Download PDFOver the last few weeks, we have been speaking about how remote working is to become part of the normal way of life at Colart with a blend of both office and remote working continuing in the future. Whilst COVID has triggered this change for Colart and many other companies, we have found that it works both for our people and the company.
Looking specifically at the Head Office, this hybrid working coupled with changes made two years ago to decentralise certain brand and procurement activities has resulted in significantly less people in the office at any one time.
Knowing that the lease on the existing Head Office building is due to expire at the end of October 2021, we have therefore taken the opportunity to re-evaluate as part of the 2021 budget planning, the amount of office space required for the future. This re-evaluation has also included the logic of keeping the I&D function in London particularly as the studio and gallery activities are no longer based in the Studio Building.
We are therefore proposing to close the London lab with the lab activities being absorbed into our existing I&D functions in Le Mans & Tianjin with some new I&D activities performed in Minehead. The timing for this change would be in line with the expiry date of the lease.
As a result of this proposal, Richard Llewellyn will commence individual consultations with his team members in I&D in London and fundamental to these consultations is a desire to retain skills as far as possible. Of course, please understand the sensitivity of the situation and we ask you to be mindful of this when speaking to members of the team.
Furthermore, we are considering our options given the reduced need for Head Office space from November 2021 and this will form part of the discussions we will commence with the Studio Building landlord. Recognising that there is a lot of work linked to ensuring a more agile workspace requirement for the future, the support of the FutureScope team has been engaged. More communications will follow from this team on the subject and it looks like a remote activity involving everyone in Head Office is going to be planned for early November so that everyone in Head Office can be part of the solution.
In the meantime, if you have any questions regarding the above letter, please do not hesitate in contacting your line manager.
Best Regards,
Jane Beeston
Chief People Officer