New tenant and coffee shop at The Southside Building

Design-led office space The Southside Building, on Birmingham’s Hurst Street, has welcomed a new tenant and café operator.

Irish human resources technology specialist HR Duo has taken 1,615 sq ft on the eight floor for its UK headquarters, with up to 20 new jobs set to be created over the next 12 months.

Braska Coffee House has launched in the 644 sq ft ground floor café and will sell Fairtrade coffee and Pan Asian-inspired food to both occupiers and the public.

Formerly known as Albany House, the 11 storey Southside Building recently underwent a £2.5 million refurbishment by owners Paloma Capital to offer contemporary workspace with additional occupier benefits including The Studio, a co-working hub with boardroom and tele-conferencing facilities, as well as cycle storage, shower and changing facilities and lockers. It is primely located in the city’s Southside District, which is known as the cultural hub of Birmingham thanks to its eclectic mix of theatres, independent bars and restaurants and graffiti street art and is just minutes from Birmingham New Street station and the main city core.

Joe Cox, Country Manager UK at HR Duo, said: “We are a disruptor in the HR technology market and wanted a UK HQ that reflected our brand personality. The building itself, with its modern design has impressed our UK team and the proximity to public transport has really made their lives much easier, especially since implementing our hybrid working practices.”

Rory May of Braska Coffee House said: “I’m very excited to be serving up our freshly made pan-Asian inspired dishes and coffee made from organic Peruvian coffee beans while providing a new meeting place. The Southside Building offers a creative, unique environment and I was already a regular user of The Studio, the brilliant collaboration space overlooking Hippodrome Square.”

Alex Tross, Commercial Director at Centrick Commercial, brokered the HR Duo deal on behalf of building owner Paloma Capital. He said: “What makes The Southside Building stand out is its stylish design and focus on modern occupier lifestyles and community feel.

“The onside concierge, tenant events and discounts, on-site parking and cycle storage, changing facilities and incredible city views make it a very special place to work.

“I’m pleased that HR Duo have found a space that suits the profile of their new UK arm and look forward to seeing them grow. They join a hotbed of burgeoning businesses in the fintech, professional services and healthcare sectors.”

The Southside Building is next to Birmingham Hippodrome and offers open plan workspaces, office suites and coworking spaces, with a design led reception and seating area, neon feature wall and curated Birmingham-inspired artworks. Southside Studio on the first floor is a light filled collaborative workspace offering free Wi-Fi, a communal kitchen with complimentary refreshments and in addition to the boardroom. The terrace offers views of the city including Hippodrome Square, where the ground has been painted in rainbow colours ready for the Commonwealth Games.