Motor retailer Lookers has turned its Greater Manchester base into a "collaboration hub" as it becomes the latest company to adapt its physical premises to post-pandemic hybrid working.
The group - which this month reported pre-tax profits of £90m - has remodelled Lookers House in Timperley, Altrincham, to create spaces where its hybrid teams can "meet, innovate and socialise".
The complex includes touch down workspaces and "focus pods", as well as a "technology bar" for IT support and a cafe called The Pit Stop. Meanwhile there's a brand new MINI Electric in the reception space, as well as 12 new electric charging points in the car park for employees and visitors.
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The office redesign was carried out by commercial refurbishment & fit-out specialist Overbury’s Manchester office.
Lookers was founded in Manchester in 1908 and sells new and used vehicles at more than 150 franchised sites. It is currently recruiting 600 roles nationwide.
In March, Lookers secured a £28m boost after completing the sale and lease back of a site in Battersea, London.
Earlier this month Lookers said a jump in used car sales helped revenue to surge to more than £4bn for the latest financial year.
Chris Whitaker, Lookers’ chief people officer, said: "We wanted a new space that accurately reflects Lookers’ culture and ethos and who we are today – an ambitious, technology-driven, forward-thinking business.
"During the pandemic, we seamlessly adapted to working from home and now we are adapting yet again, but in a much more flexible way that supports our Hybrid Working Policy and which provides our central functions with flexibility in where they work, interact and meet and greet their colleagues and guests.”
Andy Garrett, chief information officer at Lookers, said: "Our new-look head office supports modern workplace wellbeing, enhanced productivity and flexibility for every employee and reflects the company’s ethos and its people-first policy.
"We have made an important investment in technology to ensure we have a bright, collaborative and spacious working space, enabled wireless connectivity and a tech bar to help our colleagues with any IT support onsite. This also underpins our commitment to ongoing transformation, to innovation and to our commitment to ensuring Lookers retains its position as one of the UK and Ireland’s top employers."
