Shell is expanding its scope of investments in Krakow

Photo: Marta Niebylska-Waktor

The Shell Business Operations in Kraków has been in operation since 2006. This business center supports Shell’s operations around the world, in the field of finance, purchases, logistics, customer service, communication and external relations, support for the operation of petrol stations and IT. The SBO in Krakow is one of the largest centers of modern business services in Poland. Currently, it employs over 4.400 people and is thus already one of the largest employers in Małopolska.

Implementation of new investments

As part of the new investment, two new directions will be created in the Shell Business Operations in Kraków. One of them will be, advanced business services with planned employment of 250 people, who will ultimately lead processes in the areas of IT, Data Quality, reporting and analysis, communication and tax operations. The second direction, business process excellence, will bring together 150 employees supporting such areas as customer service, lubricant supply, logistics, HR and IT, operating within the SBO. The implementation of both investments is just beginning.

Between 2012-2019 alone, we invested over USD 400 million in Poland, both in the development of the Petrol station network and the SBO center. The new practices introduced to the Krakow center are another step in Poland, for strengthening our strong global advisory center for Shell's business. For 15 years, we have been attracting advanced, strategic projects to Krakow and developing new talents. It is their achievements that make Shell more and more focused on Poland - emphasizes Piotr Dziwok, Chairman of the Management Board of Shell Polska.

- In just the last five years, we have doubled our employment in Krakow, from over 2,000 to over 4,400. Nearly every tenth of these positions has a global or international reach. New and existing projects brought to Poland today, have a significant impact on the development of Shell's business and increasing its efficiency, by among other things, process improvement or automation. What we are also particularly proud of in Krakow, are our effective actions in the field of reducing our own CO2 emissions, consistent reduction of energy and water consumption and waste production, in which our employees actively support us - adds Agnieszka Pocztowska, General Director of SBO Krakow.

Support in the implementation of subsequent investments was provided by the Polish Investment and Trade Agency.

The agency was involved in the analysis of the project documentation presented by the investor in terms of, inter alia, meeting the formal requirements of the Program for supporting investments of high importance for the Polish economy. We are glad that the company wants to develop its business here. We are even more proud of the fact that Shell, once again chose Poland. This is the best proof of appreciation of our country, but above all, appreciation for the educated and motivated workforce. The new investment will strengthen our country as the leader in the BSS sector. International concerns more and more often see that Poland is an attractive place to locate investments, especially focused on research and development, as well as more advanced business processes - said Marcin Fabianowicz, Deputy Director at the Strategic Investment Center of the Polish Investment and Trade Agency.

- I am very glad that Shell, which has been present in Poland for almost 30 years, has decided to implement its next investments in the capital of Małopolska. This is more proof that in Poland - despite the pandemic - we create and constantly care for a good and stable investment climate, providing the highest standards for investors. We guarantee a wide range of modern services for business (BSS). We see that every year the importance of more and more advanced investments in this industry is growing and we are trying to meet the expectations of the market in this area - said Deputy Minister of Development, Labor and Technology and Government Plenipotentiary for Foreign Investments Grzegorz Piechowiak.

A Priority industry- strategic projects

For several years, the sector of modern business services (BSS) has been developing dynamically in. Our country is the regional leader both in terms of the number of centers and the volume of employment in the industry. Poland’s main advantages in acquiring projects from the BSS sector are an educated workforce with specific technical or linguistic competences, Poland's strategic location on the map of Europe, as well as a favorable investment climate, economic stability, development of modern business-related infrastructure and an ecosystem supporting the activities of foreign investors.

Shell is one of the largest energy companies in the world. It operates in over 70 countries, employing over 80,000 people. The company explores, produces, refines and markets crude oil and natural gas, and manufactures and sells chemical products. In recent years, it has dynamically expanded its portfolio of zero- and low-emission products and services, with the goal of achieving net neutrality by 2050.

Photo: Przemysław Kuciński

About the Polish Investment and Trade Agency

The Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH) is an advisory institution operating in cooperation with the Polish Development Fund Group (PFR) under the leadership of the Ministry of Development, Labor and Technology. PAIH is the first point of contact for exporters and investors. It operates both in Poland and through a network of offices around the world. It works to strengthen the recognition of Polish brands on international markets, promotes domestic products and services as well as technological solutions made in Poland. The agency helps entrepreneurs choose their optimal expansion path abroad. It also supports the inflow of direct foreign investments to Poland and the implementation of Polish investments in the country. PAIH cooperates with the public sector and regional partners, offering, among other things: training, audit and promotion of investment properties, cooperation in the organization of business missions and communication support in the implementation of joint projects.