United Kingdom, 2007-Aug-01
After 16 years based in Bracknell, Siemens plc is relocating the majority of its headquarters-based employees to a new office which has been officially named ‘Sir William Siemens Square’ to mark the occasion.
1,400 Siemens employees will move during August 2007 from Bracknell and Staines to Frimley. 250 information technology services specialists will continue to be based at Hyde House, a Siemens building adjacent to the site in Bracknell. A park and ride scheme will also operate from Hyde House for employees who wish to commute to Bracknell and continue their journey to Frimley by shuttle bus. The park and ride scheme was introduced to help reduce traffic and alleviate the need for additional parking spaces at the new headquarters.
Built four years ago, Sir William Siemens Square, close to junction four of the M3 motorway, is a stand-alone site with four office buildings totalling 183,000ft2 (17,000m2) of floor space. The offices have been refurbished with the latest state-of-the-art technology infrastructure, including many solutions from Siemens own product portfolio.
Andrew Beshaw, managing director of Siemens Real Estates, who led the relocation project, said: “Our aim was to create an inspiring, environmentally-friendly, modern working environment for our employees, helping them to work to their highest potential, productively and in comfort.”
“The relocation of our UK headquarters has been an ideal opportunity to rethink the way we work and massively reduce our impact on the environment,” said Beshaw. “We have set ourselves the target of recycling 75% of all our waste at the new HQ. We will start by putting in mechanisms to measure what we are doing so we can report on what is recycled, how much waste goes to landfill and how much energy we use.”
Globally, Siemens’ own carbon footprint is estimated to be 4.5 million tonnes of CO2, with the majority of that caused by electricity consumption. Lighting throughout Siemens’ new headquarters in Frimley has been installed using Siemens’ own intelligent technology ensuring minimal energy consumption. Lights throughout the building are designed to automatically turn themselves on when movement is detected and they dim or brighten according to the natural light in the office. The temperature, blinds and air-conditioning are similarly controlled centrally and the open-plan layout helps reduce the need for excessive air conditioning. Siemens estimates it will make an annual saving of 122.6 tonnes of CO2, and save more than £34,000 a year from the new lighting alone.
Paper consumption will be reduced by using the latest technologies such as RightFax (faxes direct to computer screens) and by 'binning the bin!' - Waste-paper bins have been banished from under desks and replaced with green recycling points on each floor. Multi-functional office devices which print, copy and fax are also located centrally to discourage unnecessary use of paper. The office will have video-conferencing facilities to discourage unnecessary air travel for meetings.
Green Travel Plan:
One of the aims Siemens prioritised when planning the move to Frimley was to make sure the company’s arrival has a positive impact on the local community. As well as bringing job opportunities and boosting the local economy by using local shops and services, the company was keen to work with the local authorities to minimise traffic congestion and demand for parking in the area surrounding Sir William Siemens Square.
Councillor David Ivison, Conservative Surrey County Councillor, feels Siemens has planned very carefully for the move: “I have been most impressed with the foresight and forward planning that Siemens has shown, in particular with their concerns for the local community and their willingness to listen to local people.“ he said.
A park-and-ride scheme has been created to enable Siemens employees to continue to travel to Bracknell, park and then complete their journey to Frimley by shuttle bus (10 miles). Shuttle buses are also planned from nearby train stations to encourage rail travel. A car-sharing scheme is being introduced with members receiving preferential parking at Siemens as a reward for car-sharing. Priority parking and facilities are also being allocated to employees who travel to work by motorcycle and by bicycle - with lockers, showers and changing facilities to encourage these greener forms of transport. An innovative environmentally-friendly vehicle washing service that uses no water will be available to employees and visitors to the Siemens office.
Flexible working is also being encouraged. Many Siemens employees are already able to work from home via fast broadband connections. Siemens has made a concerted effort to make flexible working the norm wherever practical - an opt out rather than an opt in, reducing the need for permanent desk space, and unnecessary traffic on the roads.
Sir William Siemens Square will be officially opened on 14th September.
About Siemens in the UK:
Siemens was established in the United Kingdom 164 years ago. The company employs 20,314 people in the UK, including about 6,500 in the manufacturing sector. Last year’s revenues were £3.5 billion, including exports of £580 million, and it spent almost £75 million on research and development. As a leading global engineering company, Siemens provides innovative solutions to help tackle the world’s major challenges, including the shortage of natural resources, increasing environmental care, and a growing demand for healthcare, mobility and security. Siemens has offices and factories throughout the UK, with its headquarters in Bracknell, Berkshire. The company’s global headquarters is in Munich, Germany. For more information, visit www.siemens.co.uk
Notes to editors
Ms. Anne Keogh Corporate Communications
Siemens plc
Contact for further information:
Tel: 01344 396312
Mobile 07808 823545