AGI on the move

Some of you may have visited us in the AGI office in Old Street. It was not the most inspiring of offices, but was expensive particularly because it had an area devoted purely to meetings. We were paying for this space all day and every day, but only using it perhaps once a week.

About a year ago, I was asked to investigate moving to alternative premises in April 2007 when our current lease was due to expire. The brief covered 4 major requirements -

1. A reduced fixed cost so that AGI could utilise a higher percentage on membership income back to the service of members needs and requirements.


2. More flexibility so that we are not locked into a long-term commitment which might not be appropriate in the future if for example we move to more part-time working, working from home etc.


3. Somewhere which has the ability to host meetings of AGI sub-groups.


4. An environment in which staff will thrive and give their best for AGI.

Meeting those requirements was not easy. But I am hugely grateful to the AGI team for their support and their embracing of change - indeed their enthusiasm for the change.

We found a suitable office off Bishopsgate near Liverpool Street Station. This is a serviced office run by a company called YourSpace which seemed to encapsulate within their philosophy the same philosophy which drives the AGI team namely an inspiration and a passion for their customers.

And so today we moved out of our offices in Old Street and into the new offices. The move went more smoothly than I had dared to hope. Our new address is
5 St Helen's Place
Bishopsgate
London
EC3A 6AU



I am looking forward to working in the new environment and using this as a base to continue to give our members real value for their membership. If any of our members read this, then please feel free to drop by and visit us. We will give you a warm welcome.