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07 Oct 2020

BluJay’s move to new Global Manchester headquarters in MediaCityUK

BluJay Solutions, a leading provider of supply chain software and services, announces the opening of its new global headquarters in the heart of Manchester’s MediaCityUK. In Blue Tower, BluJay will not only be a stone’s throw from the BBC, Ericsson and the University of Salford, but right next to innovators including broadcasting leader SIS, and Carbon Digital, the award-winning VFX agency.

An international hub for technology, innovation and creativity, the new location will allow BluJay to nurture its open and community-minded company culture. As a focal point for nurturing the best talent, the facilities and spaces that MediaCityUK offers enable a greater emphasis on employee wellness and happiness, which in turn inspires more confident and empowered teams – an advantage for BluJay in securing and nurturing top industry talent in the future.

“The health and wellbeing of those working with BluJay has always been our top priority,” said Andrew Kirkwood, Chief Executive Officer at BluJay Solutions. “Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, our team has shown incredible resilience, adapting to a full remote working operation in under 24 hours when UK lockdown began. Our decision not to furlough any members of staff worldwide now pays off as we open the new space and look forward to reuniting with our hardworking, talented teams, to whom we are very grateful for their dedication to keeping customer operations and goods moving over the recent months.

“We have also been focused on investing in the local area. Manchester is a northern powerhouse known for its innovation in industry. Bringing BluJay’s UK team of supply chain innovators into the city’s tech hub was the next logical step. We know that challenging times can spur on innovation, and we anticipate the supply chain and logistics industry will continue to grow resiliently, which is why now is an ideal time to invest in our UK operations.”

Previously located in the 4M building near Manchester Airport, BluJay’s move also reflects the company's initiative to reduce its carbon footprint. A move to the city centre builds upon this positive change to slash commute times and increase the range of green travel options for employees including cycling, taking the Metro and walking to work. Customers will also benefit from more efficient travel as they are welcomed to the new BluJay headquarters. This comes as BluJay continues to encourage sustainable practices across the logistics industry.

Sian Hopwood, SVP B2B EMEA at BluJay Solutions, who heads up the new office, has been overseeing its preparation for the safe return of employees to the workplace:

“We have been working hard to make safety seamless, without disruption to customer operations. In line with government guidelines, we’re committed to facilitating social distancing and other practices such as regular hand washing and surface sanitisation to put health first and provide a safe environment. While we are currently allowing only limited use of the new office per government advice, we look forward to welcoming employees and, in time, customers and stakeholders to a vibrant office rooted in great company culture, which supports productivity and innovation in the supply chain industry.”

The facilities available to BluJay employees and customers emphasise a continued commitment to collaboration and skill-sharing amongst teams. The communal, open-plan space has been purpose-designed by the team to empower smoother working and support the BluJay team’s collaborative working style. This includes hotdesking facilities, purpose-built call pods for a variety of needs, standing desks for speedy face-to-face meetings, and a large communal kitchen. Employees and visiting customers will also benefit from state-of-the-art health and leisure facilities, including gyms, shops, restaurants and bars around the site. MediaCityUK is an attractive area that also allows BluJay the opportunity to expand in the future.

Chris Reay, Property Director at MediaCityUK, concluded “We are delighted to welcome BluJay Solutions to our ever-growing community here at MediaCityUK. BluJay Solutions are an innovative, creatively minded technology company and place huge importance on their employees’ wellbeing, which is one of their major imperatives for moving to MediaCityUK. We are proud to be the new home for their global headquarters and look forward to welcoming their staff.”

In line with government advice, the new MediaCityUK office is open on a limited basis, for those BluJay employees who are unable to work from home.