Dunnhumby's new offices in the Grade II-listed building at 184 Shepherds Bush Road
It’s been 100 years since Ford opened its assembly plant and showroom in Brook Green. But a century later the Grade II-listed building has a new lease of life – and 21st century tenants to match.
Global business Dunnhumby – which uses data and technology to help companies understand their customers’ needs better – has moved into its new home at 184 Shepherds Bush Road, bringing around 800 workers to the area.
After almost three years of development work at the imposing site, it has been transformed from the former three-storey industrial unit that also once housed Access Self Storage.
An extra three floors of office space have been added to the listed structure, while its crowning glory is a distinctive domed glass roof, all designed by Collado Collins Architects.
“We are delighted that Dunnhumby have chosen to invest in Hammersmith & Fulham and in one of our historic buildings,” said Cllr Andrew Jones, H&F Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Regeneration. “We are determined to make the borough a great place to do business and we warmly welcome Dunnhumby to Brook Green.”
New Headquarters
Dunnhumby’s chief executive Simon Hay said he was thrilled with the move from the company’s previous global HQ in Ealing to a ‘perfect building that has lots of character’.
“We are delighted to have moved our global headquarters to H&F. It is a vibrant community and we are pleased to be a part of it,” he said, adding the company will be in the area for the foreseeable future, having signed a 15-year lease, with the option to extend.
“It is great to be so connected to the broader London market but also the unique culture of Brook Green and Hammersmith.
“We are especially delighted to take a 100-year-old building that has been a little neglected in recent years and bring it back to life.
“It started life as a Model T Ford factory and we now build data and technology that is used around the world.”
The revamped and extended space – which now covers some 115,000sqft – officially became Dunnhumby’s global headquarters on 1 August, from where the business will lead its four other UK offices, as well as dozens of other sites worldwide.
The new building has been designed to reflect the culture, characters and designs of Dunnhumby’s offices around the globe, which include Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur to New York and São Paulo.
Despite its global reach, Dunnhumby’s birthplace was, in fact, just a stone’s throw from its new home.
The business was founded in 1989 in the spare bedroom of husband and wife team Edwina Dunn and Clive Humby’s Chiswick flat, with the vision of helping businesses understand their customers better.
The company went on to help develop the Tesco Clubcard programme and, now, it analyses data from around 1bn customers worldwide, for clients including Tesco, Procter & Gamble and Coca-Cola.
As well as its business aims, it also runs a charitable programme, called Helping Hands, with employees each given a volunteering allowance to take part in community projects.
“We are looking forward to being part of the community and using our Helping Hands programme to give back time and skills to help others in the area such as the Hammersmith Community Gardens Association,” added Mr Hay.
Visit the Dunnhumby website to find out more about the company.
