BT has opened its new global headquarters in Aldgate, London, as part of the firm’s ongoing root and branch transformation programme, which includes its offices across the UK.
The building, known as One Braham, has now opened with nearly all colleagues already working from the site. Housing around 3,500 colleagues, the new HQ will be another flagship location within BT’s Better Workplace Programme - the largest workplace improvement programme and consolidation scheme of its type ever undertaken in the UK. The programme, which will complete in 2024, will see BT rationalise hundreds of its offices across the UK and establish an estate of future fit, high tech workspaces.
Philip Jansen, BT Group Chief Executive, said: “Our new HQ in London will bring our people together in an impressive and modern environment, transforming the way teams work. “We’re really excited to be moving into One Braham. It represents a changing BT, one that is more agile, forward thinking and able to adapt to the challenges and opportunities presented by the acceleration of digital technologies.
“We want our colleagues to be proud of where they work, to feel part of something brilliant at BT. Our new HQ has been designed to support our people, to enable them to be at their best and deliver great results for our customers.”
The new HQ, the supporting regional hubs, revamped contact centres and specialist buildings, are expected to help BT deliver on its ambitions for sustainability, innovation, product development and excellent customer service. The first hub opened in September at Three Snowhill, Birmingham. Work is already underway on major new offices in cities including Bristol and Manchester.
Despite the Covid-19 pandemic seeing many colleagues shift to home working since March 2020, BT still firmly believes in the future of the office. BT is adopting a hybrid, flexible approach called ‘Smart Working’ where teams will choose how colleagues spend time between home and their office. Shared workplaces are ‘central’ to BT’s future, providing environments for colleagues to come together to connect, collaborate, learn, and develop, build friendships, and share their experiences.
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “It’s great to see BT’s new global HQ at Aldgate opening. It will provide a great boost to the area, and, as workers across London increasingly return to the office, demonstrates how businesses can combine technology and smart ways of working to really benefit their staff.”
The new HQ boasts smart building technology, flexible workspaces, and collaboration areas. There are also a range of catering options including a ground floor café open to the public, world class event spaces, and a large media screen in reception. One Braham incorporates hot desk facilities where colleagues work in ‘neighbourhoods’ according to their business function. BT recognises the important role its operations play in local communities, like Tower Hamlets, and the spend by its employees, visitors and partners can support wider regeneration in local areas.
The building has a ground floor community space which will be used for community engagement and community projects. The catering at One Braham, and at the company’s site at Three Snowhill, is run by Lexington Catering, which has partnered with Change Please as coffee supplier. Change Please is a social enterprise supporting people out of homelessness. The award-winning company provides training, employment paying the Living Wage and support with housing, finances, and therapy to help people experiencing homelessness move forward. Change Please reinvests all profits towards ending homelessness.