Our New York Team recently moved into their incredible new office at 330 Hudson Street. Ben Muwoki and Dan Cole, two members of the SThree Group’s top management team in the US, share with us what they love about New York and what the new office means for them and their teams.
Let’s start with what Ben has to say about his adopted home and why his relocation to the Big Apple transformed his life.
“I have always had a love affair with New York, it started when I first watched ‘Big' with Tom Hanks many years ago. I was fascinated about how everything looked bigger, brighter and more fun!
Having lived here for just over two and a half years I can attest to the fact that there are many amazing features about New York. The food, the theatre, the music, the culture, the history, the fashion, the energy, the non-stop nightlife, the sports… but the thing that I'm in love with the most is the people.”
Our diverse mix of people and a successful relocation
“I am inspired every day I walk the streets by the eclectic mix of cultures all with a vision for their success”, says Ben. “From the street vendor, to the suits in Wall Street - people are busy with a purpose. That is only intensified when I walk into our office every day. We have people from all corners of the US and the world.
That's exactly why I love coming to work, and why my family and I decided to relocate for a 2nd time for the SThree Group. It's a real pleasure when you are surrounded by and constantly inspired by like-minded people.
When I joined the New York party from our Amsterdam office in Dec 2012 there were just 42 people across two of our specialist recruitment brands Real and Huxley on the 23rd floor of The Rockefeller Center overlooking Central Park. It was a great office with lots of motivated people full of potential with a thousand dreams. Dreams of more success, launching new businesses, of bigger offices with a gym, better wifi, more meeting rooms!
Just two and a half years later we are currently 125 people across four brands within the SThree Group - Real Staffing, Huxley, Newington International and Computer Futures in our newest and most cutting edge office in the group - 330 Hudson.”
Creating the perfect space for our people
“After dozens of feedback meetings with staff we worked for about 12 months to try and capture what we felt would be a knock out space”, remembers Ben.
“We wanted a space that offered our staff flexible workstations for remote working, a place to meet colleagues away from their desk to catch up, a gym and showers to work out during the day if they wanted to without having to pay gym fees, multiple meeting rooms to offer privacy if needed, an open space to allow for easier communication and overall a place that offered a 1st class environment for our staff to flourish.”
Imagine this; An office with a loft feel? Surrounded by exposed brick, polished concrete floors, beautiful wrought ironclad windows, more meeting rooms than you can imagine, several break out areas across the floor that include Arcade games, basketball nets, a gym complete with punch bag, rowing machine, bike and cross trainer, bespoke showers, personal lockers, an open plan kitchen area with all the bells & whistles that all feed into a huge community area at the heart of our space. It's the reality of many dreams back at The Rock, all designed for our staff to flourish in the best possible environment.
And flourish they have, after moving in 330 Hudson on July 13th 2015 and delivering some of the best results across the group this year, 2016 will see us take ANOTHER office space for 60 +people, launching more businesses and fulfilling the ambitions of our people as we continue to invest and create amazing adventures.”
New York as place of fun, challenge and inspiration
The rest of our US Team share Ben’s excitement. Here’s why his colleague Dan truly loves his new home.
“What can I say about New York and my time working here? I'm smiling as I write this...I genuinely had no idea what to expect. You watch movies, read books, and think is it really like that? Bright lights, people everywhere, the city that never sleeps.....is this just all a big cliché? 5 years on I can say that moving to New York was the greatest decision I ever made both personally and professionally.
I've never thought I would experience a life where every single day I can have fun, be challenged and more importantly be inspired. New York City gives me exactly that. There is plain and simple nothing you can't do, which is so cheesy but couldn't be more true.
From a work perspective I come to work every day and simply love the people I work with. On top of that I work in an inspiring office with all the glitz and glamour you could ever want, and we are in the heart of TriBeCa. We've been able to create a new culture in the Americas and New York is really where it all started.
I'm still smiling as I come to the end but I could ramble on for another 50 pages. I would argue tooth and nail (and I'd win) that there is no place better in the world for ambitious, FUN individuals no matter what background you come from, New York really doesn't care! Come here, be inspired, work hard and in 20 years it will be the greatest story you ever tell your friends and family......"the time I worked in New York City."
If you want to learn more about this great team and what you can expect of a career at Specialist Staffing Group, SThree’s operations in the US, visit our dedicated US Country Page.