Enterprise Rent-A-Car
VALUE: £1.8mil | DURATION: SIX MONTHS | LOCAL LABOUR: 77% OF YORKSHIRE BASED SUBCONTRACTORS
Enterprise Cars Leeds had been occupying a small outfit opposite a vacant trade unit for near 20 years, and knew they needed to invest in a new facility that would reflect how much the business has grown over two decades.
Looking at where the Enterprise brand is going, and how they were to position themselves as a forward-thinking company with one of the biggest fleets in the UK, they started thinking of a strategy to maximise the brand through a flagship facility in the UK.
Making an investment in its employees was a key driver for the client, knowing that they needed to create an environment for everyone to be proud of. Employing mostly graduates, the intention of the new facility was to provide an enable for them to succeed and grow within the business.
Putting people at the heart of all that we do is something Sewell Construction prides itself on, so this was a perfect match. Not only did we have the technical know-how to get the job done, but we understood exactly what the client wanted to achieve with what would become the largest Enterprise Cars facility in the UK. After winning the project on a competitive tender basis with I&G in the driver’s seat and Sewell Construction as the co-drivers, together we started devising a plan.
The Solution
We created a one-of-a-kind, flagship Enterprise Cars facility in one of the busiest units outside of Heathrow Airport. The first of its kind, most Enterprise buildings start out as smaller modular buildings, but this one was to be the first three-storey building comprising of a sales desk and reception, car wash and garage, plus offices on anf first ans second floor for their sister compant, Integral.
Technical car park
The building would be surrounded by a massive car park area and be home to an automated on-site car wash which would use the latest water recycling technology.
The external car park areas adopted a porous car park specification, consisting of geomembrane, open grade type three stone, and permeable tarmac finish intent to create a natural filtration system. PV panels were also installed on the roof to create a more sustainable building.
"I&G and Sewell Construction understood the client needs from the get-go. This was at the forefront of all communications, going above and beyond to meet, exceed and adapt to anything we threw their way. Communication between parties was one of the most honest, open and transparent I have seen on any job, and the results really show."
The Challenges
It was critical for Enterprise to be out of their existing premises by a required date, so time was of the essence throughout the project. Alongside this, COVID-19 meant that health and safety precautions were paramount, with lots of on-site restrictions.
Due to the pandemic and Brexit, material availability and delivery was a challenge too, with everything being ordered earlier than usual to allow for any delays. Adding to this, a small amount of asbestos was found in the ground when excavating, which caused some delays too.
The Results
A three-storey flagship facility spanning 42, 688 square-ft and home for the Company’s largest rental bases in the UK.
The new branch will create 12 new jobs, including three Management Trainee positions which have already been filled since opening in June. Two promotions have also been given since opening.
The site boasts state-of-the-art sustainability features for a greener branch, including electric charging points for vehicles. The water recycling system saves on average 67 litres of water per wash, by ensuring the carwash collects run-off water which is then cleaned for re-use. Not only this, Enterprise has invested in the regeneration of the site and has looked to reduce flooding risk with a new water attenuation system. This technology protects the site from flash flooding by storing and slowly releasing surface water run-off – a key feature of sustainable drainage systems which slows down the rate at which surface water enters sewers or water courses.
Peter Cummins, Group Facilities & Construction Manager, Enterprise rent-a-car UK Ltd said:
“We have a facility everyone can be proud of and we are already reaping the benefits in terms of employee wellbeing, growth and career development. There were a lot of firsts for all involved but the process was seamless because of the strength in communication at all times.”