BNP Paribas Personal Finance has officially opened its brand-new headquarters in Solihull, West Midlands. The opening event was attended by Councillor Ian Courts, Leader of Solihull Council, along with representatives from the West Midlands Growth Company, SuperTech, and colleagues across BNP Paribas in the UK.
The new 25,000 sq. ft office space, located at AIR in Solihull town centre, now serves as the home for 800 organisation employees. It also functions as the West Midlands regional office for Arval, BNP Paribas Group’s vehicle leasing company.
Having been based in Solihull for over 50 years, BNP Paribas Personal Finance UK has witnessed remarkable growth. From its origins in 1973 as Selfridges Finance Limited, the company has expanded to support over four million customers. Over the years, it has created more than 6,000 jobs across various departments, including marketing, IT, risk, and customer services, while partnering with over 300 businesses, including major retailers such as John Lewis, Currys, and B&Q.
The relocation to AIR represents a strategic investment of £3 million to create a collaborative, modern workspace designed to enhance connectivity, creativity, and productivity among employees. The decision to remain in Solihull was made after a thorough evaluation of alternative locations, with the town centre ultimately emerging as the ideal choice due to its strong infrastructure and accessibility for employees.
Stephen Hunt, Chief Executive Officer at BNP Paribas Personal Finance UK, emphasised the rationale behind this investment:
“As a leading provider of point-of-sale retail finance, it’s incredibly important that we invest in our colleagues and our work environment to enable us to maintain our position in what is a very competitive market. Our commitment to our colleagues, along with our ability as a business to continually innovate and adapt, are two key reasons why we’re now able to support over four million customers across the UK with their personal finance needs.”
He added: “We’re incredibly excited about this move and to be staying in the West Midlands. As the region with the fastest-growing tech sector in the UK, there is no better place for our team to be based to drive forward our business.”
The West Midlands has been recognised as one of the UK’s leading fintech hubs, with its tech sector projected to significantly boost the UK economy in the coming years. BNP Paribas Personal Finance plays an active role in the region’s digital transformation, including participation in The Innovation Lab, a fintech incubator program developed in collaboration with SuperTech WM.
Ricardo Mantovani, Deputy CEO of BNP Paribas Personal Finance UK, reflected on the company’s success in the region:
“Over the last 50 years, our organisation has gone from strength to strength and whilst we can attribute much of this success to the brilliant people who have worked at BNP Paribas Personal Finance UK during that time, it is also a direct result of being located in the West Midlands.
“The West Midlands has long been considered as one of the best regions to set up businesses due to its thriving population, which is now the UK’s youngest and most diverse, and the ever-increasing number of businesses in the area, which includes now over 200,000 businesses — making it the ideal location to take our business to the next level.”
The decision to remain in Solihull was warmly received by local business leaders, including representatives from Touchwood, Solihull BID, the West Midlands Growth Company, and Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council.
Councillor Ian Courts, Leader of Solihull Council, commented: “Their long-term strategic decision to grow their operations here in Solihull, is testament to our business-friendly infrastructure and reflects the obvious locational and lifestyle advantages we offer. This significant investment not only underscores the company’s confidence in our region but also highlights the West Midlands as a prime location for business growth and innovation.”
Solihull now ranks as the 5th largest economy in the UK outside London and the Southeast, with a GVA 44% higher than the national average.
Katie Trout, Director of Policy and Partnerships at the West Midlands Growth Company, added: “BNP Paribas Personal Finance’s choice of Solihull for its new headquarters – driven by the West Midlands’ status as the UK’s largest regional financial services cluster, excellent connectivity and diverse STEM talent pool – reinforces the key role the region is playing in advancing its global growth strategy.”
