Welcome to DCBL's new look home

Pam Robinson invites us to check out Direct Group's reimagined head office

After what can only be described as a wildly tumultuous year, Direct Collections Bailiffs (DCBL) is delighted to announce that our office expansion is complete. Our teams have settled in well to the newly refurbished ground floor space at Direct House in the Cheshire town of Runcorn.

Our original plans for the refurbishment were put on hold due to the pandemic, but now the long-awaited project has reached completion and offers a tangible reflection of the growth we have seen throughout Direct Group.

The entire downstairs office has undergone a complete renovation. We have had two new meeting rooms freshly built and decorated, a new video conference room with modern top-of-the-range tech installed, which allows us to hold both online and face-to-face meetings, new desks and computers fitted, plus there is a new kitchen and seating area for our staff who are now all back in the office. All in all, this was not a small feat.

The installation of state-of-the-art technology is proving particularly advantageous. Over the course of the pandemic, we have had to adapt quickly to continue to provide high-quality services to our clients, which in part meant switching to video calls and virtual meetings. Fortunately, this proved favourable for both our clients and our team: now we can continue this tailored approach with the enhanced equipment.

The pandemic also challenged us to reassess some of our other processes. We have thus taken a significant step forward in becoming smarter and more effective with our client reporting. This has created full transparency and visibility, allowing our clients to report back to their landowners with increased efficiency. This includes further disclosing key information and variables, such as most profitable car parks.

Our expansion project has not only benefited our internal teams, but it has also given us room to create numerous new roles and positions for ambitious individuals to join us within our various departments. We are aiming to hire around 80 to 100 new staff, and these roles are positioned across both DCBL and DCB Legal, with a variety of senior, entry level, and unique opportunities available.

Direct Group is providing a much needed boost to both the local employment market and the neighbouring economy with our staff continuing to work in our head office. Progressing our increase in size will advance the high-quality services we provide as well as ultimately contributing to a smoother client journey within all areas of the companies.

Since the restrictions have been lifted, we have welcomed a significant number of new staff into our head office. We are happy to be able to have a coffee and a face-to- face meeting with all of our colleagues and clients, and there is no denying the benefits of being able to discuss and work with each other under the same roof.

The return to normal life extends beyond the office at it means the DCBL Stadium, the home of Rugby League team the Widnes Vikings, is also open. We have been the stadium’s sponsor for the last few years, and are excited to be cheering on the Widnes Vikings from the side lines with our team and other fans alike.

Over the past year we have not been able to visit our stadium as much as we had hoped, so are enthusiastic about the future events being held there.
Last year we all faced uncertain and distressing times. With our expanded office, the increased number of staff, anticipation of new colleagues, and the ongoing growth of the companies, Direct Group is hugely optimistic and looking forward to the future.

Pam Robinson is business development manager at Direct Collection Bailiffs (DCBL)
dcbltd.com