AN MP helped a telecommunication firm last week, not by picking up the phone, but paying them a visit.
Alok Sharma cut the ribbon to declare open the new base for Three. The firm moved into Green Park last year, bringing together teams from its former Maidenhead and Reading offices.
The company’s CEO, Robert Finnegan, gave the Reading West MP a tour of the 117,000 sq ft building. Three says it was chosen in line with criteria that matters to Three employees, including accessible parking, open spaces, great transport links and state-of-the-art meeting rooms.
And the green credentials of the office align with Three’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and become net zero by 2040.
This includes solar panels generating more than 17,000KWh of renewable energy every year, and there are electric vehicle charging points for staff and visitors.
During the visit, Mr Finnegan and Mr Sharma discussed Three’s investment in Reading and its work to bring high quality connectivity to its customers throughout the country, in addition to Three’s commitment to the training and skills development of its employees. Ths includes 3,000 online learning modules taken over the past year, and more than 200 mentors helping colleagues develop their careers.
Mr Finnegan said: “While we have had colleagues working here for a number of months, it was great to be able to welcome local MP Alok Sharma to officially open our Green Park HQ.
“We are really excited about this next chapter for our business, and the relocation of our central office to a building that was built with sustainability in mind.”
And Mr Sharma said he had been pleased to tour the premises and open the buildings.
With his COP26 hat on, he added: “I am delighted that Three is committed to becoming net zero by 2040. It is vitally important that all businesses step up and look to reduce their carbon footprints on the route to a net zero future.”
As part of the move, employees are encouraged and empowered to take a hybrid approach to office and home working, and to see the office as a hub they can use in combination with home working, rather than a place to work five days a week.
Mark Redmond, chief people officer, said: “We have looked hard to find a place that fits the type of organisation we are today, but also one that will suit us as we grow over the coming years.
“Since employees started coming into the office, we have had great feedback. The new hybrid approach to working has been embraced with colleagues gathering in person less frequently, but with more purpose.”
