Office took another step forward this week. Representatives from 80 companies interested in undertaking the relocation attended an open day at the weather forecasters' current headquarters in Bracknell, Berkshire. The plan will relocate the main HQ from ten sites in the Bracknell area to new accommodation on a single site. It is hoped to identify the new site by early next year and complete the move in 2003. As an executive agency of the Ministry of Defence, operating as a Trading Fund, The Met.
Office manages itself as a business.
In a recent review of its operations the organisation concluded that new accommodation will be a key factor in its long-term success. Funding for the move is not dependent on central government or the Private Finance Initiative, so at this stage all options remain open. However, a selection process involving the private sector begins in early July, when up to ten companies will be invited to submit their outline proposals for the relocation. Steve Noyes, The Met.