CYBG, owner of the Clydesdale Bank, Yorkshire Bank and B brands, will enhance the support offered to SME customers by incorporating co-working into B Works – the bank’s latest store in Manchester. Following a significant commitment to SME lending in the North West, through its Yorkshire Bank brand, B Works will open in early 2019, focusing on providing services that will help retail and SME customers develop their business. As well as being a fully operational branch, the space on Market Street offers up to three floors for SME customers to drop-in to catch up on work, book out meeting rooms or become a resident – using tables and meeting rooms for an extended period. There will also be a weekly events programme, from workshops and amphitheatre talks, to large scale events all designed to help SMEs grow. Customers will also be able to access the expertise of the CYBG team, as well as seek guidance and advice from external business experts and owners. B Works is the third B branch for CYBG, and follows the opening of its London-based innovation lab, Studio B, and B Store, in Birmingham. Helen Page, innovation and marketing director at CYBG said: “Our core strategy is to support our customers’ ambitions and sustainably grow our business both in the North of England and Scotland, as well as selectively on a national basis. “The launch of our next generation B Works store in Manchester is a hugely exciting milestone on this journey. We are redefining the role and purpose of our retail presence on the high street with B Works and are excited to offer something truly unique to both retail and business customers. “B continues to go from strength to strength – we now have 190,000 B customers and our new store provides an exciting and inspiring new location where customers can learn, work and bank.” CYBG has been helping fuel SME growth by increasing its business banking presence, lending £300m to SMEs in the North West in 2017. This figure is part of its commitment to lend £900m in the region in the three years to 2019. The bank is also recruiting for a number of new roles for B Works, including a customer experience director, who will oversee the store and be responsible for driving the overall customer experience, community managers, who will facilitate the co-working environment and curate the events programme, and B Hosts, who will be the first point of contact for all visitors. As well as a co-working space, a dedicated state-of-the-art business banking centre will be incorporated into B Works – housing the expert business team, headed up by Sean Williams, city head for Manchester. He said: “Expanding into Manchester is a natural extension of our existing business and it enables us to increase our SME banking presence in one of the UK’s most vibrant regional economies. “Manchester is a fantastic hub for big and small businesses alike. In particular, there are significant opportunities for SMEs in Manchester, that’s why we have seen such positive growth in the number of businesses in the city. “Manchester has a thriving co-working community and it’s an important part of B Works. “So much of business is conducted on the go and having a dedicated space in the city centre where our customers can come to work, host meetings or attend events, will help develop their business and increase their network.” He added: “Co-working has so many benefits and we are looking forward to creating a space that’s welcoming and innovative as well as ensuring our customers have access to all the business banking support they need to help their business.”
CYBG, which owns Clydesdale Bank, Yorkshire Bank and digital banking service B, plans to launch a co-working facility for SME customers in Manchester. The B Works store will open in early 2019, incorporating a co-working hub alongside a fully operational banking branch. SME customers will be able to book meeting rooms or use the co-working facilities, on a drop-in or longer-term basis. Manchester’s B Works is the third B branch for CYBG, after the group’s London-based innovation lab, Studio B, and the B Store in Birmingham.