It’s Business as Usual at Kingmoor Park

At Kingmoor Park, Covid 19 hasn’t dampened the level of interest, enquiries or activity on the area’s only Enterprise Zone. This has led to the site’s businesses and staff developing innovative ways of dealing with the ‘new normal’.

For Lakeland Bake, which supplies crumpets to supermarket chains across the UK, it’s business as usual with an extremely popular side-line in providing charitable organisations with their unique shaped crumpets.  This year alone they will bake and distribute 45 million crumpets.

Elsewhere parcel companies on the site are busier than ever due to the growing trend of online shopping. Hermes, DPD and UPS have all noticed the change with many taking on temporary staff to keep up with the demand.

CrossFit Hawk Eye, who are based on Kingmoor Park were one business who were forced to close their doors back in March but have just this week reopened offering outdoor only classes. Speak on this, Andrew Carigiet, Director said

“Within a few days of the lockdown being announced we began to offer our existing members ‘Hawk Eye at home’ which is made up of online fitness programmes in the form of daily workouts via an app, with accompanying warm up and technique videos; and also one on one support via Zoom. All of this has proved a great way to keep members active. Following this, we started to loan out equipment that otherwise would have been sitting in the gym to keep workouts interesting.

We are really pleased with how popular the online solutions have been and now, following government guidelines we have begun outdoor classes in groups of five which are really sought after and fully booked up to a week in advance! We have a plan to re-open the gym properly once guidelines allow and this will include; reduced class sizes, designated area and equipment per person and sanitising after each use. We also hope to continue ‘Hawk Eye at Home’ for the foreseeable.”

Meanwhile, Kingmoor Park’s innovative ModVillage, a unique development of business space made out of refurbished shipping containers is taking shape with the first container offices having arrived onsite recently ready for their new occupiers.

With a growing number of businesses also adopting a working from home culture the management team realise that a precedent is being set for the future.

Neil McIntyre, KP’s Managing Director comments:

“The way organisations work is changing now more than ever and the need to adapt is paramount. Every business needs a base and that’s exactly what ModVillage provides. This base could cater for larger businesses who may now be encouraging their employees to work from home or smaller businesses seeking their own space. Each office benefits from its own kitchen and toilet removing the need for shared space. What’s more each office has it’s own front door, removing the need for shared access and allowing occupiers complete peace of mind during this challenging time.”

The site’s management team, whilst working from home have dealt with a steady stream of enquiries and have agreed lettings on several properties during the past few weeks.

Neil continued, “This is a time for businesses to stop and ask themselves if their current premises are meeting their needs. Kingmoor Park offers an ideal location with plenty of choice. What’s more occupiers could potentially benefit from up to 5 years business rates relief which is a huge saving. A few months ago, we were concerned that those looking to expand might have been deterred by the current situation. This proved not to be the case which demonstrates the tenacity and resilience of Cumbrian firms.”