SSE to move Thatcham jobs to Reading
Energy giant confirms almost 300 staff will move to new Forbury Place building
ALMOST 300 Thatcham-based SSE employees will be relocated following news that the energy giant has agreed a deal to lease office space at the new Forbury Place complex in Reading.
The utility provider confirmed in a statement today that it has entered into an agreement with M&G Real Estate to lease a newly-constructed building at Number 1 Forbury Place.
The office in Pipers Way, Thatcham currently houses 550 employees with around half due to be moved to the new site.
SSE had previously refused to comment on any potential relocation of staff when approached by the Newbury Weekly News last week.
A spokesperson for SSE confirmed that the vacancies will then be backfilled with "roles more suited to the original design of the building" adding: "There will be no job losses – it is a matter of relocating staff from one office to another.
"By housing our staff in the area under one roof we can ensure we are strategically located in the right regions to provide a modern place to work, whilst delivering a great service to our customers."
SSE will take possession of the building in January 2016 with the offices set to be ready to use by the end of 2016.
The deal will also see all staff from the existing Vastern Road office in Reading and from the Basingstoke office relocated to Forbury Place as the energy provider look to centralise its operations and activities in the south-east of England.
Alistair Phillips-Davies, chief executive of SSE, said: “We have looked extensively for the right building in the right location to provide a high quality environment from which to support efficient operations for customers and provide the right base for our extensive activities across the south-east of England; and we have found it in Number 1 Forbury Place.
“The new building gives us the space to bring together over 1,900 SSE employees in one place and provide a modern, flexible working environment.
"SSE is a major service provider in the south-east of England and this is an excellent opportunity for us to bring together our staff from across the company in a new central hub from which to build further our business in this economically vital part of the UK.”
The grade A office space extends to 186,000 square feet across eight floors, with capacity to provide a high quality working environment for over 1,900 employees from the end of 2016.
It is believed to be the largest office letting in the Thames Valley for over a decade.
