As Van Leeuwen approach their centenary year, they are reflecting on their achievements, and ensuring they have the right elements in place to future-proof their business.
Van Leeuwen began back in 1924 in Zwijndrecht, the Netherlands, and today has a presence in 33 countries with 84 locations around the world. It employs 2,400 people who span 58 nationalities.
In the UK, Van Leeuwen recently announced that they intended to move their UK head office to a new location, and they invited The Metal Magazine down to take a sneak peek at the building while it was being renovated.
Jo Brookes from Van Leeuwen UK told us “We believe that it’s important to invest in our people and in new technologies, so that we can provide a better service to our customers. One of the key reasons for the move is to prepare for the future generations, who will be carrying the Van Leeuwen name forward.
“The new office suite, known as ‘The Deckhouse’, is designed to give our current and future employees an inspirational and creative environment to work in. We are committed to building a strong company culture by embracing the diversity of our colleagues and where everyone can bring their whole self to work.”
The building will feature training and conferencing facilities as well as break out areas and a quiet room.
Jo continued, “Since taking ownership of the 2 floors, we have engaged with a team of architects, surveyors and our own colleagues to ensure the use of the space is not only safe but also ‘fit for purpose’ for our vision. A team of skilled contractors have been engaged to deliver substantial alterations within the building, hitting all the regulations for a safe and sustainable office environment. During these works, we have engaged with not only our UK colleagues, but also with a European steering committee, where we have drawn experience from previous office development projects, to ensure that ‘The Deckhouse’ will be a premier office environment.
“We’re still a family owned business and we’re proud of our heritage. Our new site maintains that authenticity, as ‘The Deckhouse’ is situated on the site of the old Round Oak Steel Works in the heart of the Black Country. The area, made famous for its nickname by a young Queen Victoria who described this part of The Midlands as “desolate” and “black” by account of the soot from the chimneys which covered the streets and houses. The area was regenerated in the 1980s to make way for the current office park, and ‘The Deckhouse’ will become our UK flagship. With it, we hope to keep the steel industry and the Van Leeuwen name thriving in the Black Country for generations to come.”
Van Leeuwen expect the renovation and fit-out of the new headquarters to be completed by the end of summer 2022, and we’ll be returning to the site to see how it looks once it’s finished.
To find out more about the services and products offered by Van Leeuwen, you can visit their website: www.vanleeuwen.com
