On the Beach has opened a new “digital headquarters” in Manchester city centre as it plans to double its workforce within five years.
Following a multi-million-pound design and re-fit, the OTA has relocated the majority of its business operations to the Aeroworks building, a former aircraft components factory.
The business’ contact centre will remain at the previous headquarters at Park Square in Cheadle, which will also undergo major redesign and refit, due for completion in early 2019.
The new campus-style office will devote its entire lower ground floor to a range of open working and social spaces, including a 250-seater auditorium and theatre, games room and beach bar, as well as breakout areas, a virtual aquarium and a “chill-out room”.
The upper floors will include a user experience testing lab as well as development team pods.
The move is intended to facilitate the FTSE 250 company’s growth plans and to “compete with the north west’s leading technology businesses” to attract and retain the best talent in the region.
On the Beach plans to almost double its workforce to more than 500 employees in the next three to five years. The majority of this growth will come from expansion of its digital teams, focusing on development, design and marketing as well as product and business analysis.
Simon Cooper, chief executive, On the Beach, said: “After conducting an extensive engagement initiative with all our employees, we are all absolutely thrilled with our new offices.
“Not only will they provide a fantastic working environment for our current employees but will also enable us to attract the very best talent from Manchester and around the rest of the UK.
“At heart On the Beach has always been a Manchester-based business, and now we are a business based in the heart of Manchester. We’re excited about being at the centre of the city’s vibrant digital community and for what the future holds as we continue to grow.”
Meanwhile, On the Beach Group has announced that Lee Ginsberg, its non-executive chair of the board, will step down from his position. He will remain on the board as a non-executive director.
David Kelly, senior independent director, will take over the chair of the board role on an interim basis and will also chair the nomination committee. An executive search firm will shortly be appointed to assist with the search for a new chair of the board.
These changes will take effect on November 30.