Q&A with Alex Ringer, Property Director at Melrose Education
Name: Alex Ringer
Role: Property Director
Who are Melrose Education?
Melrose Education is a company with a strategy of building an outstanding group of special education needs and alternative education schools in England. Our priority is to positively change education outcomes for every one of our learners. Our senior management team and teaching and support staff are dedicated to achieving this meaningful goal with passion and experience.
How many locations do Melrose Education currently have?
We currently have 7 schools and are fitting out our first completely new school which will be our 8th.
Target locations?
Sites appropriate for an SEND school. They do not need to be near main transport hubs but must be easily accessible by car /minibus.
Local Authorities of particular focus are: BCP (Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole), Bexley, Birmingham, Bromley, Cornwall, Coventry, Croydon, Devon, Dorset, Dudley, Greenwich, Hampshire, Lewisham, Lincolnshire County Council, North East Lincolnshire, Council, North Lincolnshire Council, Sandwell, Stafford, Surrey, Sutton, Tower Hamlets, Walsall, Wolverhampton
How many new locations are you targeting?
We are targeting 20 new locations in the next 5 years.
Size requirements?
8,000 - 12,000sq.ft with a meaningful amount of outside space for playground, sports and parking. We will consider as small as 6,000 sq.ft in South East London
Additional requirements?
We must have parking, outside space, accessibility, overall suitability for a SEND school
Planning consent?
F1 planning use class
Freehold or Leasehold?
We will consider both
Recent openings or new locations in the pipeline?
Recent acquisition was Three Bridges in Cornwall and we are fitting out our new school currently. More details to follow once we have received all the appropriate registrations.
Additional Questions:
What are the main challenges you face when acquiring new property?
Finding a property that will meet the myriad needs of our learners.
We want to create outstanding outcomes for all our students, in an environment where teachers and staff also thrive. It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack sometimes!
Favourite occupier and why?
I’m a coffee lover so I try to visit little independent coffee shops and roasters when I can. A really good espresso is hard to find. The best one I had recently was at The Sorting Office in St. Agnes at the end of the summer holidays.
What is your favourite building?
City of Arts and Sciences, Valencia. The way the structures look like bones rising out of the old riverbed is so captivating. It really gets your imagination going. Amazing setting and brilliant architecture in one of my favourite cities in the world.
Favourite retail or leisure destination?
Westfield London. One of the first deals I ever did was a lease there and I had the opportunity to tour the development when it was under construction. It was fascinating to see the transformation of that whole area when driving in on the A40 over the years. I don’t go very regularly anymore but it always holds a soft spot for me.
Contact details?
Email – alex@melroseeducation.com
Tel - 07946104972
