Why Is Equipment Management Firm EMS Quadrupling Space In Dean Clough Halifax?

There’s a bit of a buzz happening in Halifax. An equipment management firm called EMS is making a big move, and it's not just down the road. On December 10, it was announced that the company is taking on a new office that’s four times bigger than its old one. This big step is happening inside a seriously cool old mill complex called Dean Clough, and it’s all because the business is experiencing some pretty rapid growth.

So, what’s all the fuss about?

Imagine your favourite drink, maybe a bottle of Coca-Cola or a yoghurt from Danone. Before it gets to the shop, it has to travel from a factory. It gets loaded onto wooden pallets or into big plastic crates, travels on a lorry, and is then unpacked at the other end. But what happens to all those pallets and crates? They have to go back. Now, multiply that by millions of products every single day. Keeping track of all that equipment is a massive job. That's where an equipment management firm like EMS comes in. They are the experts in making sure all this returnable equipment gets back to where it belongs, saving big companies a lot of money and hassle. And they’re so good at it, they’ve had to find a much larger space for their growing team.

A peek into what EMS actually does

EMS has a very specific job: it helps massive manufacturers and distributors manage all the gear they use to move products around. The company doesn't just work with anyone; its client list includes huge names like Carlsberg-Britvic. Its whole business is built around delivering serious cost savings. Think about it, if a company loses thousands of pallets or crates, that’s a lot of money wasted. EMS makes sure that doesn't happen. Its secret weapon is a clever software platform called ‘PalletPortal’, which keeps an eye on over 70 million equipment movements every year around the world. It’s all about clever account management, making sure every penny is counted and every piece of equipment is tracked.

Why Dean Clough is the perfect spot for rapid growth

When a company is growing quickly, it needs a good home. For EMS, that home is Dean Clough in Halifax. The company has just signed a five-year lease to move into Bowling Mill, one of the historic buildings on the site. This move quadruples space, going from a small 600 sq ft office to a huge 2,400 sq ft one. But why stay there? According to the Managing Director at EMS, Joe Hebblewhite, it's the perfect mix of inspiring workspaces and fantastic on-site amenities. While the company has offices in Dublin and Belfast, Halifax is its main hub, and the team there is expected to double in the coming years. They needed a place that was easy to get to, had great facilities, and was just a nice place to work. Dean Clough ticks all the boxes. It’s not just a boring office block; it’s a place with character and history. It’s also perfectly placed between Leeds and Manchester, making it super accessible.

The view from the top

Joe Hebblewhite, the Managing Director at EMS, explained the move.

“We partner with manufacturers and distributors to enhance operational efficiency, reduce overspending, and improve budget forecasting, drawing on deep industry expertise. Outsourcing the management of returnable equipment brings not only financial benefits but also relieves the administrative burden of coordinating complex supplier networks. This is a very specialised field that has enabled us to take rapid market leadership and achieve significant expansion. While we have offices in Dublin and Belfast, our main employment hub is in Halifax, where our team of 20 is expected to double over the coming years. Dean Clough provides the ideal environment for our team, combining inspiring workspaces, excellent accessibility, and high-quality on-site amenities. Thanks to the support and flexibility of the Dean Clough team, we’re delighted to move into a larger, modern space that maintains the site’s remarkable heritage while offering state-of-the-art facilities for our colleagues, clients, and visitors.”

Jeremy Hall, the Chairman and Managing Director at Dean Clough Ltd, was equally enthusiastic about keeping the growing company on site.

“We are delighted to be able to accommodate EMS with larger premises for its exciting expansion plan. We are always ready to facilitate growth for any business operating in the area and wholly embrace the need to provide a sustainable environment within which teams can thrive. Dean Clough has the combination of a great location, historical interest, fantastic accessibility. engaging public realm, great retail and leisure amenities, and ample onsite parking. This breadth and diversity of amenity and cultural experience fosters a sense of place that is so very important to employers nowadays. Through our ongoing investment to regenerate these magnificent mills to create characterful, efficient workspaces for the 21st century, we maintain a best practice approach to their reuse, supporting important ESG values with the indisputable carbon benefits of repurposing buildings.”

More than just an office space

So, what makes Dean Clough so special? It's a collection of 16 massive old mill buildings that once belonged to the Crossley family, who were famous for making carpets. When the carpet business closed down, the site was bought and transformed into a modern hub for businesses. It’s not just offices, though. There's a real community feel, with an impressive arts and cultural offering, including theatres and galleries. It's even home to the yearly Calderdale Pride festival. It’s the kind of place where you can get a coffee, see some art, and then head back to an office that mixes cool Victorian architecture with modern tech. This is why it’s become such a success story for the whole region, attracting all sorts of businesses. Finding a great space like this is made easier by property agents like Cushman & Wakefield, who help market the available offices. The fact that an innovative equipment management firm committed to rapid growth has chosen to expand here, rather than moving to a bigger city like Manchester or Leeds, says a lot about the quality of the place and the opportunities in Halifax. The move that quadruples space for EMS is a sign of great things to come for both the company and the historic Dean Clough site.

Address: Dean Clough, Halifax, HX3 5AX