A travel firm has taken a big step forward by setting up at a 'Tardis-like' former Nottinghamshire bank. Tour operator Blue Stamp Travel, which provides transport for school groups and individual language learners, is currently based in the Business HQ office complex in Carrington.
But the business, which was set up in 2018 and took over two divisions of Colwick-based Halsbury Travel, is now setting up its new, much larger office at the former Midland Bank on Nottingham Road in Daybrook. The company's managing director Steve Manderson hailed the acquisition of the building, which had been bought from American owners who had previously rented it to a security company, as an important step forward for the Nottingham firm - which said it had benefited from a significant increase in student travel when compared to before the pandemic.
"It's a big step, absolutely. When we took the work experience and language courses departments over, they were facing challenges because of the decline in the uptake of languages across the country," Mr Manderson said.
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"We had some growth after the takeover, but then the pandemic came. Luckily we were able to do a lot of remote work and it worked pretty well.
"We were one of a tiny number of companies that managed to get ABTA (trade association for tour operators and travel agents) registration during the pandemic - because no one in their right mind would set up a travel company during a global pandemic. But we had longer term plans so we did it anyway and since coming back from coronavirus we have been going from strength to strength."
Work has started to refit the inside of the building to accommodate the firm's seven employees, with Nottingham Trent supporting the business to install solar panels, replacement LED lighting, enhanced glazing and skylights through a Carbon Reduction Grant. Mr Manderson explained the company's future expansion plans meant the move to the deceptively spacious premise was essential.
"We need double the space we have at the moment to maintain what we are doing. We want to have our own place and put the branding on it - the fact it is an iconic building that has a real appeal is even better," he said.
"Everyone who steps in says it is like a 'Tardis' (bigger on the inside than it appears outside) You would think it would be huge because the front is very big, but you step in and it is double height, which is quite impressive and it just keeps going backwards.
"It is substantially bigger than the premises we are in at the moment. We've grown after the pandemic and to be honest we are buying this to fit us for the next few years."
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