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What is the Hive?

  • 19th October 2011

In July 2012 we will be ready to welcome you to our new home at the Hive, in the centre of Worcester. Some of you may be wondering what on earth the Hive is, so here we will let you know a little bit more about it.

Staff visiting the Hive for a tour of their future home

The Hive is a £60 million joint venture between Worcestershire County Council and the University of Worcester, which is being made possible through the help of funding from PFI (Public Finance Initiative) credits. This is a fantastic opportunity to build a partnership way of working, which will provide a bigger and better service for the people of Worcester and all its visitors.

The gold clad building, which has attracted a lot of attention, has already won design awards and has been constructed with aspirations to provide a carbon neutral delivery of services, in line with the County Council’s Carbon Management Plan and the University’s environmental objectives.

So what will you find inside? The new building will include:

• A fully integrated public and University library • Worcestershire Record Office • Worcestershire Historic Environment and Archaeology Service • Worcestershire Hub Customer Service Centre

As well as these services you will also find café and refreshment outlets, meeting rooms and exhibition and drama spaces. 

Staff inside one of our new strongrooms currently under construction

When we get to the Hive, Worcestershire Record Office will become a joint service along with the Worcestershire Historic Environment and Archaeology Service and together we will occupy the History floor on Level One. We will be bringing you a much improved service that will include increased access to self-service resources, which will be available from 8:30am, when the Hive opens, until it closes at 10pm.

You can find out more about the Hive by following this link.

We’re looking forward to seeing how our service can develop further at our new home, we hope you’re excited to join us there!

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