For Ballards, a recent brand repositioning meant their office no longer reflected who they were or where they’re heading. Their recent Worcester office refurbishment created a modern and agile workplace with a huge focus on their employees’ needs. The project is a great reminder that the best workplaces start with your people.
The Brief
Ballards, a progressive firm of chartered accountants, wanted their workplace to reflect their values. Threading their recent rebrand throughout the space was a key part of the brief, but equally important was creating a great place for their team to work.
The value placed on their people was demonstrated through an investment in the workplace – providing the tools and environments they need to perform at their best, whilst also reflecting their agile approach within an industry that’s often perceived to be quite traditional.
James Syree, CEO at Ballards
“Following our recent rebranding, we wanted our Worcestershire workplace to stay true to our identity and reflect the agility we’re known for as a business in the marketplace.
We invest heavily in our team. That includes their wellbeing and welfare, but also in the environment they work within. It’s important that our facilities reflect those values and create a space where people can do their best work.”
With a strong heritage in Worcester, this location serves as their new flagship office – a workplace that represents who they are as a brand and a platform for growth. We’re pleased to have supported them in bringing this vision to life.
The Solution
Delivered over 8 weeks, the project required close operational coordination, clear budget parameters and open communication throughout. As with any refurbishment, understanding how employees and clients interact with the space was key, and no exception for this project. By focusing on real behaviours and workflows, we created an office design that supports how the business operates and future growth.
Reinforcing Branding
With the company’s recent rebranding, their refurbishment needed to reflect their new identity in a way that was considered and authentic. We worked closely with the marketing and operations team to ensure the environment aligned with their guidelines, carefully translating colours, graphics and visual elements into the physical space.
Rather than overwhelming the workplace with bold branding, the approach was intentionally subtle. Brand colours were introduced through finishes, furniture and feature details, creating a consistent visual thread throughout the office.
Team Value
Alongside the physical uplift, the refurb is an investment in the team, creating an environment that helps them perform at their best. Previously, the breakout space wasn’t used much due to the layout and type of existing furniture. We refreshed this area with solutions to bring the team together, encouraging employees to step away from the desks, collaborate and recharge. Complete with flexible seating options and a pool table, it encourages natural connections without it feeling forced and also serves as an informal meeting area.
Supporting the team also comes from having the right tools and environments for different tasks. Noting the need for smaller meeting spaces, we introduced a variety of solutions: collaboration zones for quick standups, more formal meeting rooms for client interactions and 1-2 person acoustic pods to create the required space without building physical walls. We positioned the pods in the floor plan as a strategic solution to divide space. By giving the team a choice in how and where they work, the office becomes a tool that supports their day-to-day performance.
Mary Abbott, Commercial Interior Designer
Creating Ballards’ Worcester office required us to translate their evolving brand into a workplace that supports how their team works every day. By listening attentively to the needs of both their employees and clients, we designed flexible spaces that adapt to different work patterns and preferences.
The reception really sets the tone, providing a welcoming space for the team and their clients. Every detail – from sourcing furniture swatches that align perfectly with the refreshed brand, to configuring a layout that supports future growth – was considered to reinforce their brand repositioning and align with their values and future goals.
Client Engagement
Alongside employee feedback, the design considers how clients experience the space. The reception area is the first impression of the business, so it had to communicate the right message. Furniture selections align with the brand’s colour palette to create a sense of reassurance and professionalism. Materials and finishes are modern and intentional. The layout itself supports an open and welcoming arrival experience, with subtle design cues that guide visitors naturally throughout the workplace. It’s a quiet but powerful expression of brand, communicating values through the environment.
Does your workplace tell the same story as your brand? When space and identity align, it becomes a tool for high performance. If you’d like to explore the possibilities, let’s talk.
Meet the Designer: Mary
As our Commercial Interior Designer, Mary’s creative approach to office design transforms your workplace into one that boosts productivity, enhances wellbeing and creates a positive company culture.
