The Canal Road site in Leeds, UK, reopened after a significant renovation. The newly updated space features an improved, modern and transformative work environment.
Up to 500 Farnell employees returning to the premises in Leeds, UK will find facilities with significantly enhanced sustainability credentials, including energy delivered from 100% renewable sources, zero waste going to landfill and space for 40 electric vehicles to be charged on-site per day.
Taking 12 months to complete, the global head office has been designed to embrace changes in the ways that employees now work at Farnell, with a mix of full-time office occupation and hybrid homeworking.
The building now benefits from flexible functional hubs and collaborative spaces, while an impressive balcony area offers the opportunity to work outside when the Yorkshire weather allows.
Chris Breslin, Farnell Global President, said: “This is a proud day in Farnell’s 84 year history in the UK. The Canal Road refit has seen the business make a multi-million pound investment to bring all of our head office colleagues into a space that we can all be proud of. After what has been a monumental makeover we have brought our global head office back to life to become a workplace which is transformative, modern and meets our new ways of working, while showcasing Farnell as an industry leader and a great place to work.”
Avnet Breaks Ground on Third Distribution Center in EMEA
Just as Farnell re-opened Canal Road, Avnet EMEA was breaking ground on a new high-performing distribution center in Bernburg, Germany. The new facility will provide support for the growing semiconductor and electronic components market, enabling Avnet to build its growth strategy in Europe while creating hundreds of new jobs.
The official ground-breaking ceremony took place on Sept. 7. As part of the ceremony, Avnet presented to students at the local elementary school and university two trees representing Avnet’s sustainability and social responsibility efforts at the new location. Once construction for the distribution center is complete, the trees will be planted onsite.
Construction is scheduled to be completed in 2024 and the facility fully operational in 2025. It will add much-needed capacity as it joins Avnet’s two existing distribution centers in Tongeren, Belgium and Poing, Germany in serving the EMEA market.
