HMRC officially opens offices at Arena Central
ANEW government regional centre housing thousands of tax and pensions staff has been officially opened in Birmingham.
HM Revenue and Customs’ hub on the Arena Central complex was launched this week by Jim Harra, HMRC’s chief executive and first permanent secretary.
3 Arena Central, off Broad Street, is home to 4,600 civil servants, including around 3,500 from HMRC along with staff from the Department for Work and Pensions and Valuation Office Agency.
The Government has taken 240,000 sq ft across 13 floors of the building which is the second office block to be completed on the Arena Central estate, following the launch of the new HSBC UK headquarters in 2018.
News of the consolidated regional hub was first revealed in 2015 when HMRC confirmed it was planning to bring staff from 16 offices across the West Midlands into a central location.
It was confirmed in autumn in 2017 that Arena Central had been chosen as the location for the new base. The Birmingham operation is one of several regional centres across the UK which the Government department said would make savings of around £300 up to 2025/2026.
It is also running a regional centre for the East Midlands in Nottingham and has retained its other West Midlands office in Telford, where 750 staff are based, as part of the reorganisation.
Mr Harra said: “Birmingham is a vibrant, growing city, and one that’s soon to welcome both athletes and fans from around the world when hosting the Commonwealth Games.
“I am delighted to mark the opening of our regional centre and UK Government hub at 3 Arena Central.
“This development is an important part of HMRC’s transformation into a modern and digitally advanced tax authority and cements our position as an important contributor to the economy and communities in and around Birmingham and the West Midlands.
“The inclusive and flexible working environment has brought our people together and will create greater opportunities for collaboration to make it easier to deliver great services to our customers.”