North Tyneside Major, Norma Redfern officially opens the Cofely building.
Cofely’s new shared service centre at Quorum Business Park in north Newcastle was officially opened by Norma Redfearn, the Elected Mayor of North Tyneside, on the 13th November 2014. The new office will create up to 200 new jobs in the region. Cofely CEO Wilfred Petrie was also in attendence and commended Quorum on a fabulous working environment.
Cofely, a GDF SUEZ company, is a leading provider of integrated and energy services. The multi-national business, which employs over 15,000 people in the UK with a turnover of £1 billion, has made a strategic decision to move a number of its company functions into a new shared services centre in Newcastle. The new centre will provide customer support and internal services across operations at all of its UK locations.
Elected Mayor, Norma Redfearn commented: “We are delighted that Cofely has chosen North Tyneside for its new shared service centre. I have no doubt that the region’s skilled and motivated workforce and the lower cost of operating in the region were key factors in this decision.”
The new 26,000 sq ft office location at Quorum Business Park will see around 50 existing staff relocate from their present locations in the region, together with up to an additional 200 new local jobs created over the next 18 months. The jobs will be across a range of skill sets, covering different levels within the company.
David Hughes, Head of Shared Services at Cofely, added: “The move will put Cofely in a better position to support the increased demands of our enlarged business and enable future growth. The North East offers a great investment opportunity for businesses such as ourselves who are looking to relocate and further their development.”
Cofely has existing links with the region and north Newcastle area, through its partnership with North Tyneside Council, from whom it has outsourced a number of its staff.
Cofely’s David Hughes concluded: “We are very keen to consolidate our presence here and it’s our aim to make Cofely a sustainable and long-term employer in the region for years to come.”