PwC opens largest UK regional office in Birmingham as it continues to invest in its regional presence

PwC, the leading professional services firm, has opened its largest UK regional office as it moves into its landmark new Birmingham home, One Chamberlain Square. 

The Firm’s 2000-strong team in Birmingham has moved across the city from Cornwall Court, where it has been based for 27 years, to its new home at One Chamberlain Square in Birmingham’s Paradise development project. 

One Chamberlain Square is a world-class building, designed by Architect Eric Parry, and is the first building to be completed in the Paradise regeneration scheme in the heart of Chamberlain and Centenary Squares. 

PwC will occupy the whole of the commercial space in the seven storey, 172,000sq ft office building, which also has retail and leisure facilities on the ground floor. 

Special attention has also been given to the internal design to subtly reflect the diverse industrial heritage of Birmingham and the Midlands region.  The design of workspaces and ‘hackable’ settings are created to give staff and clients a choice of flexible and tech-enabled settings for now and in the future.  The fit-out was inspired by the city’s motto ‘Forward’, together with the graffitti inscription ‘Everything is Possible’, which featured on the brutalist library by exhibiting artist Lucy McLauchlan, as well as its internationally renowned markets and industries, through internal design features and colour schemes.  

Each of the seven floors, with their floor to ceiling windows maximising natural light into the space and the views of the city from within, incorporate design cues from important aspects of the city’s identity, including the original Birmingham markets, the Jewellery Quarter, textiles, industrial manufacturing, confectionary, and arts and literature. The sixth floor is also home to a unique piece of artwork - a transcribed spoken word poem entitled ‘Midlander’ by Birmingham-based writer and performer Casey Bailey. 

A diverse steering group, from new joiners to senior partners, has worked together for the past three years, canvassing the opinions and requirements of all staff, working together with the design team to create an amazing space that is fit for the future of work and will provide first-class space and facilities for clients, colleagues and community interests which PwC works closely with. 

Matthew Hammond, Midlands Region Chairman and Senior Partner for PwC in Birmingham, said:

“It is with immense pride on behalf of all those involved in PwC’s investment in One Chamberlain Square that we move into our new home in the very heart of Birmingham and the UK.

“The culmination of many years’ hard work by our colleagues and the development partners have made the visionary scheme for Paradise, and in particular One Chamberlain Square, a reality. 

“Consistent with our desire to take the heritage and culture of Birmingham and the Midlands as the inspiration for One Chamberlain Square, our team have used the motto ‘Everything is Possible’ in our endeavours to create an unrivalled environment for clients, colleagues and visitors. 

“This is PwC’s largest investment outside London currently.  It will complement other significant investments across the UK, including Bristol, Reading, Leeds, Manchester, Edinburgh, and in late 2020 Belfast at One Merchant Square.  We are demonstrating our commitment to growth in the Midlands and Birmingham by creating employment and training opportunities for people now and in the future. Attracting future talent is the life-blood of our firm as we continue to deliver on our vision of being the leading tech-enabled professional services firm.”  

PwC will also be the anchor tenant of the Paradise scheme with One Chamberlain Square being the first building to be occupied ahead of the completion of Two Chamberlain Square this Spring. 

Rob Groves, regional director at Argent, said: 

“Welcoming PwC to One Chamberlain Square is the culmination of years’ of work and planning. There is a very strong synergy between PwC and the quality of what we are creating and we are immensely proud that PwC has chosen to make its largest regional investment here at Paradise. 

“This is a truly transformational year for the development, with Two Chamberlain Square completing and work underway on the delivery of One Centenary Way. We are delighted that PwC will be with us throughout the remainder of our journey to deliver Birmingham’s premier business address.”

PwC’s regional growth

The Firm’s move to One Chamberlain Square supports the firm’s continued growth in the Midlands. The PwC Birmingham team has now surpassed 2,000 colleagues as the firm grows towards it planned target of 2,300 by the end of 2020. 

This growth comes as part of a major push across the UK, as PwC now employs more than 10,000 staff outside London and is planning to invest £140 million in FY19/20 in people, quality, training, technology and upskilling.

Kevin Ellis, PwC Chairman and Senior Partner, added:

“This is PwC’s largest property investment outside London to date.  By 2021 we plan to have added 1,000 new roles in Birmingham, and we’re moving quickly to reach this target with 700 of these new jobs already created. This new office complements our other investments across the UK, including Bristol, Reading, Leeds, Bradford Manchester, Edinburgh, and we’ll be opening a new Belfast office in late 2020 in response to our growth in Northern Ireland. We’re committed to investing and developing our workforce across the UK, by creating inclusive employment and training opportunities for people from all backgrounds.”