Grant Thornton announces Sheffield office move to former NUM building

Grant Thornton is set to relocate offices to become the central occupier of a National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in Sheffield city centre.

The advisory firm is the largest national accountancy practice in the Sheffield City Region with over 120 locally-based staff.

Grant Thornton will occupy 14,000 sq ft of Grade A office space at the former NUM building in Holly Street when it moves to the site from Broadfield Court in 2017.

Paul Houghton, senior partner at Grant Thornton in Sheffield, said: “The announcement of our move into Sheffield city centre comes at a hugely exciting time for Grant Thornton as we continue to establish ourselves as a category-of-one firm with a differentiated offer from others in our sector.

“We’re delighted to have agreed terms to relocate to the former NUM building in the heart of Sheffield’s professional and financial services business district. It is an iconic building in Sheffield and the refurbishment now underway will see it transformed from its present, somewhat tired state into a key landmark within the city’s business community.

“With the Grant Thornton name emblazoned across the front, and a 21st Century interior designed to be open and available for all our clients, it will be at the heart of Sheffield’s vibrant future.”

Sacha Romanovitch, Grant Thornton’s chief executive, commented: “As Grant Thornton continues to lead on key debates such as HS2, to provide resources to Sheffield City Region’s development, and to create opportunities for new thinking such as in the forthcoming Sheffield Live Lab on 12 May, this property move into the city centre demonstrates our real commitment to the city.

“Even more importantly, it also demonstrates our firm’s strategy in action – we passionately want to be at the centre of action, helping to shape the vibrant economy that the Sheffield City Region needs to prosper and thrive.”

Grant Thornton’s Sheffield office includes teams working locally and across the world with corporate and private clients on audit, tax, accountancy, corporate transactions, and wealth advice.

The former headquarters for the NUM has stood empty for more than 25 years. The building was constructed in 1987 and opened in 1988, becoming the NUM headquarters for four years.

Barnsley-based property company Quest Property has secured the long-lease of the building and the adjacent car park from the NUM, and is overseeing the redevelopment. The building’s £5.5m renovation, funded by a collaboration between CBRE, the Sheffield City Region JESSICA Fund and Sheffield City Council’s Growing Places Fund, is expected to be completed at the start of 2017.

It was announced last month that bar chain Pitcher and Piano, owned by Marston’s, will occupy one of the three ground floor restaurant units, and Quest are in discussions with other potential tenants for the remaining two. Grant Thornton have agreed the terms of its tenancy, although the move remains subject to final legal agreement.

Matthew Stephens, development director at Quest, said: “The refurbishment of this historic and iconic building in the city centre is a massive boost for the city.

“And with such a prestigious firm as Grant Thornton taking all three office floors as their regional base, we can see the city’s central business district really starting to take shape.”