PwC Case Study

Already enjoying the region’s renaissance, PwC is taking a leading role in shaping the future of the West Midlands as a centre for global business.

Supporting regional growth

At the core of the company’s regional growth priorities is a commitment to rebalancing its workspaces and people across the UK.

Matthew Hammond, Midlands Region Chairman and Senior Partner at the firm’s Birmingham office said:

“While London has traditionally been the focus of business activity for the professional services sector, there is a wealth of untapped potential in regions across the UK, like the West Midlands. This is a region where companies of all sizes can benefit from liveability and affordability indicators that make the region a great place to live and work, including strong connectivity and job creation, and accessing the talent pool from internationally renowned Midlands universities. The West Midlands has a lot to offer us. We are excited by the region’s diverse sectoral strengths and want to make the most of these opportunities to grow our business inclusively.”

Connecting people with place

Delivering 1.74m sq ft of contemporary office space and 120,00 sq ft of retail and leisure opportunities, Paradise will unite commerce and culture to bring around £700m investment into the city.

One Chamberlain Square sits at the heart of the development. More than just a building, the space has been designed with PwC’s ‘Everyday Flexibility’ working style in mind, focusing on the importance of a tech-enabled environment with spaces promoting face-to-face human connections to create an enhanced experience for its clients and staff.

Speaking about the company’s ambitions for the space, Mr Hammond commented:

“One Chamberlain Square is much more that an office investment. We are designing our space in an entirely new way, recognising how we work now is very different to even the recent past, and the future of work is changing rapidly. Our design ethos is to create a functional workspace but also hackable spaces for clients and colleagues to collaborate in. Our home will provide a flexible working environment that will allow us to respond with real agility to deliver exceptional client value and an environment with wellbeing at the heart of it for our staff. Our new home will bring together the public realm space of Centenary Square, Chamberlain Square and Victoria Square, putting our people at the centre of Birmingham’s thriving cityscape.”

In 2018/19, 60 per cent of PwC’s graduate intake was recruited to roles outside of London, up by five per cent from the previous year. As the region’s portfolio of major infrastructure and transport projects continues to grow, with HS2, the Midland Metro extension, and improvements to Birmingham International Airport all on the horizon, the company is hoping to make the most of the West Midlands’ unprecedented connectivity to attract new talent to the area.

Mr Hammond said:

“One Chamberlain Square is the perfect place to bring our vision to life to create a place full of possibilities and futures that people will want to be part of. A place that is memorable, distinctive and engaged with the city around it. We will be at the heart of the city and the heart of the country, with unbeatable connectivity, especially through public transport. We hope that this, combined with the region’s thriving economy and high quality of life offering, will continue to attract people to explore the West Midlands as a place to build a career and life.”

Nurturing top talent

Home to the largest cluster of business, professional and financial services businesses outside of London, the West Midlands has a pipeline of up and coming talent trained in the sector.

Across the region, over 40,300 students graduated in business or law-related subjects in 2017/18, with Birmingham recording the highest number of business students than any other regional city in the UK.

“The wealth of young, bright talent in the region was a major draw for expanding,”

said Mr Hammond.

“Midlands universities have been for many years the single biggest source of talent recruited into PwC across the UK, but retention in the region is materially increasing.”

PwC is committed to hiring school leavers, apprentices and graduates into a variety of roles, investing to equip them with the skills they need to further their careers.

The firm is working closely with the region’s education institutions, launching its first Tech Degree Apprenticeship programme with the University of Birmingham to train aspiring computer science professionals from diverse backgrounds, as well as partnering with local schools to raise awareness about the professional services sector and the career opportunities on offer.

Leading a legacy

With record levels of development across the region, the West Midlands is in a crucial phase of regeneration and is consequently brimming with investment potential.

Mr Hammond continued:

“We’re proud to be making our mark on Birmingham’s skyline. This current period of development and construction is a defining moment in the region’s rich and cultural history, and it’s exciting to think that we are an integral part of the city’s identity for future generations. We’re excited about our future here and can’t wait to settle in to our new home at the centre of the region’s thriving business, professional and financial services sector.”