location, relocation, expansion, portal

Met Office

In 2003, the Met Office undertook one of the largest IT moves in Europe. A business which requires continuous 24/7 operation, and had outgrown the facilities available in and around London, the relocation to Exeter was not taken lightly. The target for relocation was to maintain 70% of key staff. In the final analysis, however, 82% of key staff was convinced to make the move to Exeter due to the materials and support offered by the City Council.

Graham Cooper, Head of Human Relations at the Met Office concluded that "Our staff have been really happy with the move to Exeter. It is a beautiful location and my colleagues have found the people to be extremely welcoming. This friendliness along with the support of local councils and the business community, was one of the factors which attracted us to Exeter in the first place." This sentiment was backed up by an anonymous survey which overwhelmingly supported the proposition that the building lives up to or exceeds the expectations expressed at the beginning of the relocation process, which began in 1999.

The facilities that the Met Office now inhabits in Exeter won the Building Services Awards for Major Project of the Year Award and the Best Office Building of the Year, in the same year that the Swiss Re Tower – colloquially known as The Gherkin – was also completed. From this state of the art, £80 million office, the Met Office continues to provide a world-leading service in weather forecasting.

The Relocation Director, Alan Douglas, said that "During 2003, the Met Office relocated to Exeter in a project that was on schedule and on budget and the reception we received from the local community played an important part in the successful move. I'm convinced the decision to move to Exeter was the right one. It has been good for our business, our customers and our staff and families." 

Eclipse Internet

Established in 1995 by entrepreneur Mark Lang, Eclipse Internet has been around since the beginning of broadband and is one of the UK's longest established Internet Service Providers for SMEs. In 2004, Eclipse Internet became part of the KCOM Group. The company offers a full range of Internet services to companies throughout the South West and the remainder of the UK. In recent years, the company has expanded further to offer backup, web hosting and eCommerce to its customers.

“Exeter provides an ideal base for our organisation due to its central location and ease of access. Many members of staff are able to walk or cycle to work whilst others commute in by car or train.

Whilst making the most of the latest technology, we also concentrate on the essential basics such as reliable equipment, in-house knowledge and sturdy, fast connections. Eclipse is now a national ISP, but we remain dedicated to our customers here in the South West. Both our equipment and the majority of our staff are located in our offices in the centre of Exeter. We continue to provide a 'local feel' to our customers in Devon and as a result we have been able to build relationships with other IT companies and organisations based locally, which in turn leads to a sharing of knowledge and skills.

Being in Exeter, we are in a perfect position to provide fast, effective support to our customers as and when required.

Our staff levels continue to grow at a steady pace and we are rapidly outgrowing our present offices. We remain committed to staying in Exeter and expect to do so. Skill levels are high and company loyalty even higher. We have maintained a spectacularly low turnover of staff which means that our team continues to become more highly skilled as time progresses.”

Amanda's Story

“There are certain moments in your career where you’d rather just stay in bed and not have to go into the office. The day I had to tell 217 employees that we had decided to move the entire company 184 miles away was one of those moments.

I did, however, have one thing on my side – we were moving to Devon. Everyone agreed that the new office was a vast improvement over where we were. There were also good schools and amenities, and most people would be home from work within 20 minutes.

We’ve now been here for three months and already we’re seeing a difference. People are coming in that little bit earlier and seem to be more motivated and happy in their work. I’d even say the company feels more creative, we’re getting better ideas on the table. As for our client, they now almost insist on coming to our offices rather than us travelling to them.

Regrets? Only that we didn’t do it sooner.”

Jardine Lloyd Thompson

Jardine Lloyd Thompson has established an office in Rosemoor Court, Pynes Hill, Exeter. The principle services offered from this office include pension scheme administration, actuarial support and consulting services.

Various aspects about Exeter were attractive to Jardine Lloyd Thompson and these include principally the following items:
Quality of staff - The quality of people employed in the area has been exceptional and continues to be so.
Location - Jardine Lloyd Thompson view Exeter as a gateway to the South West of England where many businesses can benefit from the services that can be offered.
Communication - links with the rest of the UK are excellent with London being 2 hours away by direct train, and other parts of the country being made more and more accessible through the expansion of Exeter airport.

Jardine Lloyd Thompson is committed to the Exeter area and will be seeking to enhance its own profile over the coming years as a committed business partner of Exeter.

Clare's Story

I started my business over eight years ago and in 2006 moved lock, stock and barrel from Surrey to Devon.

The main difference I noticed was how the business community is so much closer here. This was a huge benefit for me as it didn't take long to get to know the people of Exeter, which is important whether you're starting a business or relocating. I've even heard the city referred to as a village and it certainly has that feel.

Exeter is an amazing place for networking and the local social media community is outstanding. It's starting to impact my business in a great way and I can see this is a key to future success. I've met many great businesses and business people networking and my network is now exploding using social media, Twitter in particular.

Plymouth Software

Plymouth Software was founded by Chris Blunt and is currently based in Tamar Science Park, Plymouth.

“I moved to Devon to study at the University of Plymouth on a four-year course. That was almost ten years ago, and since graduating in 2006 I’ve worked both as a freelance software developer and a full-time employee. I’d always planned to start my own business after University, and in July 2010 I founded Plymouth Software. Staying in the South West has been a great decision. The benefits of living in the region are already well known: the rugged landscapes of Dartmoor, stunning beaches and friendly people. We also have a large, vibrant and varied business community here producing innovative technical and creative work that’s often seen on the national and international stage.

It’s sometimes been suggested to me that moving closer to Bristol or London might be better for my business. I disagree, and have seen friends and colleagues move away, ‘burn out’, and head back to Devon within a few years. What’s great, though, is that some of them have now started their own businesses here, and have found a new appreciation for the region. It’s the friendly, tight-knit business community that attracted me to starting up here. With everything that’s happening in Plymouth, and Devon as a whole, I’m incredibly optimistic about the future for both Plymouth Software and the wider business community across the region.”

Chris Blunt, founder of Plymouth Software.