A blessing by the Dean of Gloucester Cathedral, the Very Reverend Stephen Lake, officially opened the new offices of Ecclesiastical Insurance.
The Dean was one of a number of the dignitaries whose presence reminded the 200-plus staff and guests present how significant it is that the firm, which employs 500-plus staff in Gloucestershire, remains committed to the county.
Mark Hews, group chief executive of Ecclesiastical, said: ‘It was three years ago that we stood on this very spot when it was no more than a patch of waste ground.
‘We now have a new office fit for the future. What is most important is the work that can be done here and the contribution we can continue to make.’
Ecclesiastical is understood to be close to achieving its goal of gifting £100 million to good causes.
Mr Hews paid particular tribute to staff members Caroline Taplin, Una Glover, Harriet Ward, Chris Pitt, Steve Blackburn and Clare Quick as well as Matt Collard, from Northcote Building Consultancy and Helen Stevens of architects BDG.
Also present to mark the occasion were the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire, Diane Savory, the Mayor of Gloucester, Cllr Collette Finnegan, the leader of Tewkesbury Borough Council, Cllr Robert Bird and the council’s chief executive officer, Mike Dawson.
By Andrew Merrell
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