The Co-operative Group opened its new headquarters for co-operators from all over the world attending Co-operatives United.
The delegates got the chance to see the brand new steel and concrete construction, 1 Angel Square, which merges three buildings in one roof. More than 3,500 employees will be working at the new headquarters.
In his opening speech at the event, Peter Marks, the Group’s Chief Executive, said:
“This is a value-creation project. This new building demonstrates we are now looking forward, not backwards. It sends out strong message about our future, out how strong we are”.
Mr Marks also referred to the financial crisis, saying it can prove to be a great opportunity for co-ops to spread their message to the whole world. He explained how people have lost trust in traditional enterprises and how the co-operative model has started to gain more and more popularity. The Group’s CEO also added co-ops have to move faster and keep up with technology in order to maintain their competitiveness.
He also stressed out that the Group has been the leading force behind the co-operative development in the UK. Peter Marks continued by saying the Group has gone through a ‘renascence’ and managed to reform, being today a key player in the UK’s economy.
The Group’s new building is the most environmental friendly large office building in the UK and it the first phase of a more complex urban development project the Group is leading, trying to create a new-vibrant community area around the ‘co-operation corner’.
The project, entitled NOMA, aims to redevelop and regenerate the Group’s 20-acre site, located at the city’s Northern Gateway by Miller Street and Corporation Street. The new HQs won the sustainable achievement honour at the Property Awards.
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