How can I convince my superiors based overseas to move the UK office to a different location?

Question

I want them to move the office from Milton Keynes to Birmingham.

I work for a company based overseas that has set up a small UK branch. I only started a few weeks ago. It is a 2 person office and we do not really have walk in clients, mainly phone and internet.

The thing is they have put the office in Milton Keynes. The overseas directors briefly visited the UK and they said it is because they MK and that it is pretty central. We are in very expensive serviced offices.

The thing is both me and the lady who work here live in the Midlands. She only gets to see her husband on weekends and rents a small room here. I have to commute daily (2 hour round trip and £350 per month) to get there (I don't move because I dont want to take my kid out of her school and family live in the midlands who help with childcare, school pickups etc.).

There is no good reason to be in MK. Midlands offices would be cheaper. and more convenient for the two people who work there regularly. Birmingham is just as central as MK (even more so) in a UK sense.

How can I convince them to move? I do have some authority but I know I am still new.

Answer 1

Well, you've convinced me just purely from your question.

I think you need to submit a report to them.  Show them how much the office is costing them at the moment, and then show how much they could save if it moved to Birmingham, without there being any loss in revenue, etc.  Also, add that if the office were moved to B'ham, the 2 staff would have better working conditions, therefore increasing motivation in the workplace.

Make sure any report you put in to convince them is all about how it will help the office - not because you want to work closer to home!

Good luck!

Answer 2

I think you have a very valid point and can see no benefit to them being in Milton Keynes but to get them to uproot you will have to be quick before they get settled there.

I would do a full report stating all the benefits with examples of properties that are available in birmingham - do a price comparison. Also show all methods of getting to Birmingham such as BHX and new street station and explain that if they were visiting the UK to get to Milton keynes they would need to fly into BHX anyway then have the additional cost of taxi or car hire. As an last point I would state how beneficial it would be to you and your colleague and admit that is why you would both (presuming you have discussed this with her) like this move so much. Good luck

Answer 3

Burn down the buliding when nobodies there but make sure no one sees you ( i wouldnt do this )