Pets at Home opens new pet-friendly head office

Cheshire-based Pets at Home has opened a new, pet-friendly head office called Chester House, named after the first Pets at Home store that opened in 1991.

The new building is the result of a £2m investment in an expansion of its Handforth headquarters that will help drive improved ways of working using the latest in technology and communications to provide a workspace that encourages collaboration and teamwork.

Chester House can accommodate up to 300 colleagues and includes 17 meeting rooms, all with their own unique design that reflects the history and achievements of the business.

The building also includes three kitchens, a library and a creative lab.

Along with a variety of spaces for working, the new office aims to enhance colleague wellbeing during the working day.

From private phone booths and enhanced lighting, to a tuck shop and areas for relaxation, Pets at Home has worked closely with its people team to create an environment that not only looks good, but offers comfortable and productive spaces.

In addition, the building also boasts a pet kitchen, a dedicated area for storing and preparing food for furry friends, which even includes a tuck shop in case colleagues forget those all-important treats.

Outside, Pets at Home has invested in a Pet Park, a fully enclosed, safe area designed with the welfare of colleagues’ pets in mind and, as such, is split into different zones and textures for inquisitive paws.

It includes toys, ramps, tunnels, water stations and a warm shower for muddy paws – and boots.

An internal competition to name the new building was won by Sue Richardson, a central data manager and one of the retailer’s longest serving colleagues, and Leanne Friar, development small projects manager, who chose the name Chester House in recognition of the first Pets at Home store that opened in 1991 in Chester.

Founder of Pets at Home, Anthony Preston, and his wife, Margaret, were invited to the opening of the new headquarters by group chief executive, Peter Pritchard.

Mr Pritchard said: “From the Pet Park to the meeting rooms and kitchen spaces, our new state-of-the-art home and workplace has been built with our colleagues and their pets in mind.

“We’re delighted that Anthony Preston and Margaret were able to join us for the opening of Chester House. The business has come a long way since our first store opened in Chester and it seems fitting that our new building is named after it.”

Pets at Home also unveiled new names for its two other support office buildings, Gateshead House and Rotherham House, named after the second and third Pets at Home stores to open.