Hurst

The accountancy sector is facing a talent crisis. With many firms reporting that recruitment challenges are now actively holding back growth and the competition for qualified professionals, particularly outside London, has never been more intense. Regional firms can't always win on salary alone. But they can win on culture. And culture starts with the physical environment people walk into every day.

Hurst Accountants understood this. Building on year-on-year success and ambitious growth plans, they made the decision to relocate their HQ to the brand new Stockport Exchange building, taking over 11,000 sq ft across the entire 5th floor, and asking us to transform a blank canvas into an environment that would work as hard for the business as the people inside it.

After a period of consultation and workshopping, our brief became clear: to design a space that encourages staff to work and collaborate in new ways, create a welcoming experience for clients, and build something best-in-class that could support industry events and showcase Hurst's forward-thinking culture.

It was important to create a warm and welcoming impression for clients, partners and staff alike, starting right from the moment you enter the front door. The traditional 'gatekeeper' reception desk was abandoned in favour of a hospitality-style experience that invited people to linger and relax.

This café bar and lounge area creates a place where staff can grab their morning coffee and chat as they come into work. It also offers visitors a place to dwell before meetings, with soft seating, warm colours, and materials that make them feel welcome and special. In a profession where trust is everything, the physical environment communicates values long before any conversation begins.

The main open-plan workspace is broken down into private, semi-private and social zones that support both solitary focused tasks and collaborative team working. Bespoke multi-functional partitions act as natural visual and acoustic barriers, while doubling as whiteboards and planters, doing more work with less.

Biophilia is central to the design, with a comprehensive planting scheme woven throughout every work, social, and meeting zone. This was a deliberate strategic choice as much as an aesthetic one. Research shows that employees in environments rich in natural elements are more productive, more creative, and report a higher level of overall wellbeing. A separate study found that access to good daylight and greenery is associated with fewer sick days. In a profession under significant staffing pressure, designing an environment that actively supports the health and performance of the people in it isn't a luxury. It's sound business thinking.

One of the more transformative aspects of the scheme is the provision of varied breakout and alternative workspaces. From window booths and soft seating to kitchen lounge areas, these zones support new types of working and collaborating away from traditional desks, the kind of spontaneous, informal exchange that is consistently linked to stronger team culture and sharper ideas.

The social zone is large enough to open Hurst's doors to the wider sector. By hosting industry events, they've created a platform that raises their profile, deepens professional relationships, and reinforces the culture and community they're building from within.