Boots UK head office staff will be expected to work from the office five days a week from September, managing director Seb James has said.

In a recent memo to staff, Mr James said the company will be transitioning away from the current three-days-a-week model in a bid to foster a “more fun and inspiring” working environment.

Mr James told employees: “In line with a majority of UK businesses, I want to start a thoughtful plan that gets us back to the office – whether Nottingham, London or Weybridge – being the normal place of work for everybody for the whole working week.

“There is no rush, and I know that we will need to upgrade some of our office facilities, but we will transition there by the start of the next financial year on September 1, six months away, when these new ways of working will go live.

“I have been very heartened by the way people have embraced the three days a week model and I think that you will agree that the office is a much more fun and inspiring place on those days.

“There is no doubt in my mind that the informal conversations, brief catch-ups and ability to meet in groups in person has been far more effective and better for our unique Boots culture than the enforced formality of remote meetings. I know that has been true for me.”

A spokesperson at Boots told P3pharmacy: “We are asking team members to make the office their usual place of work from 1 September.

“We really value the team spirit that comes with being together in person. There will of course still be times when working from home is necessary for either personal or business reasons.”