New Ombudsman Scheme to Open in Birmingham

September 30 2009

The Office for Legal Complaints (OLC) has chosen Birmingham as the new home for the Ombudsman scheme for legal services it is setting up.

The OLC is a new body set up to establish a new, independent Ombudsman scheme to investigate and resolve complaints made by customers about legal services they have received.  The scheme will be up and running before the end of 2010.

Adam Sampson, the Chief Ombudsman said “We are delighted that we will open the new Ombudsman scheme for legal services in Birmingham. It is a great city that we think our staff will enjoy working in. We are also very pleased to meet the Government’s commitment to be based in the West Midlands.”

“Making a decision about location for the new office means we can move to Birmingham soon. We are looking forward to setting up a temporary office as quickly as possible and are currently looking at managed office space.”

Mr Sampson added “We have an identified short list of possible buildings. We aim to be an organisation that will offer a vibrant and exciting working environment and therefore our choice of location and building are vital. Environmental sustainability will be a core value and therefore a location that is close to good public transport links is key. “

Following an extensive review of over 30 properties in different parts of the West Midlands the OLC has focused on Birmingham as the future home for its new Ombudsman scheme. We are looking forward to the outcome of the tender process currently being carried out among the shortlisted premises so we can announce our choice of home for the new Ombudsman scheme.

This process to choose a specific building is designed to ensure that the new Ombudsman scheme is based in an office that will meet its business needs and represents value for money. 

Responses to the tender are due in the first week of October.  Submissions seeking Ministerial endorsement of the outcome of the tender will follow once the process is complete.

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