Stratford HMRC regional centre formally opens

HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) regional centre and government hub at 14 Westfield Avenue, Stratford was formally opened by chief executive Jim Harra on Wednesday (4 May 2022).

The state-of-the-art building, home to around 5,200 HMRC employees, allows HMRC to work in more collaborative ways and provides a modern and inclusive working environment. 

During the pandemic, HMRC employees who were unable to undertake their roles from home, have been working from the building since March 2021. 

However, COVID restrictions meant that most employees have only recently been able to use the building regularly. The official opening was also delayed due to COVID-19 restrictions.

In addition to the formal opening, Richard Las, HMRC’s senior leader for Stratford, and the Reverend Sophia Acland also led tributes to members of staff and former employees who had lost their lives in public service and dedicated a memorial in the building’s reception. 

A wreath was laid on behalf of the department and a one-minute silence was held.

“I am delighted to finally mark the opening of our Stratford Regional Centre and Government hub,” Mr Harra said. 

“The state-of-the-art building is a modern, inclusive and flexible working environment that will bring our people together and create greater opportunities for collaboration between teams making it easier to deliver great services to our customers.

“Today, we also remember colleagues who lost their lives in public service. Their hard work and commitment to HMRC, its predecessor departments and the civil service will not be forgotten.”

Stratford regional centre is part of a transformation programme that will deliver modern, inclusive, flexible environments with improved technology, enabling HMRC to become one of the most digitally advanced tax authorities in the world.

This forms part of HMRC’s locations strategy, announced in 2015, which is key to enabling its wider transformation. It also supports the government’s Places for Growth Programme to promote growth and jobs, by creating opportunities and career paths in towns and cities across the UK. 

Moving to regional centres is estimated to save around £300 million cumulatively up to financial year 2025-26 and will deliver annual cash savings of £74 million in FY25-26.