A pair of the largest professional bodies for advisers are to work side-by-side on the same floor of an iconic London building.
The Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment and Chartered Insurance Institute announced today (September 7) they are to share space in the ‘walkie talkie’ from early 2021.
The CISI and the CII both reviewed their property footprints following the pandemic and made a decision for the CII to sublet part of the CISI’s existing office space in the Fenchurch Street building.
Simon Culhane, CEO of CISI, said: “This is collaboration and cooperation in action and a great opportunity for both organisations.
“During 2020 we have learnt the benefits of our staff being able to work remotely and how this positively contributes to productivity and well-being.
“Therefore we have taken a decision to remodel our existing property footprint by creating two separate offices on our floor. We are delighted that this change has offered us a positive new opportunity.”
The move brings two not-for-profit chartered bodies, both members of the Chartered Body Alliance, closer and will allow them to “serve their members in a new era”.
But the CII and the CISI will remain legally separate. Keith Richards, chief executive of the Personal Finance Society, said: “The CII and CISI are not merging.
“Both professional bodies saw this new arrangement simply as an opportunity to collaborate as both are downsizing office space requirements, and will continue independently but maintain the continued spirit of the existing Chartered Body Alliance.”
The CII currently has offices in South Woodford and Lombard Street in central London, both of which will be vacated by the end of December 2020.
It had already established an “anytime anywhere” approach to working, which enabled the move to take place.
Meanwhile the CISI is set to embrace a new way of working with a split of remote and office working to take place.
Sian Fisher, CEO of CII, said: “The walkie talkie will be a modern and dynamic business hub for us, which meets the evolving needs of our organisation with community space for staff and visitors, both on our floor and from other features of the building like the Mezzanine and Sky Garden.
“We look forward to being neighbours of our sister professional body CISI from 2021.”
imogen.tew@ft.com
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