The facility, built to International Organisation for Standardisation standards and called Sense:Lab, includes a research and development unit with viewing hatches and the capability to produce high-definition videos.

Following the opening of Sense:Lab, Blue Yonder has hired Carole Whitlock as senior operations executive and Anabelle Watson-Harper as senior qualitative insights executive.

Whitlock was previously business manager at the NPD Group, and Watson-Harper was research executive at Pye Tait Consulting before joining Blue Yonder.

Three graduate positions have also been filled by Blue Yonder following the opening of Sense:Lab. The recruits are Lara Rudin and Francesca Hipperson as graduate insight executives, and Anastasia Thomas as graduate research operations executive.

Blue Yonder will open Sense:Lab as soon as permitted by UK Covid-19 restrictions.

Richard Heath, managing director at Blue Yonder, said: “Every detail of this facility has been designed in partnership with our clients. From the ventilation capacity, to the dynamic lighting, to the two-way hatches.”