Media
Very prepares for hybrid working with Liverpool HQ glow up
March 10, 2021
The Very Group, operator of Very.co.uk and Littlewoods.com, has transformed its Liverpool-based campus into the ideal setting for collaboration, innovation, learning and socialising, as the £2bn-revenue retailer sets its sights on a new, permanent hybrid working model.
The renovations, completed by Greenmount Projects, will create the optimum team working space when the group’s 2,100 Liverpool-based colleagues begin to split their time between home and office working when circumstances allow later this year.
At Skyways House – a 12,400-square metre, former aircraft hangar – the company has introduced an open plan environment with a plethora of bespoke break-out and collaboration spaces, ideally designed for interactive group working. Hot desks have been installed to enable colleagues and teams to work from anywhere on site, while green spaces add an element of calm.
The Hub, the second office on campus and future home to 750 of the group’s customer care colleagues, has been transformed into a leading-edge flexible contact centre, featuring collaborative zones, hot desks, quiet pods, training rooms and break out spaces of different sizes and specifications.
Throughout the campus, new zones have been defined using distinctive furniture, carpet and décor to help teams come together in the right places to collaborate, while accessible kitchen spaces and unisex toilets have been added. The entire project has been delivered to the highest environmental standards, with all existing furniture recycled.
This latest reinvigoration of Very’s campus, which has also been replicated at its Bolton customer care centre, complements the existing wellbeing area at the Liverpool HQ. This space includes a conference centre, juice bar, relaxation zone and a colleague gym with regular fitness classes.
Sarah Willett, chief people officer at The Very Group, said: “Remote working during Covid-19 has seen our people operate with even greater ingenuity at a time when we’re attracting record numbers of new customers. Our colleagues have told us they like the greater flexibility that comes with working from home and when the UK starts re-opening, we’ll make some permanent changes to the way we work.
“We want our people to be productive at home and super collaborative in the office. That’s why we’ve invested in reconfiguring our workspaces, and we’re absolutely delighted with the results. Our new spaces will be about high energy, high impact creativity and collaboration, all with a focus on improving the experience for our colleagues and our 4.5m customers. We’ll also continue investing in our technology and systems to make sure our people have the best tools for the job.
“But our plans aren’t just about productivity. They’re about how we can offer our colleagues true value and get value back in return. By offering better balance, increased flexibility, interesting work, and an amazing place to come together, we can attract even more outstanding people – and retain the ones we already have.”
Mike Sharkey, managing director at Greenmount Projects, said: “Designing to repurpose these iconic buildings with a brand like Very has been amazing for the Greenmount team. We’re proud of these collaborative new spaces we’ve created, which themselves were shaped through strong collaboration with the Very team.”
