AJ Bell, one of the UK’s largest investment platforms, toasted the opening of its new Exchange Quay headquarters with a staff gym challenge led by former World Champion and Commonwealth Gold Medallist Squash Player, Nick Matthew, and British Pro Triathlete, Harry Wiltshire.
AJ Bell employs 650 people, the majority of which are based in Manchester and have been moving into its new 4 Exchange Quay (EQ4) headquarters over the past couple of months. The design emphasis of EQ4 is on agile and collaborative working in order to deliver first class service to AJ Bell’s customers. Staff played a big part in the development of the new workspace with ‘champions’ selected from each business area to engage employees with the move.
The move has culminated in the opening of a brand new gym, which will be used to run a number of classes from spin to Pilates and gives staff access to cardio machines, a weights area and table tennis tables.
To celebrate the official opening of the office Nick Matthew and Harry Wiltshire ran a selection of spin and studio based training sessions with staff. Harry also took staff competing in the AJ Bell London Triathlon for an open water swim training session in Salford Quays.
The two athletes each led a team of staff members in a head-to-head 10km challenge on the new spin bikes. The elites drummed up some good-natured competition between the two teams with Team Nick ultimately spinning their way to victory.
As well as a state of the art gym the office includes relaxed break out areas, a roof terrace and a dining area and lounge which will transform in to a bar for staff once a month.
AJ Bell looks after £36.3bn of investments for over 152,000 customers in the UK through a combination of Self Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), and dealing accounts. The business saw revenue increase by 24% to £37.0m and profit before tax increase by 27% to £11.2m during the first six months of its financial year (1 Oct 2016 – 31 March 2017). The move to EQ4 is part of this continued growth trajectory.
Andy Bell, chief executive at AJ Bell, comments:
“The move to Exchange Quay is part of our ongoing investment in our growing workforce. We want to provide the best possible working environment for our existing staff which will also to help to support our active recruitment. I’m delighted that the new building has given us the opportunity to set up the brand new AJ Bell Gym.
“The AJ Bell Gym caters for a wide range of staff including those who want an entry level work out, those who want to attend one of our several group classes, through to those who are in high intensity training for the AJ Bell London Triathlon in July.
“We are always looking to involve our employees in our sports sponsorship activities so it’s great to have Squash legend Nick Matthew and elite triathlete Harry Wiltshire, who we work with as part of our sport sponsorship programme, attending the opening of the AJ Bell Gym and challenging staff in what were some tough training sessions.”
Photos of the gym unveiling are attached. For further information please contact:
Hannah Purslow
PR Executive
0207 378 4463
07590 839 044
hannah.purslow@ajbell.co.uk
Visit our Media Centre for all commentary and press releases from AJ Bell - www.ajbell.co.uk/media-centre