The investment will create an inspiring working environment for the firm's growing workforce, more than 200 of whom are based in Norwich, and a vastly improved client experience. A number of staff have already been working closely with designers to ensure that the project mirrors the firm’s collaborative and flexible way of working.
Mills & Reeve moved to the Jarrold-owned site at Whitefriars in 2002. This will be a very significant project and is a major investment by the firm in Norwich. Most of the staff will be moving to temporary space in adjacent buildings (also owned by Jarrold) while the refurbishment work is taking place between February 2017 and September 2017.
The plans were announced to staff in a series of interactive presentations followed by a tour of the temporary office spaces on the Jarrold campus, including two floors of the Jarrold Mill and one floor in 3 St James Court. The firm launched an Innovation Hub, an online staff engagement platform, last year and used the Hub to gather ideas and comments from staff in Norwich and from across the firm on how the new-look offices should be. The ideas were collated and given to the designers and project team to take forward. The firm has appointed local construction company Pentaco Construction to carry out the refurbishment.
Justin Ripman, Senior Partner, comments: “A key part of our 2020 strategy is to make sure everyone of our six offices across the UK is a regional powerhouse and that we create a great place to work, fostering innovation and the use of new technologies. The refurbishment achieves these aims. This decision to update our premises in Norwich follows similar updates and relocations in the last couple of years for our London, Cambridge and Manchester offices, illustrating both the growth of our business and dedication to providing our expanding workforce with a first-class working environment.”
David Hill, Chairman of Jarrold said: “We are delighted that Mills & Reeve has decided to renew their tenancy with us here at St James Place and that we can accommodate them during the refurbishment phase. Their continued support, and that of other partners, has ensured that we’ve created Norwich’s leading city centre business quarter in one of the finest locations in the City. We look forward to continuing our successful partnership and to seeing the new refurbished space later this year.”
James Hunter, Head of the Norwich office and project leader said: “We want to create a modern, attractive and more flexible working environment for us and our clients. This is a big investment by the firm and a really exciting project. The newly refurbished office will create innovative and collaborative workspaces, available to our staff and our clients, and serve as an excellent platform from which to service our local and national client base. IT demonstrates our total commitment to clients and the wider business community in Norwich and the East of England.”
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