A technology company that sponsors Ipswich Town FC is set to take over one of Suffolk’s most celebrated office buildings.

Stowmarket-based Halo will move its global headquarters to the Willis Building in Ipswich, which has been occupied by the insurance firm Willis since it opened in 1975. The building will remain partly occupied by Willis’ successor company, WTW, which will retain a smaller presence.

The Grade I listed, curved glass building was designed by Lord Norman Foster and is widely regarded as one of the most revolutionary office buildings of its era. Foster’s later work includes London’s Gherkin and Stansted Airport’s main terminal.

Halo founder Paul Hamilton said the move would support the company’s ambition to employ 800 graduates by 2030, describing the opportunity as “creating something very special in Suffolk”.

“I think there is a whole ecosystem around Halo,” he said. “As we position ourselves as Europe’s number one agentic AI software platform, other technology companies will gravitate towards Suffolk.”

Agentic AI refers to artificial intelligence systems that can achieve specific goals with limited supervision.

Hamilton added: “Being able to provide one of the most progressive employment opportunities in the world for young people in Suffolk is a real privilege.

“We deliberately stay out of Silicon Valley, Miami, New York, London and Singapore – all the places conventional business wisdom tells you to go.”

Halo was founded in Hamilton’s mother-in-law’s spare room and now employs around 200 people across two offices in Stowmarket. The company first appeared as Ipswich Town’s shirt-sleeve sponsor in 2023 and now features prominently on the front of the club’s home kit.

“Ipswich is the natural choice,” Hamilton said. “Half of our team live in Ipswich, within a 10-minute walk of the new office.”

The move is expected to begin this spring, while Halo will continue to operate an office in Stowmarket.

Explaining the choice of location, Hamilton said: “Why the Willis Building? It’s iconic. We looked at many buildings, but there was just something different about this one. We could see ourselves here for the rest of our years.”

The Willis Building celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2025. Hamilton said he could “see this being Halo’s home for the next 50 years”.

The building’s distinctive interior, featuring yellow and green finishes, forms part of its Grade I listing and was designed to promote openness and collaboration. When it opened, the building included a roof garden and an indoor swimming pool, which remains in place but is no longer in use.

It was once described by architect Zaha Hadid as “a timeless classic – a vision of what is possible”.

Halo’s workforce has an average age of 24.2, with many graduate trainees born and raised in Suffolk.

Graduate employee Bethan Manning, 24, from Mildenhall, said she expected to move to a major city to secure a technology role.

“I fully expected that to land a graduate job like this I’d be moving to London or another big city,” she said. “Instead, I can stay close to family and friends and still build a great career.”

Dan Sheridan, 21, who grew up in Ipswich and recently graduated from the University of Nottingham, said the move was a statement of long-term commitment.

“It’s my first proper workplace, and you really feel invested in,” he said. “I’m proud of the move – and being close to the football ground is a bonus.”

Alice Davis, 23, an economics graduate who previously worked at Ipswich Hospital, said Halo’s growth could help prevent young people leaving the county.

“I love Suffolk and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else,” she said. “What’s exciting is that the tech hub is expanding beyond Cambridge.”

Jack Abbott, Labour MP for Ipswich, described the move as “massive” for the town.

“This isn’t just about culture and events,” he said. “It’s about economic rejuvenation – increased footfall, stronger local businesses and a renewed sense of confidence.”

A WTW spokesperson confirmed the arrangement would be a sale-and-leaseback deal.

“Our intention is to align our Ipswich office with WTW’s wider global real estate portfolio,” the statement said. “WTW colleagues will continue to be based in the Ipswich office following the sale.”