a year enquiring about issues such as home deliveries and Tesco’s Clubcard points scheme.

The project involved a comprehensive upgrade of redundant office space in one building to bring it back to life and a major refit of three floors in the adjoining building to create a stimulating new workplace environment.  The scope of works included structural alterations, replacement of mechanical services, external fabric upgrade works and the creation of 200 new workstations for the enlarged workforce.

The Dundee project follows a successful office upgrade Sharkey recently delivered in Edinburgh for Tesco Bank and builds upon the experience and expertise the team have developed in their work across the UK commercial office sector over the last decade.

https://www.scotsman.com/business/companies/retail/jobs-in-store-at-tesco-s-dundee-contact-centre-1-4834223

 

Artemis Invest in Sharkey

The project, for highly-rated fund manager, Artemis Investment Management LLP, involves the development of almost 14,000 sq ft of Cat A office space in the heart of Edinburgh’s Financial District to provide a high-spec working environment.

Located on the 6th floor of Exchange Plaza, the fit-out of Artemis’ Edinburgh office is a notable addition to Sharkey’s extensive portfolio of commercial office projects for the UK’s financial sector.  Artemis has offices in Edinburgh and London, offers a range of funds invested across the globe and has around £30bn of assets under management.

Sharkey has pod hostel project under lock and key

Situated in Edinburgh’s Parliament Square at the core of the Old Town Conservation Area, this revolutionary 20,000 sqft project involves historically sensitive structural alterations, manufacturing and installing 181 sleeping “pods”,  the conversion of former prison cells into 12 boutique bedrooms, construction of toilet and shower facilities and the creation of a bespoke reception area, breakfast room and support accommodation.  The existing layout of the six-storey Georgian building will be retained along with many original features, including rooms named after infamous former inmates.

CODE POD Hostel is an urban concept designed to give travellers a central location in a unique quality-sleeping environment.

Sharkey strengthens hotel credentials with Old Town win

Won following a competitive tender process, this £3 million fit-out includes 98 urban-themed bedrooms and an exclusive top floor restaurant and champagne bar with panoramic views across Edinburgh’s historic city centre skyline.  It will enjoy the distinction of being the first hotel in Scotland to be selected as a member of the exclusive Design HotelsTM group, who handpick and promote the world’s finest examples of unique hotels.

The project win demonstrates Sharkey’s fast-growing reputation as one of the UK’s premier fit-out and refurbishment contractors in the hotel sector and follows on the heels of another recent project win at Buchan House, St Andrew Square for S Harrison Developments and Malmaison Hotel du Vin Group.  Overall, it adds to a portfolio of over £70 million worth of hotel projects to date and over 1,100 bedrooms in total for a range of 4 and 5 star brands including Intercontinental Hotels Group, Radisson Hotels and the Old Course Hotel, St Andrews for Kohler Co.

Sharkey takes modern approach at ancient seat of learning

Procured through Public Contracts Scotland and one of Sharkey’s largest ever public sector contracts at £7.4 million, the project was over 3 phases and involved the full refurbishment of all 349 study bedrooms, 25 communal pantries and a complete upgrade of all key M&E infrastructure.

Working closely with the campus management team to ensure minimal disruption at the university’s principal residential campus, Pollock Halls, was essential with over 1,900 students and staff in residence while works were underway.

With a large number of pedestrians and vehicles in the vicinity in what is a main arterial route into the centre of Edinburgh, Sharkey’s project delivery team met a number of key challenges.  These included the requirement to keep a micro-lab and function suite operational throughout the life of the project and the need to accommodate key university dates including around student exams.  It was crucial that the university was still able to generate income from the estate during the works, including at the time of Edinburgh Festivals and the Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

Running alongside the Holland House project, Sharkey was engaged to modernise the adjoining Masson House into a quality hotel for operator Edinburgh First, the commercial arm of the University of Edinburgh’s accommodation division.  The £1.9 million project saw the conversion of a dated 3 star hotel, increasing the floor space of each room by 50 per cent in order to maximise revenue.