AN AMERICAN drugs company is moving its UK research centre to Bracknell.
Eli Lilly is set to leave its current base in Surrey and move into 42,000 square foot of office space at Arlington Square off Downshire Way.
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The pharmaceutical company was founded in 1876 and is one of the largest firms of its kind in the world.
Eli Lilly has been operating in the UK since 1934 and has a headquarters in Basingstoke.
According to Thames Tap, employees at the Bracknell branch will undertake non-lab based work and could move in by the end of 2020.
Councillor Marc Brunel-Walker, Bracknell Forest Council’s (BFC) economic development boss, welcomed the news on social media.
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He posted: “[This] re-enforces the message that despite everything that is happening Bracknell is very much "open for business".
“I am delighted that Eli Lilly has chosen Bracknell and look forward to them arriving!”
Well, why shouldn’t they? Bracknell is by far the best place to live in the world 😁
— Shawn Hearn (@shearn1986) April 7, 2020
The move is the largest office letting in Bracknell since 2013, Business Mag reports.
According to the publication, pharmaceutical bosses have signed a ten-year lease at the site and are set to pay around £30 per square foot of office space.
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This comes after the Arlington Square building underwent a refurbishment in November 2019.
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