London Office Launch Event 2022

July has flown by in a haze of excellent in-person meetings, collaborative moments, and exciting events. The team have been flying high recently, with the opening of a brand-new office and enjoying spending face time with each other.

The Launch Event for the office was a fantastic way to introduce our team to their new space and celebrate coming together once more. It was about showcasing who we are as a business and what the new office will mean for the future of CHR. The event started with the team having a nosy around their new space, exploring the meeting rooms with their hourglass timers and inspirational quotes, the snug areas, private booths, games rooms and all the snacks and drinks one could wish for!

We then had an update from our CEO Matteo Perucchini, who described the office as the business’ heart and soul and where we solve problems together; “Chance encounters, meetings, shared challenges, and victories will help us strengthen our culture.”

It was important to focus on working together and how teamwork is essential to the company’s success, and personal and professional growth and development. As part of this message, we were honoured to have Lee Spencer join us to talk to the team. A natural and engaging speaker, Lee’s incredible personal story of courage, leadership, and overcoming adversity has captivated a wide range of audiences: from global businesses and charities to the England football team in their pre-2018 World Cup training camp.

Born in Dagenham, made in The Royal Marines, Lee lives in Devon and served as a Royal Marine for 24 years. After coming through three operational tours of Afghanistan unscathed, Lee lost his right leg after being hit by an engine block as he was helping a motorist who had crashed into the central reservation of the M3 in Surrey in 2014. Although his right leg was severed in the impact, the serviceman’s training kicked in, and he was able to instruct bystanders on how to tie a tourniquet and help paramedics to save his life.

In 2015, Lee set off to row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean in just a rowing boat. The Row2Recovery team of four injured veterans had just three legs between them. In February 2016, some 46 days, 6 hours, and 49 minutes later, they rowed into Antigua and the record books as the world’s first physically disabled crew of four to row any ocean.
Following this, Lee became the world’s first physically disabled person to row from mainland Europe to mainland South America solo and unsupported. Lee Spencer, The Rowing Marine, broke the able-bodied record by an astonishing 36 days and broke the record for the longest solo and unsupported ocean row by a physically disabled person, a total of 3 Guinness World Records. In December 2019, Lee was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to charity.
Lee left our team inspired with this quote: “If you don’t have to face a fear, a challenge, a problem on your own, then don’t!” Reiterating to the team that they are not alone and have one another constantly.

It was then time for the team to let their hair down, explore their new office, try out the games, and enjoy food and drink. With enough space to accommodate a bar, CHR has partnered with Three Piece Events to set up a full bar in one of our units and provide our team with refreshments and ‘Pimp your Prosecco’! Berry and Brie Catering provided an incredible grazing table full of fresh delights for the team to tuck into, and to finish, we had Cookie Dough & Ice Cream from Humbledough. It’s safe to say the team had a wonderful time and has been enjoying the office and the many socials we have had since.

We can’t wait to see what this next chapter of CHR brings!