EIGHT Financial Advice, located in Whiteley, unveiled its 23,000 sq ft offices at Parkway Business Park on March 5, marking a major expansion in the region’s professional services sector.

EIGHT Financial Advice, which started in 2008 as a one-room operation, now employs nearly 200 staff and supports more than 15,000 clients across the UK and Asia.

James Rainbow, chief executive of St. James’s Place Wealth Management, officially opened the headquarters alongside EIGHT founder Ian Riggs.

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James Rainbow (right), chief executive of St. James’s Place Wealth Management, and Ian Riggs, founder of EIGHT Financial Advice, cut the ribbon to officially open the firm’s new 23,000 sq ft headquarters in Whiteley. (Image: EIGHT Financial Advice)

Mr Riggs said: “We started in a single room just across the road in Whiteley.

“This new headquarters represents a long-term investment in Hampshire, in jobs, in professional development, and in the local economy that has supported us from the beginning.”

The headquarters will enable further growth, including new roles over the next three years.

The company’s Aspiring Advisers Academy will also continue to create pathways into regulated financial advice.

The opening came just a day after the spring statement.

EIGHT marked the occasion by hosting a complimentary financial insight session for business owners.

This focused on managing financial uncertainty and the value of professional advice.

The company is offering free workplace financial planning sessions to support employees across Hampshire.

EIGHT has donated more than £600,000 to charitable causes in the region over the past decade.

It was named Business in the Community of the Year 2025 at the Hampshire Business Awards.

Ian Riggs also received the Leader of the Year award.

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Mr Riggs said: “At a time when financial anxiety is affecting households and workplaces alike, we believe responsible, regulated advice has a vital role to play in building confidence and resilience.

“That’s why we are opening our doors to the wider business community to share practical expertise, not just with our clients but with local employers more broadly.”

EIGHT is increasingly seeing similar issues among employers and business owners in the region.

Mr Riggs said: “We are seeing first-hand how concerns around interest rates, household budgets, and long-term financial uncertainty are affecting productivity and confidence within local businesses.”