Aon plc (NYSE: AON), a leading global professional services firm, has moved to new premises in Manchester by relocating to 11 York Street.
Aon which employs around 50,000 people worldwide, has taken the full 17,282 sq ft fifth floor of 11 York Street. This allows Aon to bring the whole Manchester-based team together in one space and provide a flexible, collaborative, open, working environment for all colleagues.
At the official opening of the new office Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, welcomed Aon’s 200 Manchester-based staff to their new home.
He was joined by representatives from across all of Aon’s teams, along with current and recent graduates of the firm’s apprenticeship programme.
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said:
“It’s an honour to officially welcome the Aon team to their new Manchester office. Insurance is a major employer for this city and helps to grow the local economy. It’s great to see a business such as Aon committing its future to the city and to supporting clients right across the North West.
“It has been a pleasure to meet the team and hear about Aon’s initiatives to attract young people into the industry through professional apprenticeships and work experience programmes. It’s clear to see from the work the team does and the clients they work with, that Aon is providing the exciting career opportunities needed to help retain talent in the city, thereby strengthening Manchester’s position as the Insurance Powerhouse of the North. This fantastic new office is a really impressive space and somewhere I’m sure the Aon team will enjoy working.”
Michael Barber, Aon Manchester Branch Director, Commercial Risk Solutions, said:
“Manchester is the UK’s second insurance city and one of Aon’s most prominent locations. Investing in this new city centre base is a key part of our growth ambition for the North West. As a global leader in the field, and a major part of the region’s insurance scene, partnering with clients across a diverse range of sectors, ownership structures and sizes, right across the North, we can provide an exciting and rewarding career for both highly experienced insurance professionals and new entrants. This high quality and inspiring working environment, with its state-of-the-art amenities and strong ESG benefits, reflects a deep-seated commitment to our colleagues and clients.”
An environmentally-conscious choice for Aon, 11 York Street is BREEAM Excellent and EPC A rated and incorporates state-of-the-art lighting, heating and cooling systems to reduce carbon emissions and improve internal air quality. Public and sustainable transport options are encouraged for employees as the building is located five minutes from the Market Street and Piccadilly tram stops, and is close to the city’s bus terminals. Cyclists are also well catered for with 58 bike storage lockers, showers and drying facilities on site.
Jonathan Craven, Partner in Aon’s Wealth Solutions business said:
“In seeking new office space, Aon focused on maintaining a city centre location and finding a building which fitted with both our Smart Working Model and ESG commitments.
“Smart Working is centred on the four Cs – Clients, Collaboration, Celebration and Coaching and, while we have embraced the myriad benefits of hybrid working, the office remains a place to connect, build knowledge, develop capabilities, enrich careers and contribute to a sense of belonging. 11 York Street certainly aligns with that.
“We wanted to design a space to support Smart Working, focusing on how we work not necessarily where and when we work, in a way which allows us to deliver the best for our clients. This new space will help us in that ambition to develop strong teams and create an inclusive work environment, both in-office and through virtual collaboration, where all colleagues feel a sense of belonging and further strengthens the firm’s culture.”
The team has moved from 40 Spring Gardens where the firm had been based since 2011. During the move Aon recycled some of the office furniture, netting £3,600 for charity.
Michael Barber added:
“Aon has a strong commitment to supporting communities across the UK where our colleagues and clients live and work. In Manchester, colleagues have long supported good causes in different ways, from mentoring students of all ages to hosting charity fundraising events. While planning this move, we felt it was important to make best use of resources which weren’t moving with us. We were delighted, therefore, that our furniture supplier agreed to take some of the old furniture back and gave us £3,600. This has been donated to the Aon UK Charitable Foundation to share among the charities up and down the UK that our colleagues choose to support, including Wood Street Mission in Manchester.”
The 80,000 sq ft 11 York Street is owned by Aviva Investors, the global asset management business of Aviva Plc. Occupiers include Rolls-Royce, Avison Young, and Teneo.
Aon was advised by CBRE.
Aon employs around 200 insurance and risk management specialists at its Manchester office providing clients, from SMEs to large corporates, with commercial risk solutions, health solutions, reinsurance solutions and wealth solutions.
