APD’s new home, two-storey offices in the shadow of Hull Minster, a large parish church, has undergone a £2m redevelopment to create a hi-tech hub.
The offices have been designed to support existing and new customers, with the first floor largely dedicated to software development, engineering and testing. The facilities include a test lab for the London Underground, for which APD manages communications between tube trains and control rooms, through multiple operators, as well as a new purpose-built software lab and audio lab.
There is also a presentation zone with tiered seating for developers to collaborate, individual “think tank” quiet pods for uninterrupted and focused working, and a games room for APD’s staff to relax. The office is equipped with video conferencing to enable staff to work efficiently with customers far and wide.
The company had outgrown its previous offices across two buildings at the Newland Science Park next to the University of Hull and is currently recruiting for a number of new roles. It will also hire four new graduate software engineers in September.
APD’s mission-critical communications and control solutions are used by 69 per cent of UK police forces and the company also serves major transportation hubs, including Gatwick and Dubai international airports.
APD commercial director Rhiannon Beeson, who led the relocation project, said: “Before, we were trying to fit the needs of the business around existing buildings; now we have a building that has been purpose-designed for APD and our ways of working, with room for further growth.
“We’ve been able to deliver this move and provide a working environment of this quality because of the effort our people have put into growing the business over a number of years. This is something the teams have been working for – they’ve made this happen.
“Everything has been designed with staff feedback in mind – they’ve been an integral part of it and their reaction has been overwhelmingly positive.
“Our aim is to be an employer of choice and now we have a workplace to support that ambition. Our people have exciting jobs within a growing business at the cutting edge of technology. Now they also have a great place to work, right in the heart of the city, with fantastic facilities all around.
“It’s great for our staff and definitely makes us even more attractive in the competition for talent.”
Support Engineer Mark Grice added: “The move has changed the atmosphere within the team completely. It’s improved communication and collaboration so much by us all being together in one place.”
