Bath-based financial services software provider Altus has officially opened its new UK headquarters in the city – marking a significant milestone for the business as well as for the city’s regenerated Quays office district.
Altus – along with Bath-based chartered financial planning group Fidelius – are the first tenants in the showpiece 44,470 sq ft No.1 Bath Quays office scheme.
Altus’s 9,445 sq ft office on the top floor of the flagship building has been described as a “modern, collaborative and inclusive working environment” which aims to inspire its team to deliver the best outcomes for our clients.
Founded in Bath in 2005 by a small group of friends on a mission to speed up financial services with superior technology, Altus now has more than 160 employees and associates across the UK.
The firm, which was acquired by Canadian software company Equisoft last year, supplies specialist consultancy services and market-leading automation software to more than 150 clients in the investment, pensions, insurance and wealth management sector.
It engaged experts from the Bristol office of Paramount to design its new office, starting with a company-wide staff survey and several stakeholder engagement sessions.
The result is an office boasting a terrace and herb garden, ergonomically designed standing desks, a large communal kitchen, range of collaboration spaces with the latest audio-visual equipment to support a blend of remote, in-office and on-the-go workers, gender neutral and accessible facilities, and a dedicated health and wellbeing relaxation room.
Altus director Martyn Evans said: “We are delighted to be moving into this flagship building in Bath’s new commercial quarter.
“We are a business that was founded with a strong team ethos and family feel in 2005 – those values are as important today as they were then. “
Altus software products director Nick Meredith added: “Bringing the team back together in an inspiring workplace that felt like a home from home and truly considered their needs, was essential for us.
“The past few years have been tough on many people and we wanted to create a new kind of office that emphasised health and wellbeing, promoted collaboration and enabled new ‘hybrid’ – remote and in-office – working patterns.”
Paramount managing director Helen Bartlett said the fit-out and furniture had been carefully specified to create a space where people felt calm, happy and supported.
“This is what we call a ‘people-first’ approach to workplace design,” she added. “Our team researched the needs of all staff, who were an integral part of the initial analysis process, before commencing with the design work.
“It truly is an inspirational, all-inclusive workspace from a forward-thinking employer who put teamwork, wellness and sustainability at the forefront of its new office aspirations, and I’m proud to say that Paramount have successfully delivered.”
The building, Bath’s first major new office development for more than a generation, pictured below, offers the type of modern office accommodation capable of competing with recent schemes in Bristol and stemming the flow of fast-growing firms moving out of the city.
Bath & North East Somerset Council cabinet member for economic development, regeneration and growth, Cllr Mark Roper, said it was encouraging to see an expanding local firm staying true to their roots and relocating to an office in the heart of Bath’s new business district.
“No. 1 was designed and built to address the city’s shortage of Grade A office space and the building offers a contemporary and inspiring, workspace within easy reach of the city centre and train station,” he said.
The building has also been designed to reflect the council’s climate and ecological commitments and incorporates a number of energy efficiency measures to reduce its CO2 emissions including solar panels for onsite generation of electricity and VRF (variable refrigerant flow) air conditioning which offers precise temperature control in each space.
It has already been awarded an ‘A’ Energy Efficiency Certification.
