Mansfield chosen as Chinese company’s first UK base

  • Associate Director Scott Osborne at Millennium Business Park 

A Chinese company employing more than 600 workers will create 20 jobs when it sets up its first UK base in Nottinghamshire, after a deal overseen by commercial property agency Innes England.

Zhejiang Shanghong Shelf Co has finalised an agreement for a 40,672 sq. ft. industrial warehouse at the Millennium Business Park, in Concorde Way, Mansfield.

The company – one of the largest shelving manufacturers in China – specialises in custom designs for retail display, exhibitions and warehousing with its products already being widely used domestically in the UK, America, Japan and Australia.

Scott Osborne, associate director at Innes England, said: “It is great that a huge Chinese manufacturing company has decided to choose Nottinghamshire for its first UK base. The deal has created up to 20 jobs in the first instance so it is really good news for the local area.

“We were working to extremely tight timescales and the collective effort from all involved to get the deal agreed on time was welcomed by both the landlord and tenant.

“The industrial unit is situated just a mile and a half away from Mansfield town centre and provides easy access to the M1. The property is a modern detached industrial unit with two-storey office accommodation and open plan warehouse space at the back.”

The deal is the first investment following the signing of a trade, investment, cultural and policy tie-up between Nottinghamshire County Council and Zhejiang Province.

County council leader, Councillor Kay Cutts, said: “We are absolutely thrilled that our friendship with Zhejiang is already reaping rewards for the local economy, less than six months into our new and exciting partnership.

“I know that the Zhejiang Shanghong Shelf company representatives were very impressed with what they saw of Nottinghamshire – our heritage, our skills base, our central location and our future plans for growth.”

Lorraine Baggs, head of investment at Invest in Nottingham, said: “Invest in Nottingham is delighted to have provided support to Zhejiang Shanghong Shelf Co throughout the process of the company setting up a Nottinghamshire base. 

“We initially showed the company a number of properties in the city and county and once the desired property was selected, we also provided information and support on how to do business in the UK including advice around company formation, HR and legal structure, and recruitment. 

“We are thrilled Zhejiang Shanghong Shelf Co has chosen Mansfield as a base – it’s great news for the county in that it will create new jobs in the local area. Invest in Nottingham will continue to support the company as it grows in Nottinghamshire.”

James Keeton, of commercial property agency JLL, also marketed the unit.