BDO re-opens its hybrid working-ready Bristol office

BDO has reopened its Bristol office. The accounting and advisory firm committed to a major refurbishment of the locale to better accommodate hybrid working among its staff.

"For most this will likely be a mixture of office work, remote working from home and some visits to client sites," said Head of BDO in the South West, David Brookes. “We believe that a positive working environment enhances wellbeing and productivity.”

BDO first moved to Bristol in 2005, since when its South West headcount has boomed to nearly 250 people, and includes 13 partners.

Looking to facilitate further growth, BDO moved to a larger office in 2008 – a workspace at Bridgewater House. This did indeed work, as over the last six months alone, the firm has taken on 27 new trainees, including graduates and school-leaver apprentices.

However, the office was not equipped to deal with the sudden spike in demand for flexible working, which the pandemic years have brought about. With workers having become accustomed to working at least a portion of the week remotely, many firms are now finding that accommodating such behaviour actually boosts productivity.

In the case of BDO, the company's approach to working patterns now means staff are able to choose where to work from week-to-week. To this end, the new Bristol space has been designed with this in mind, and according to Brookes, now includes more areas to work collaboratively – as well as a visual refresh – which will make it “a really enjoyable place to work and meet with colleagues and clients."

As well as more collaborative working areas, it also includes state-of-the-art technology to support hybrid meetings and multi-locational events. Looking ahead to the rest of this year, Brookes said the new office would support BDO's growth plans; as it hopes to bring on board even more staff this year, including 30 new trainees in the South West region.

He added, “Having increased headcount by more than 50% in the last five years, we are looking forward to watching our team and our expertise continue to grow and support the increasingly complex needs of our clients.”