Isio to occupy new office space in Leeds city centre
KPMG’s former pensions business has announced the creation of a new North East of England hub, as it looks to make the most of its new independents. Isio’s new office in Leeds is the first of several planned regional leasing agreements, marking an important milestone for the recently-established company
Formed out of the management buy-out of KPMG’s pensions consulting unit, Isio employs about 21 partners and 500 staff, working for some of UK’s largest pension companies, and holding around £50 billion of pension assets under advice. Isio initially launched across eight locations in Britain, and working for more than 1,000 clients, ranging from mid-sized companies to FTSE 100s, on the management of pension assets worth over £90 billion.
Amid regulatory change and market conditions in the UK, there is an increased demand for independent professional counsel – particularly as pension funds are placed under mounting pressure by the coronavirus pandemic, and the following economic crisis. Isio has therefore grown quickly in its first full year of independence, something illustrated by its move to open the first of several regional hubs.
Ian Warman, Partner and Isio’s Head of the Leeds office, commented, “The Covid-19 pandemic has made us really think about how we can change the way in which we work; the time we spend in the office, really embracing flexible working in a progressive way, accelerating plans for technology solutions – all there to support our talented team to flourish in their careers, for the benefit of them and our clients.
Following the signing of a lease for new office space in Leeds – occupying the top floor of 34 Boar Lane, a new development in the city centre – Isio is slated to move into the new locale in the fourth quarter of 2020. The new space will serve as the firm’s North East of England hub, and is the first of a number of centres planned to boost the UK expansion of Isio, as it seeks to develop its position as an independent provider of solutions to pension schemes across the country.
Warman stated, “I am delighted to announce the signing of our new office space in Leeds, which will serve as an essential business hub for Isio in the North East of England, as well as a modern, inspiring workspace for our regional team. This is the first of these announcements, as we’re also progressing well with the leases for our other office locations, and it is a key moment in our development as an independent business.
The office at 34 Boar Lane is owned by Kinrise, the firm which managed the renovation of the building. Cushman & Wakefield advised Isio, while Knight Frank advised Kinrise on the transaction. Warman added that Kinrise had “done a fantastic job on renovating Boar Lane, the space lending itself to our needs and ambitions, making it a natural choice for the next stage in our journey.”
