Major employer threatening to close Oxford headquarters

The car parts supplier Unipart has labelled its Cowley head office in Garsington Road as “no longer fit for purpose” and put its future under review.

Unipart has a lease on its head office which expires in August next year, and there is also an exit clause in the same month for the warehouse.

Some 1,000 to 1,500 people are believed to work from the Cowley head office and distribution centre.

It’s one of the largest employers in the city, along with the university, Oxford Hospitals Trust and the city and county councils.

Cowley Temple councillor Saj Malik said: “The Unipart has been part of Cowley for decades and this is disappointing to hear they are thinking to leave for a modern and sustainable workplace for the workers which is understandable.

READ MORE: Car parts giant considering closing Cowley headquarters

“I hope this building can be upgraded and Unipart remains on Cowley. This will also have effect on local economy obviously people who come to work contributing to it.”

Cowley councillor Saj Malik

Last month, Unipart was awarded a significant new seven-year contract by BMW Group to provide production logistics services within the final assembly at the Mini Plant.

But this contract with BMW is serviced from the Cowley plant, not at the Unipart office or warehouse site and therefore will not be impacted.

In May it was announced that Unipart will provide warehousing and logistics services for Leonardo, a £17.8 billion global industrial group building technological capabilities in aerospace, defence and security.

Unipart was asked why the office is no longer suitable, whether any jobs would be lost and if it would relocate in Oxford or move out, but no response was given at the time of publication.

In a statement, a spokeswoman for the company said: “Unipart confirms that it is reviewing future options for its head office, currently at Unipart House, Cowley, in Oxford.

“The current lease expires in August 2027 and the site is no longer fit for purpose for its workplace needs.

“Unipart is using this as an opportunity to identify a solution that provides a modern, collaborative, sustainable workplace for colleagues.

“The current lease ends in 2032 for Unipart’s Cowley warehouse, with a break clause in August 2027, so a review has also begun to explore options for this.

“It is discussing this with relevant colleagues and colleague forums and will keep them fully updated on developments.”

Unipart has been based in Cowley since the brand’s inception in 1974.

Originally formed as the parts division for British Leyland, the logistics and manufacturing giant has operated out of its Garsington Road headquarters for over half a century.

Last year, Unipart ranked sixth in the Thames Valley 250, an annual list compiled by The Business Magazine celebrating the top privately-owned businesses in the region.

In 2024, Unipart celebrated 50 years since the inception of the Unipart brand, and in March announced 2024 turnover was up 3.2 per cent year on year at £1,081.1m.

Unipart also employs outside the UK, having expanded into two new territories in Vietnam and Saudi Arabia.