400 staff to relocate on Colmore Row

Aon has revealed plans to relocate its 400-strong Birmingham team from 2-6 Colmore Gate in September.

The professional services firm has agreed to a 10-year lease on the whole of the 22,709 sq ft space on the 12th floor of the Colmore Building.

Built in 2008 on the site of the former Birmingham Post and Mail printworks, the Colmore Building features a ground-floor coffee shop, private doctor’s office, a gym and yoga suite, hair and beauty treatment rooms, dry cleaners, bike stores and changing facilities, and electric chargers in its 115-space car park.

Following a refurbishment in 2016, the building holds a sustainability rating of BREEAM Excellent for its construction and operation.

Ted Winterbottom, programme, project and change manager for Aon in Birmingham, said: “We are all looking forward to moving to our new offices in the Colmore Building following the end of our current lease. In the search for new premises, we focused on sustainability, wellbeing and a city centre location, and the new office meets all our criteria.

“We recognise the BREEAM Excellent rating within our Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) commitments, alongside the quality of the building and the amenities it offers our colleagues. The new space will also support our Smart Working approach, which brings our workforce together collaboratively to deliver the best of Aon to our clients”.

The internal fit-out is underway to create an open-plan space with conference rooms, co-working hubs and break-out areas. The office will have a total of 23 meeting rooms, the names of which will be decided by the Aon colleagues who will use them day to day.

Aon was advised by agent CBRE and solicitor Heald Nickson.

Liz Bailey, director and head of office occupier advisory and transaction services at CBRE in Birmingham, said: “The move to offices that deliver space, amenities, and environmental and sustainability credentials that better fit our clients’ needs is a growing trend in Birmingham. Occupiers are recognising the business benefits of these features, both from a corporate governance/ESG perspective and the health and wellbeing of employees. The Colmore Building ticked all these boxes and I'm pleased to have advised Aon on its move”