Capita signs major Edinburgh office deal

Outsourcing giant Capita is to take up residence in a £10 million office building near the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.

Capita have signed deal for a £10m office near the EICC. Picture: Jane Barlow

The FTSE 100 group is letting the offices at 145 Morrison Street, which have the capacity for 275 staff, from Ediston Property Investment Company.

Chief executive Andy Parker said: “We already have a major presence in Scotland, employing thousands of people across the country to deliver a wide range of services to many different customers. After careful consideration we have chosen this building in the centre of Edinburgh as the home for a number of our Edinburgh-based businesses. It provides us with an excellent base to continue growing our businesses in Scotland over the coming years, steadily developing our capability and scale in the country.”

Ediston said Capita has agreed a 15-year lease, without a break clause, at a rental of £676,136 a year. The recently-completed 26,894 square foot building covers five floors in the heart of Edinburgh’s financial district.

Capita have signed deal for a £10m office near the EICC. Picture: Jane Barlow

Calum Bruce, director of investment at Ediston Properties, the company’s investment adviser, said: “Securing a firm of Capita’s stature is testament to the quality of the building and strength of the location. The asset was developed to be a headquarters building for a single occupier and it is satisfying to see that happen.”

Capita, which recently bought Edinburgh-based digital mapping specialist Sigma Seven and formed a tie-up with the city’s CodeBase technology incubator in January, also revealed yesterday that it has been selected by NHS England as preferred bidder on a deal potentially worth up to £1 billion. Under the agreement, it will establish a single provider framework for administrative support functions for primary care across the UK, including an initial contract to deliver services in England.