Youi to establish global headquarters on the Sunshine Coast

In a coup for the region, insurance company Youi has announced it will establish its global headquarters on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

The announcement means more than 900 staff will continue to call the region ‘home’ and Youi’s staff numbers will grow as the company expands its operations.

Youi will construct its purpose-built global headquarters at Sippy Downs, relocating from its Birtinya rental premises from where it has operated for the past four years.

Sunshine Coast Council Mayor Mark Jamieson said Youi’s commitment to the Sunshine Coast was a winner on many fronts – for the company, its current and future employees, and the region’s future economic growth and success.

“Youi is an internationally recognised corporate brand and will be the first financial services company to establish its global headquarters on the Sunshine Coast,” Mayor Jamieson said.

“As the company expands, Youi is expected to inject $1.2 billion into the local economy over the next 10 years.

“This is about more than just creating jobs. This is about creating careers for Sunshine Coast residents.

“While people may be familiar with the Youi Call Centre, the global headquarters will be home to all corporate positions including IT, marketing, HR and other professions – providing a career path for those wanting to live and work on the Sunshine Coast.”

Mayor Jamieson said securing the global headquarters of a major financial services company was a coup for the Sunshine Coast.

“This is the largest non-government related investment in Sunshine Coast’s history and one of the largest in regional Australia,” he said.

“Sunshine Coast Council has been working with Youi for the past eight years, as it grew from a start-up business to the major employer it is today.

“Youi’s announcement is proof Sunshine Coast Council has what it takes to attract and retain major investment to the region.

“It builds on numerous other game-changing projects across the region, namely the Maroochydore City Centre – Australia’s only greenfield CBD development; the Sunshine Coast Solar Farm – the first council-owned utility scale solar farm in Australia; the Sunshine Coast Airport expansion; and the State Government’s $1.8 billion Sunshine Coast Public University Hospital due to open in late 2016.

“While this is the first commercial global headquarters announced for the region, we believe the same elements that convinced Youi to invest here will encourage many more to consider the

Sunshine Coast over coming years.

“Council has not only worked hard with Youi, Youi has worked hard for the community.

“This commitment will continue with Youi Group CEO Howard Aron very clear on the advantages of running an international business from the Sunshine Coast and keen to assist Council promote those benefits.

Mr Aron said Youi’s investment showed the company’s unwavering commitment to the region and to Youi staff.

“We’re here to stay,” Mr Aron said.

“More than eight years ago, Youi chose the Sunshine Coast for its start-up business because of the opportunities on offer.

“It had everything the business needed – abundant opportunities to source the right talent, it was a burgeoning region with growth to foster the development of new business and it is a great location with space and sunshine.

“With the support of Mayor Mark Jamieson and his team at Sunshine Coast Council, extensive research was undertaken to find the ideal location for our latest expansion and the Sippy Downs knowledge precinct ranked highly, offering space, access to talent and facilities for Youi’s global headquarters.

“Plans for the Youi campus include state-of-the art buildings to house 2000 people, plenty of parking and on-site recreation facilities for its staff.

“The cost of the planned development is estimated to be between $80-$100m over the course of the next 10 years as the phased development approach is completed.”

Construction of Youi’s new facility is expected to start as soon as all final approvals are in place.

Mayor Jamieson said the economic benefit from the project construction alone was expected to contribute more than $200 million into the economy and contribute to the creation of an additional 700 jobs.

“Sunshine Coast Council is striving to become Australia’s most sustainable region – vibrant, green, diverse – and Youi’s announcement supports council in achieving that vision,” Mayor Jamieson said.