White Oak UK Moves Headquarters to Chester, Creating Up to 40 New Jobs in the North West

Independent lender reinforces long-term commitment to the region and office-based working

24 August 2021, Chester – Independent business lender White Oak UK has announced the relocation of its UK headquarters to Chester city centre, marking a significant investment in the North West and underlining the company’s long-term commitment to office-based working.

The business has taken a 10-year lease on a newly refurbished 15,000+ sq ft office at the landmark HQ Chester building, creating space to support its continued growth across both the region and the UK. As part of the move, White Oak UK plans to hire up to 40 additional staff from the local talent pool across Chester, Manchester, and Liverpool over the coming months.

The new headquarters, located on the second floor of the building, has been refurbished to a high specification and offers views across the historic City of Chester and Chester Racecourse. Importantly, the space brings all departments together on a single floor, creating a more connected, collaborative, and efficient working environment.

As Covid-19 restrictions ease following the UK’s vaccination programme, the relocation reflects White Oak UK’s long-standing commitment to an office-based working model. The new headquarters is designed to provide a professional, dynamic, and energetic environment that supports both employee collaboration and the delivery of high-quality service to customers nationwide.

Strengthening Local Roots and Community Partnerships

White Oak UK continues to invest in the local community through established partnerships, including a student programme with the University of Chester, support for Chester Aid to the Homeless, and its ongoing relationship with Chester Racecourse. The new headquarters and planned increase in staff numbers will further strengthen these ties, with a particular focus on supporting individuals and communities impacted by the pandemic.

White Oak UK also operates offices in London, Glasgow, and Southampton, enabling the business to support SMEs across the UK while continuing to build its presence in the North West. Already one of the largest employers in Chester, the company benefits from access to a strong regional talent pool across Cheshire and the North West.

Supporting Regional and UK Business Growth

Earlier this year, White Oak UK announced a £40 million commitment to businesses in the North West. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the company also provided almost £400 million in Government-backed CBILS loans to UK businesses, with more than £55 million of that funding supporting businesses in the North West.

Chief Operating Officer of White Oak UK, said:

“The move to our new headquarters in Chester is a major statement of intent for White Oak UK’s continued growth and evolution. It reaffirms our commitment to the North West as our home, while strengthening our ability to support customers both in the region and across the UK.

Bringing all our colleagues together under one roof will help foster stronger working relationships and enable us to deliver an even more connected and efficient service. The move also reflects the success of the business, having doubled our lending to UK SMEs since the start of 2020, and gives us the space to support a significant recruitment drive, with up to 40 new colleagues joining in the coming months.”

Councillor Richard Beacham, Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Cabinet Member for Inclusive Growth, Economy and Regeneration, said:

“Cheshire West and Chester Council is investing in Chester to make it an even better place to live, work, learn and visit. This announcement that White Oak UK is relocating here is great news for our city, and we hope other businesses will also benefit from having another large employer in the city centre.

This move has been supported by our Business Growth Team, and we would encourage other businesses considering relocation or expansion to get in touch for advice and support.”

Will Sadler, Director at property consultancy Legat Owen, retained agent for HQ Chester, added:

“HQ Chester gave White Oak UK the opportunity to bring its entire team together in one central location in the heart of the city. It is extremely encouraging to see businesses thriving and creating a significant number of jobs in Chester.”

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