Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions’ head office based in Newbury, recently embarked on a £1.5m office re-design and renovation project to its current site off Kiln Road. Its previous lease expired in 2010, but rather than relocate to another site, the business decided to remain in Newbury and to revamp its offices to improve the working environment for its local employees and to accommodate its future growth.

One of the most important considerations was to install a more efficient air conditioning and heating system that was also less noise polluting for the neighbouring residential areas. The ground floor office was also fully insulated, which, together with the new heating system, ensures that the whole building consumes less energy. Energy efficient lighting with sensors were also fitted into the building and an investment in new technology reduced the number of printers from 48 to eight multi-functioning printers.

“This office refurbishment is an investment into the future of the company and it was important to make improvements to support our future growth in Newbury. We employ many local staff from the Newbury area so we wanted to not only allow for growth but to improve the working environment for employees and customers. It was also important for us to use regional contractors to support the local Newbury economy, an area important to Hitachi Capital,” said Zoe Franks, facilities executive at Hitachi Capital.

The final phase of the renovation is due to be completed in April 2012.