Toyota celebrates 25 years at its Surrey headquarters

Toyota has hosted a week of celebrations to mark 25 years at its landmark headquarters at Great Burgh, near Epsom, Surrey.

The award-winning building officially opened its doors in 2001 as a new home for Toyota (GB) PLC – the global car maker’s UK national sales and marketing operation for its Toyota and Lexus brands – and Toyota Financial Services (UK) PLC. Today, more than 400 people work on site, including teams from Toyota Insurance Services UK.

Toyota is long-established as a major Surrey employer. Prior to moving to Great Burgh, it was based for many years at the Quadrangle in the centre of Redhill.

The building

In 1997, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) hosted a competition to design a new Toyota HQ. The winner was Sheppard Robson who proposed a 14,000m² light, open and flexible workspace.

Construction began in 1999 on a 5.7-hectare parkland site, alongside an existing Grade II listed property that was originally built for the Colman family, founders of the Colman mustard brand

The official opening took place on 10 July 2001, the honours performed by Patricia Hewitt, the then Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, and Fujio Cho, Toyota Motor Corporation President.

Developing an Eco-HQ

In 2014, Toyota joined the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew in auto-industry first to carry out an extensive landscaping and planting programme. Supported by the Surrey Wildlife Trust, the scheme introduced native plant species local to the area and created habitats to encourage wildlife. Toyota’s Eco-HQ today includes ponds, wildflower meadows and an orchard.

The celebrations

Toyota marked the anniversary with a celebration lunch on 10 June for all those working at Great Burgh and a cake-cutting ceremony. The week of activities also featured a question-and-answer forum with a panel of sports stars representing the company’s sporting sponsorships, including its role as Principal Partner to the England and Wales Cricket Board and its support for Paralympics GB and Special Olympics GB.

ENDS