untitled-design-4

News & Events

;
Legal Update

BPE’s Commercial Property team advise on new lease for social enterprise

Under team leader Douglas Armstrong, the BPE Commercial Property team has had the pleasure of working on some exciting deals recently, advising on new leases, securing lettings and assisting companies with their expansion.

In August, our team had the pleasure of guiding SoFab Sports CIC on securing the lease of their first ever physical store, centred at the Broadmead Shopping Quarter in Bristol.

Founded in 2014 by Dale Rawlings, SoFab Sports is a social enterprise that offers a wide variety of sports products, including Basketball, American Football, Rugby, Football, Motorsport, and Gymwear. Their mission is more than just selling sports apparel; they provide training and paid employment opportunities for individuals overcoming various hardships. With over 60% of their workforce comprised of individuals with physical or mental disabilities, people who have experienced homelessness, or those reintegrating into society, they rely purely on consumer trading and they do not ask for any Government funding.

This flagship store marks a significant moment in SoFab's journey, having previously operated purely online. BPE was thrilled to help them bring their vision to the high street.

Dale Rawlings, founder of SoFab Sports, expressed his gratitude for the team's efforts, stating, "Sam at BPE has been fantastic in getting our new store over the line in Bristol, Broadmead! Her knowledge and expertise in this area made the process seamless and enabled us to achieve this milestone. Thank you again for all your help, and Sofab Sports will definitely use BPE and Sam in the future."

Samantha Taylor, who led the deal for BPE, echoed this sentiment, saying, "It’s been a privilege to work with such an inspiring social enterprise. We’re excited to see SoFab Sports flourish in their new space and to have played a part in their continued success."

These notes have been prepared for the purpose of articles only. They should not be regarded as a substitute for taking legal advice.

Get in touch

Talk to us about your legal challenges and discover how our expert, pragmatic legal advice and broad commercial acumen can help.