Interior landscaping and hospitality specialist Vantage may ordinarily be used to transforming client environments. But as the company prepares for 25% growth, the team has recently completed the fit-out of its own headquarters, to provide a more stimulating space for staff to work.
The six month, £210,000 project in Leeds has been carried out by Dale Office Interiors with the design influence of Spatial DDB.
A sleek reception now greets employees and visitors when they first arrive at the 11,000 sqft premises. A mood-lit tunnel then leads to an interactive gallery – a lifestyle-focused area designed to enable clients and visitors to experience Vantage’s various products for themselves.
Commenting on this element of the refurbishment, Vantage’s managing director Robin Edwards explains: “We want clients to understand exactly what is possible with Vantage’s hospitality solutions. So what better way to inspire them than to let them try our range of bean-to-cup coffee machines, smell the scents of our living plants, and see if they can distinguish between our looks-like-real displays? We’ve installed some of our statement green Walls too, which we’re sure people won’t be able to resist touching, and even created collaborative booths for more dynamic meetings.”
The ‘engine room’ – the hub of Vantage’s business operations – and a 7,000sqft warehouse completes the ground floor space. Up on the first floor is agile working space – complete with a turfed floor, standing height desks and boardroom – designed to promote productivity, collaboration and heightened employee wellbeing.
Commenting on the driver for the project, Robin summarises: “We’ve been based here since 2013 and, whilst we’ve experienced 13% growth during this time, we’ve always had great plans to do more with the space. This was admittedly a complex project, not least because of the curved walls and circular structures throughout the scheme. But, we always encourage our clients to be different to create impressions, so it was important we emulated the same philosophy.”
The Leeds works have coincided with the opening of a new Vantage showspace in the heart of London’s design capital, Clerkenwell. This Farringdon Road studio – shared with premier design and installation specialist Maxwood Washrooms – now gives the team a permanent London presence.
Robin adds: “We’re no strangers to this internationally renowned creative district. Clerkenwell Design Week is a firm fixture on our calendars, and, with many of our customers, architects and interior fit-out partners based in the South, we’re frequent visitors to this part of the capital city.
“As we prepare for our 40th year in business, there was therefore no better location for our expanding organisation. We’ve just completed its £40,000 fit-out, and look forward to welcoming clients and partners, old and new.”
Established in 1977, Vantage is a £1.8m turnover company which provides striking interior greenery and luxury refreshment solutions to more than 400 clients nationwide. Automotive retailer JCT600, Virgin Trains East Coast and property giant Savills are among the company’s pedigree of customers.
