The headquarters of Toyota GB in Burgh Heath, near Epsom in Surrey, was officially opened on 10 July 2001 by Mr Fujio Cho, then President of Toyota Motor Corporation.
The state-of-the-art headquarters, designed by architects Sheppard Robson, is set on a 14-acre (5.66-hectare) site in the parkland of an existing grade II listed building. The 150,000 square foot (13,935 square metre) building was carefully designed to relate to its landscaped surroundings while providing a dynamic new workplace for Toyota GB’s staff.
Some staff actually began to transfer to the new site from the old premises in nearby Redhill several weeks ahead of the official opening. In addition to more than 350 staff of Toyota GB and Lexus UK, the building became home for more than 50 staff of Toyota Financial Services, which relocated from London.
In line with the trend for more flexible and informal workstyles which was developing in the early 2000s, staff had the option of working in a cellular office or ‘touching down’ with their mobile or laptop within the circulation street, staff restaurant or by the newly created lake.
Of course, the trusty fax machine was at this time a staple of any modern office, and several of them featured in each of the four wings of Toyota GB in Burgh Heath.
Around 100 VIP guests, including senior personnel from associate companies and Toyota colleagues from around the globe, attended the opening event, hosted by Mr Ken Kuroki, Toyota GB’s Chairman at the time.
The opening ceremony was carried out by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Rt Hon MP Patricia Hewitt, who said: “Toyota’s continued commitment to the UK pays tribute to the quality of our highly-skilled and dedicated workforce. I am delighted to be here today to witness Toyota, one of the UK’s finest flagship inward investors, further cement their presence in the UK market.”
Also on hand to celebrate Toyota GB in Burgh Heath were His Excellency Mr Sadayuki Hayashi (the Japanese Ambassador to the UK), Mr Christopher Grayling MP (the newly elected member for Epsom and Ewell) and local Mayor, Councillor Stan Gates.
The unveiling of a commemorative plaque followed the presentation in the stylish ‘Rotunda’ reception area of the new building. Toyota also presented a donation to a local charity, the Children’s Trust, before a tour of the new premises and luncheon.
Further change came in 2014, when extensive new landscaping and planting was undertaken at Burgh Heath as part of an auto industry-first partnership with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
In a project supported by the Surrey Wildlife Trust, the focus was on identifying and using native plant species from the surrounding countryside and establishing them on site to transform the Burgh Heath site into an Eco-HQ, complete with an orchard and meadow.
To contact Toyota GB in Burgh Heath, please click here.
Dear Toyota Great Britain Team,
I recently had the pleasure of purchasing an Approved Used 2023 Highlander Excel Premium, and I wanted to take a moment to share my experience. While it’s a shame that Toyota no longer sells the latest Highlander models in the UK, I am absolutely thrilled to have secured this one.
From the moment I began my search on the Toyota website to sending an inquiry and receiving a response within minutes at 7:30 AM from Hills of Woodford, the efficiency of your team has been remarkable. I truly appreciate the seamless process—from the initial inquiry to finalising the purchase within a week. The car has been fantastic so far, and I’m excited to embark on my Toyota ownership journey, especially as a long-time Honda driver making the switch.
That said, I do have a couple of minor customer service concerns that I hope Toyota Head Office can assist with:
Availability of Accessories – I understand that the Highlander Excel Premium is a rare find in the UK market, but I am struggling to locate essential accessories that are readily available in the US, Australia, and Europe. Specifically, I am in urgent need of the Highlander All-Weather Liner Package (#PT908-48200-20 for the floor liners with the 3rd-row liner and #PT924-48210-20 for the cargo liner in black) as I have dogs and live in a muddy area. I have reached out to a couple of UK dealers/Parts Suppliers, but they have had difficulty sourcing these items, and the alternatives suggested are not suitable. Could Toyota UK assist in making these accessories available?
Scorpion Tracker (S7) Confusion – When I purchased my Highlander, I was informed that the Scorpion Tracker (S7) was included. However, I was later told that it was out of stock and that I should check with my local dealer for an update. Upon doing so, I was informed that this model does not come with an S7 tracker at all. I have since reached out to the dealer I purchased the car from for clarification, but I have yet to receive a definitive response. Could you help confirm whether Toyota will be supplying this system with my vehicle? I’d like to ensure that all promised features are included as expected.
Despite these small concerns, I remain incredibly excited about my Highlander and my new experience with Toyota. I look forward to your assistance in resolving these matters and would appreciate any guidance on how to proceed.
Thank you again for an otherwise excellent experience. I appreciate your time and support.
Best regards,
J. Jones
Good morning Jay.
Thank you for taking the time to share your insightful and valued feedback. We’re so pleased to hear you’ve had a great experience and you’re happy with your choice.
Regarding parts availability, the parts team at your local Toyota Centre are best placed to advise what is currently available for your model here in the UK. We’ll share your feedback internally.
In regards to additional security devices, any of our Toyota Centres can advise what is available for your car but you’ve done the right thing by contacting the selling Toyota Centre. If you’re still unclear, our Customer Relations Department can be reached here: https://www.toyota.co.uk/help-centre/complaints-and-feedback
Welcome to the Toyota family, we wish you many happy miles!
Thank you.