Anti-money laundering firm SmartSearch have moved into brand new offices in Ilkley, Yorkshire.
SmartSearch’s Anti-Money Laundering (AML) verification platform is used by more than 3,000 businesses across the world.
Last month, the company was named one of Yorkshire’s fastest growing businesses following a 150% increase in pre-tax profits in just a year.
Martin Cheek, managing director of SmartSearch, said: “We have increased staff from seven to 90 and were in a situation where new starters were being shoehorned in. The lack of space was starting to affect productivity and morale.”
An internal project team was set up to address the issue, and it was decided that they would move into Mayfield House, a new build scheme in Ilkley.
“We needed to ensure that the new office would be able to accommodate our future expansion, but it also needed to enhance our culture and values, and give something back to our loyal staff,” said Cheek.
SmartSearch took two floors of Mayfield House, room for its 90 staff to eventually grow to 250. Work began on the project a year ago while the fit-out started in January.
The first floor has a social hub for staff to work and play in a relaxed atmosphere and includes a quiet lounge and a games area with game consoles, a pool table and table football.
The kitchen is all built around a central island and there are a range of different styles of meetings rooms and break out areas including high back acoustic sofas and railway carriage ‘pods’. SmartSearch has also installed a fully equipped gym. Upstairs is the reception, the boardroom, meeting rooms and a training room with a punch bag.
The fit-out project took 11 weeks to complete and it is clear that staff are absolutely blown away by the new office.
“When I first walked through the new office, it was very emotional,” said John Dobson, chairman of SmartSearch, “and I thought about how far our business has evolved.
“The purpose of investing in this new office was to leave a legacy by creating a workplace that would attract talent and push our business forward even further and now I know we’ve succeeded in achieving that.”
