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Architects of Their Own Future: Leading Practice Adopts Employee Ownership Model

Author

Miles Mudzviti
April 20, 2025

A major architecture practice with offices in Birmingham, Leeds and Oxford has moved to employee ownership.

Associated Architects has transferred ownership of its business to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT). 

The business, which was founded in Birmingham in 1968, is forecasting continued growth, with turnover expected to hit £6m-plus for the year to March 2025 and staff numbers to increase to more than 65.

The current directors of the business, Warren Jukes, James Hall, Richard Perry and Steve Townsend, will remain in place, with no change to day-to-day operation of the business.

Jukes commented:

Our people are our biggest asset, and this move enables us to ensure the company will be run in the long-term interest of our employees and will preserve the culture and values that have been the bedrock of five decades of success.

The move also involves the leadership team being bolstered, in line with the long-term business plan of the practice, with the promotions of Alex Paul to director and Jonathan Dawson-Bowman to associate director in the Birmingham studio, as well as the appointment of Craig Reed as director in Leeds and Tom Cotton promoted to associate director in Oxford.

Alex Paul, newly promoted director, said:

Having been part of the AA journey for over 13 years I am hugely honoured to be a key part of the future of the practice. As well as securing our long-term independence, the new EOT structure facilitates greater opportunity from within, which underpins our continued aim of being a people focused business.