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Communications consultancy Freshwater is relocating its head office to the Hodge House office building the centre of Cardiff.

The PR to marketing firm is moving from its current location at Cardiff Gate Business Park, where it has been based for the past 17 years, to take a 10-year lease at the Grade II listed building. Owner of Hodge House, L&G, has invested £17m revamping its 110,000 sq ft of space over the last few years.

All of the agency’s 40 Cardiff-based staff will be relocating to Hodge House, where they will mix office-based and remote working, as part of a new flexible approach to operating post-pandemic.

Angharad Neagle, chief executive of Freshwater, said: “Our new home, at Hodge House, marks an exciting chapter for us as we celebrate 25 years in business.

“As a company that thrives on strong relationships, we wanted to be based in the city centre to maximise opportunities to meet with clients, partners and suppliers, while creating a collaborative and creative hub for our team.

“Our new space will provide an inspirational destination in which our clients can work alongside us, discussing strategy and co-creating campaigns, as well as taking part in onsite media training, workshops and focus groups.”

Elinor Dafydd, director of strategy and innovation, added: “After the last few years, employees are looking for more from their workplaces. A space where they can focus and concentrate, but also where they can collaborate and socialise, and feel supported and inspired. Our new office offers that and more.

“At the same time, we want to retain the flexibility we’ve all benefited from since the pandemic, so colleagues can build the time they spend in the office around client and business needs as well as their own.”