Innovative move for Willis Towers Watson
A strong local business with a global group behind it, Willis Towers Watson in Guernsey has recently moved offices.
The company specialises in captive insurance and has demonstrated its belief in Guernsey by moving to new modern offices at Albert House on South Esplanade. The move was relatively simple in that all the desks, chairs, equipment and technology were new.
‘We literally moved people and laptops,’ said Richard Paris-Smith, head of office. ‘Everything else was left behind.’
Concerned about landfill, the company contacted Le Murier School, which has a ‘Home Hubs’ project. The school has benefited from Willis Towers Watson’s move with everything from crockery through to carpet tiles. ‘Anything that was left we offered to staff in return for a donation to charity,’ said Mr Paris-Smith.
This innovative way to dispose of unwanted office equipment has meant that the company has started with a clean slate in its new premises. Following Willis Towers Watson’s model, the office has a large open-plan working area where all 30 staff are on one level. In addition, the Guernsey company has introduced agile working where every day you can come in and choose a desk and has also introduced standing desks to help with staff wellbeing.
‘Communication has also greatly improved since the introduction of the social areas,’ said Mr Paris-Smith, indicating the areas where staff can eat or have meetings. Standing meetings – another Willis Towers Watson model – have also been introduced, although Mr Paris-Smith admits to having being ‘nervously keen’ on the concept initially.
The office is kitted out in Willis Towers Watson’s corporate colours and there are private rooms for more-formal and client meetings. It’s a dynamic, modern workplace and the staff seem to have settled in very well.
Heading up a long-standing core senior team, Mr Paris-Smith said that the company has a policy to take local staff wherever possible. ‘We decided to consciously invest in young talent,’ he said, adding that WTW takes on school leavers as well as graduates. ‘People need a mix of skill sets, and we help with professional exams, whether in accountancy or insurance.’
Willis Towers Watson is a leading global advisory, broking and solutions company that helps clients around the world turn risk into a path for growth. With roots dating to 1828, Willis Towers Watson has 45,000 employees serving more than 140 countries and markets.
