The new development has transformed a well-known part of the area, will create new job opportunities and provides a valuable resource for the local community. All the work has been done by local Birmingham companies.
The building had previously been occupied by Dowding and Plummer, a company that supplied industrial cleaning materials. M&G Transport obtained the building last year and undertook a major refurbishment project. The new facility was formally opened on 4 April, 2016 by Gary Wheadon, the current president of the British Association of Removers (BAR) of which M&G Transport is a long-standing member.
“The BAR is delighted that one of our members is opening a new headquarters, complete with new storage and retail facilities here in Birmingham,” said Gary. “This large investment shows the confidence Matt Faizey and the M&G team have for the future. The outlook for our industry is improving. With customers increasingly looking at the quality and the standards of those they wish to engage with, it is great to see a company embracing those ideals and responding appropriately.”
Gary continued by congratulating Matt and his team on its 98.4% customer satisfaction rate. “His team are a credit to the company, themselves and the industry. BAR takes great pleasure in seeing its members doing well and we are sure that this is just another step forward for one of our members, with much more to come. We wish them every success in the future.”
The storage facility includes 220 individual lock-up units, ranging from just 16sq ft. to over 200 sq ft., on three floors; they each provide customers with a secure place to store items. Typical customers include businesses wishing to store stock items, equipment or company archives; and private individuals storing household effects and personal items either long term or temporarily while they are waiting for accommodation or even decluttering when putting their homes on the market.
M&G Self Store benefits from the latest advances in the industry and from the company’s experience in handling household goods. Security is provided by an advanced CCTV system, barrier access and keypad entry to restricted areas. M&G has built in wider aisles for easy access and has designed the whole area without right-angle bends so that large items can be manoeuvred into position without any risk of damage. Automatic lighting saves power while the units are unattended yet ensures that there are no dark spots while customers are on-site.
The prominent location is good for passing trade and is close to the M42 motorway. The site includes a retail shop for customers to buy essential items such as packing boxes, tape, protective material and padlocks. It will also house a range of 20ft and 40ft shipping containers that can be used by customers to store heavy, outdoor equipment such as gardening or building tools, vehicles or garden sheds and furniture.
The new building is over one-third bigger than the company’s old site in Solihull and, according to Matt Faizey, will provide the room for the expansion the company needs. “We are very proud of our new home, it’s really brightened up the area,” he said. “The greater flow of storage through the building, plus the effect of housing development in the area, will increase the need for removals too, which is our core business. This building will give us the room we need to expand our business in the future.”
The company has already employed two additional people to help manage the business and Matt Faizey is expecting the opportunities for new employment to build as the flow of traffic through the building increases.
Photo: BAR President Gary Wheadon (left) opens the new site for Matt Faizey.