Colliers let former Habitat store in Birmingham to hair training academy15th July 2012

Colliers International has let the former Habitat store in Birmingham city centre to the Francesco Group, which is to invest more than £750,000 in a new training academy, creating 15 jobs.

The Stafford-based hairdressing salons and training company has acquired 5,000 sq ft on the ground floor of the former Habitat store in Pinfold Street. The company, which has 32 salons across the Midlands, is to open a new training Academy to supplement its existing three in Stafford. It has taken a ten-year lease at annual rent of £50,000 per annum.

Emel Ahmet, an associate director in the firm’s retail agency team, said: “Francesco Group were keen to find a central location to ensure its facilities were accessible to students. It now has its own front door just a stone’s throw from New Street Station and local bus services.”

The launch of the Birmingham Academy follows the recent opening of the Group’s £500,000 flagship salon in the city’s House of Fraser store. A £250,000 fit-out at the training facility is currently underway, in time for the first student intake in September. The Academy will be run in partnership with Stafford College and will offer a two-year full time course for 50 students; a further 20 will gain an Apprenticeship qualification while on the job.

Rowley Hughes Thompson advised the landlord, Gohil Developments.