Aberdeen City Council should encourage its workers back into the office more often to give a major boost to the city centre, a local business leader has said.
The call comes as energy giant Shell revealed its Union Street office won’t have a gym or canteen – encouraging staff to inject cash into the city centre.
Within months the firm will bring its North Sea HQ, and 1,000 white-collar workers, onto the Granite Mile.
And in an effort to stimulate its surroundings, certain aspects of the current Tullos building won’t feature in the firm’s new Silver Fin home.
Instead, bosses there will be highlighting to employees the 25 cafes and restaurants in close vicinity.
The decision has led to questions about what other employers are doing to get their workers spending in the local economy – including the council.
This was a common complaint brought up by many at the four-hour summit on Wednesday while discussing the impact of a home-working culture on businesses such as cafes and sandwich shops.
‘That many more people could stem city centre decline’
One business owner who attended the talks said the local authority – which is the city centre’s largest employer – had a responsibility to help, adding: “There’s hardly any council workers in Marischal College.
“And obviously, if you had so many more people back in the city centre, that helps all the city centre businesses and could potentially enable us to not have more vacant units.”
“I’ve been told there are a lot of them still working from home, and I think it was brought up at the summit that getting everybody back into the office and the city centre would help.”
One city centre surveyor said they agreed there should be more emphasis on the council to encourage its staff back into Marischal College.
They said: “We have noticed the difference in terms of visible bodies in and around the area, especially at lunchtime.
“Having firms like EY and KPMG take up space in Marischal Square has definitely helped a bit. But if the local authority was to bring back office working that would have a hugely positive effect on the surrounding area.
“It could literally bring back hundreds of people a day who could make a difference just by grabbing a coffee or a sandwich or popping for a quick drink after work.
“Every little helps.”
A spokeswoman for Aberdeen City Council said: “Our city centre offices have staff working from them every day.
“As a flexible employer, we continue to support a range of working styles which includes part time and hybrid working where the role can support it.”
‘Gradual rise’ in city centre footfall
Adrian Watson, the chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said: “The return to the office was clearly highlighted as an issue at the Union Street Summit.
“Respecting this will be a decision for leaders and teams across the three sectors, I’m sure we all understand the implications it has for city centres, not least Aberdeen, where we have lost that much needed daytime footfall.
“This, in turn, plays through to reduced spend on retail and hospitality.
“What has been encouraging of late is the gradual rise in overall footfall figures but we have still some way to go and of course we can all play a part.”
Shell determined to boost Union Street
Shell’s Padraig McCloskey explained the energy company’s desire to enhance the struggling area during the emergency Union Street summit on Wednesday.
And Mr McCloskey revealed the big move will be taking place early in 2023.
He said: “We’ve been spreading the message of ‘new year, new office’ to our staff.
“It’s very close and very real for us.
“When it came to making a decision on where to move, we were very aware of the positive impact moving into the city centre could have – and we have embraced that.”
‘Why we’ve chosen to ditch gym’
The corporate relations manager explained how “design choices” at the new building reflect that aim.
He added: “We want people not to just be in the office…
“We have a gym at Tullos because there are not too many in the Altens area.
“But we’ve chosen not to put one into the Silver Fin as there are plenty around the city centre already.”
Aberdeen cafes to suit all needs
Mr McCloskey praised the “fantastic restaurant” staff currently enjoy at Tullos, but said it too will become a thing of the past.
“We made a choice not to have a similar facility,” he said.
We don’t want people just sitting at their desks having a sandwich.”
“We want people to explore what options there are, there are 25 places within a 10-minute walk of the Silver Fin.
“And we’re highlighting where the best vegan or gluten-free restaurants are.
What cafes could workers soon be shelling out at?
Some of the diners in closest proximity to the new office include Cafe Society on Union Street, FoodStory on Thistle Street and Cafe Harmony on Bon Accord Terrace.
And recently, plans were lodged to convert the former The Works shop nearby on the Granite Mile into a two-storey restaurant.
The details on Shell’s Union Street ambitions came as other potential shoots of recovery emerged.
The new Attic clothes shop opened on the day of the summit, and Jamieson and Carry revealed major expansion plans which will involve taking over a pair of vacant shops.
Calls were also made for a Union Street Coalition to turn around the area “in five years”.
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