Our Story

This isn't just another office building. This is Gainsborough House, a monument to grit, risk, and the unwavering pursuit of entrepreneurial dreams. It's a story that begins far from the cobbled streets of Manchester, a third-world country where running water and indoor plumbing were luxuries. Enter Bijan Todd, a young boy with a burning desire to make something of himself. School wasn't his forte, but his entrepreneurial spirit blazed bright. While other kids played games, Bijan was buying, selling, and trading, always hustling, always with an eye on the next opportunity.

At 19, with a heart full of ambition and barely a word of English, Bijan landed in Manchester. He pumped petrol (Alderley Edge Petrol Station) in the pre-dawn chill, packed clothes in a textile warehouse, and even worked his way up to managing a bustling nightclub where the Rolling Stones once played. But the dream of his own business never faded. Then, like something out of a movie, he met a girl with captivating dimples on his lunch break. She worked in fashion, he had the drive, and together they hatched a plan. Bijan poured his savings into a shop in Cheadle Village, even installing the carpet and lighting himself. He called it "BT Dimples," a testament to his newfound love and hope.

But the dream quickly turned into a nightmare. His partner vanished, leaving Bijan with an empty shop and a broken heart. He tracked down her mother, only to discover a cruel betrayal. His partner had been using him all along, plotting with her salon-owner boyfriend to sabotage Bijan's venture before it even began. Devastated but not defeated, Bijan channeled his pain into fuel. He dusted himself off, found a supplier, and launched his wholesale salon business. This was his first taste of success, a springboard that propelled him into the world of property.

With a loan secured through sheer determination and charm, he purchased his first building, a modest apartment block in Didsbury (128 Barlemore Road). This was just the beginning. Bijan became a real estate maverick, acquiring and renovating properties across Manchester and Bolton. Each building was a testament to his resilience, a brick-and-mortar symbol of his triumph over adversity. In the 1980s, he set his sights on Gainsborough House, a neglected giant in the heart of Manchester. Leaky, dilapidated, and originally used as a textile storage warehouse, it was a challenge of epic proportions. But Bijan, undeterred, poured his heart and soul (and a hefty sum of money) into transforming it into a modern office space.

Now, the legacy continues. Bijan's sons, James and Michael, are breathing new life into Gainsborough House and other properties, creating Method Spaces: vibrant, amenity-rich workspaces designed to fuel the dreams of a new generation of entrepreneurs. Method Spaces isn't just about renting offices; it's about providing a launchpad for those who dare to dream big. It's a place where entrepreneurs can thrive, not just survive, and where the spirit of Bijan Todd, the boy who dared to leave his world behind and build an empire, lives on.