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Halo HQ staff log on from new Willis Building home

Connor Bennett,in Ipswichand
Zoe Applegate
News imageAndrew Woodger/BBC A curved, dark glass building reflects the architecture and buildings opposite. People are walking past, and it is a sunny day with a blue sky. Andrew Woodger/BBC
The Willis Building remains revolutionary, according to its designer Lord Norman Foster

The founder of a technology company says its move to the heart of Ipswich will help make the town a "start-up incubator" that will keep young talent in the county.

Halo is moving its headquarters to the Willis Building - a Grade I listed glass office space designed by Lord Norman Foster, with insurance firm Willis - now called WTW - retaining a smaller presence there.

Founder Paul Hamilton confirmed to the BBC that staff will move into the building on Monday - and 250 people will be based there by the end of the year.

"This move reinstates our commitment to the region, and ambition to make Ipswich a tech hub," he said, adding that the firm wanted "to respect a historic and iconic building".

He says the company has ambitions to "create 5,000 jobs in 10 years".

The Willis Building is considered a local landmark and one of the most "revolutionary" office buildings in Suffolk.

It celebrated its 50th anniversary last year after being originally built for the insurance firm.

News imageJamie Niblock/BBC Paul Hamilton standing in a box at Ipswich Town FC ground. He has short greying hair and short greying beard and is wearing a black zipped up top with HaloITSM written on the left side. Beyond him are rows of blue seats and the football pitch.Jamie Niblock/BBC
Founder Paul Hamilton says he wants to "hit our target of 1,000 graduates in Ipswich by the end of 2030"

Worth an estimated £1bn, Halo is a global software company that builds IT service management and workflow platforms, used by major organisations such as Microsoft and Red Bull.

The company focuses its recruitment on graduates - with the average employee age about 24.2 years.

Hamilton said the move to the Willis Building was a "huge next step" and gave the company "the capability to expand further and hit our target of 1,000 graduates in Ipswich by the end of 2030".

"We are looking forward to working alongside WTW after the incredible 50 years they've had in the building so far," he said.

News imageMatt Marvel/BBC The interior of a large, open-plan office building. Three floors are visible. The lower one has a modern entrance with pass barriers. Two escalators take people to the next floor, which has green flooring. The third level is a mezzanine one with yellow, green flooring, walls and desks. The ceiling has metal struts and glass above.Matt Marvel/BBC
Its yellow and green interior is part of the building's Grade I listing and Hamilton reckons it creates a special working environment

Halo initially had two offices in Stowmarket but will keep one open.

Last year, the software firm replaced Ed Sheeran as the main sponsor of Ipswich Town's football shirts.

Jack Abbott, Labour MP for Ipswich, previously said the move was "massive" for the town, and that it symbolised "our economic rejuvenation".

News imageA multi-coloured Elmer sculpture on a pavement with the dark glass-fronted Willis Building and a residential tower block in the background on the other side of a road, which has a bus and two other vehicles on it.
The building has provided a backdrop to various charity sculpture trails, including the Elmer one in 2019

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