The Leeds office of Cobbetts LLP has advised the shareholders of Leeds-based workplace consultancy, Work Inc Holdings Ltd, on its £8m merger with Eastlake Group Ltd to form Eastlake Work Group Ltd.

Eastlake Work Group will have a UK-wide presence and a combined turnover for this year of more than £75m, making it one of the country’s largest property services firms and providers of workplace interiors. It will employ 500 people across its eight regional locations in East Kilbride near Glasgow, Leeds, Belfast, Manchester, Cardiff, Newcastle, Nottingham and London as well as having facilities management staff located on site with clients across the country.

Work Inc's chief executive, Craig Eastwood, will take on the strategic role of executive chairman for the group, while Eastlake Group's CEO, David Eastlake, will become Eastlake Work Group's chief executive and majority shareholder, providing visible daily leadership for the company.

The enlarged company, which will be headquartered in East Kilbride with a second main office in Leeds, will have a portfolio of clients that reads like a British and international corporate ‘Who's Who’, including blue chip names such as American Airlines, Deloitte, RBS, HBOS, KPMG, ITN, Channel 4, HSBC, Barclays, Unilever, BT, BP and Marks & Spencer.

The deal follows a year of record success for both Eastlake and Work Inc, with both companies having grown their individual 2007 turnovers to the £30m mark.

Craig Eastwood said: "Our two businesses were meant for each other. It is remarkable how alike they are, both operationally and in ethos. Eastlake and Work Inc have grown their reputations by being customer-focused above all else. Eastlake Work Group will continue to operate in this way and I believe that our customers are about to be provided with a truly remarkable service experience."

Nia Bryan led the team at Cobbetts that advised on the deal, assisted by Jyo Pattis.

Nia commented: "This was an excellent deal for the team at Work Inc, as it provided the opportunity for two fantastic management teams to join forces and build a leading force in the office workplace interiors market. We are confident that Eastlake Work Group will succeed throughout the UK and believe that its customers will be provided with an improved service going forward."

Picture Caption: Nia Bryan, Cobbetts