Shell UK is pleased to announce that it is moving its Aberdeen office to The Silver Fin Building on Union Street, in the heart of Aberdeen City Centre. The premises will provide our staff with a modern workplace, fit for the future, as we reinvigorate the business for the energy transition.
Shell is eager to play its part in the regeneration of Aberdeen City Centre as it builds back from the coronavirus pandemic, the next chapter in Shell’s long and successful history in the city. Our first office opened in Union Street in 1965 and in 2018 we marked 50 years of production in the North Sea. This new office move demonstrates our continued partnership with the city and the region, as well as our commitment to the communities and businesses there.
Simon Roddy, senior vice president, UK upstream for Shell UK Ltd said, “This is great news for our staff and for our future as a key player in the North Sea’s energy transition. We are working on exciting projects and technologies like carbon capture and storage and hydrogen production. This is the right move for our teams as we help shape that lower-carbon future, supporting the UK’s journey to net zero, while continuing to provide the energy the country relies on through the transition.”
Councillor Jenny Laing, leader of Aberdeen City Council, said: “As the city emerges from the unprecedented effects of the CV19 pandemic, the Council has been accelerating work on the City Centre Masterplan and providing the necessary assurance and confidence to business and investors that Aberdeen is building back better. Grade A office accommodation will help both retain existing and attract new businesses - we need the people who work here to also spend time in our shops, bars, restaurants and public spaces. Shell’s announcement of its relocation to Silver Fin is a positive for the city and signals their confidence in Aberdeen and the city centre to other businesses and investors.
Russell Borthwick, chief executive of Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce, said: “Shell has been part of the fabric of the Aberdeen city region for decades, both as a major employer and a cornerstone of our status as a global energy leader. Relocating its operations to the heart of the city centre - where it all began in 1965 - is a clear signal of its continuing commitment to being a significant contributor to the economy and reputation of the North-east in the long term.
"The move will also bring increased footfall to the many retailers, cafes, restaurants and businesses in the area and act as a catalyst for further generation of the West End of Union Street as we look to a positive post-COVID future.
"Major ‘wins’ like this don’t happen overnight and without a tremendous amount of hard work behind the scenes from lots of people and organisations. The Chamber of Commerce and its Vanguard volunteers along with Aberdeen Inspired and a range of other partners were championing city centre working and living long before the potentially catastrophic impact of CV19 restrictions.
"We have already seen organisations like RBS, Aberdeen Journals, Harbour Energy, Tenaris, EY, KPMG, Prosafe and Chevron make the move with really positive results. Their message and ours today, as we seek to rebuild the footfall needed as the foundation of a vibrant city centre, is 'Wish you were here!'.
"If you are part of an ambitious business that shares the Chamber’s values in wanting to create the economic conditions for the future success of our region, maybe it’s your turn next?"
Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired welcomed the news and commented “This is exactly the news the city centre deserves. We hope this ambitious step by Shell UK, a world leading company, that employs a significant workforce in the city is the catalyst for other companies to follow suit and invest in the heart of the city where there is not only great commercial opportunities on offer but a retail and cultural offering second to none in the north of Scotland.
“This is a strong endorsement for our city centre as we come through the recovery, and I know that the ambitious plans we all have for the city will have played a significant part in Shell’s decision to opt for the city centre.”