Careers at
Franklin Ellis Architects
Here at Franklin Ellis Architects, we currently employ around thirty-five staff. Our range of services include architecture, interior design, landscape design and visualisation.
We are engaged on a wide range of exciting projects across a variety of sectors with contract values ranging from £250,000 up to £50 million. Franklin Ellis are an award-winning practice who place a significant emphasis on delivering high quality design and client satisfaction.
We operate in a lively, modern, open-plan environment within a renovated Victorian pumping station, a short walking distance from the centre of Nottingham. All members of the team, from students to partners, inhabit the same space, encouraging a common bond and a shared learning experience. We have also recently opened a new office in the centre of Leicester and are looking forward to developing our presence in the city.
Franklin Ellis is a digitally advanced practice, harnessing the latest in AEC workflows, BIM processes and visualisation techniques.
Our projects are entirely delivered using model based workflows thanks to utilising Revit as our principal design tool. This allows us to work in a 3D environment from feasibility through to construction. Alongside Revit, our workflows also employ Navisworks, Infraworks, Civil 3D, BIM360, Lumion, and 3DS Max. We offer a comprehensive digital training programme both for new starters and existing staff to ensure our workflows run smoothly.
We’re currently in the process of being certified for our ISO19650 BIM processes and expect to receive accreditation in the near future.
Franklin Ellis is a digitally advanced practice, harnessing the latest in AEC workflows, BIM processes and visualisation techniques.
Our projects are entirely delivered using model based workflows thanks to utilising Revit as our principal design tool. This allows us to work in a 3D environment from feasibility through to construction. Alongside Revit, our workflows also employ Navisworks, Infraworks, Civil 3D, BIM360, Lumion, and 3DS Max. We offer a comprehensive digital training programme both for new starters and existing staff to ensure our workflows run smoothly.
We’re currently in the process of being certified for our ISO19650 BIM processes and expect to receive accreditation in the near future.
Employment benefits
Benefits include:
Holidays
Holiday entitlement starting at 25 days per year (and with increments dependent on length of service).
Flexible working
Flexible work times and home working.
CPD
Regular in-house CDP, covering the full RIBA curriculum.
Study tours
Company study tours, including team visits to completed projects – recent weekend trips include Barcelona and Liverpool.
Mentoring
A range of mentoring support for junior members of staff.
Social events
A wide variety of social events.
Health insurance scheme
Providing contributions for dental work, optical treatment, physiotherapy and counselling.
Contributory pension scheme
Life assurance policy
Enhanced maternity/paternity and sickness pay
Beyond statutory.
Childcare voucher scheme
Cycle to Work scheme
Since 2022, Franklin Ellis have been an Employee Owned Trust (EOT). Employee ownership is a philosophy – a philosophy of values, behaviours and intent. Our commitment to employee ownership underpins our supportive and empowering team approach. This approach if reflected in our four core values:
Collaborative
We believe that working together as a team, sharing ideas and feedback, and helping each other grow is fundamental to success. We foster a culture of trust, respect, and mutual learning, where everyone feels empowered to contribute to our shared vision and goals.
Forward Thinking
We encourage ongoing education and professional development for our team, ensuring that we remain at the cutting edge of design and construction practices. We apply our knowledge to promote sustainability, accessibility, and social responsibility in our designs, reflecting our commitment to the well-being of all stakeholders.
Creative
We are passionate about what we do, encouraging our employees to express their unique ideas, challenge assumptions, and to intelligently explore new possibilities.
Supportive
Our culture of support and openness empowers our team to freely express ideas, share concerns, and build relationships based on trust. This atmosphere fosters both individual success and collective achievement.
The Role
This is a fantastic opportunity for an organised and proactive Business Manager with a great eye for detail and good written and people skills to join our expanding team. The role is primarily office based with some hybrid working flexibility.
The candidate will play a crucial role in the smooth operation of the office. From organising, chairing and minuting meetings, writing fee bids and greeting clients to managing our social media presence, this multi-dimensional role requires a high level of professionalism, discretion, and the ability to multitask and prioritise in a dynamic environment.
Part time positions considered.
Your Profile
The successful candidate will be:
- Supportive — we value honesty, reliability, and integrity from our staff. Our culture of support and openness empowers our team to freely express ideas, share concerns and build relationships based on trust.
- Creative — demonstrating creativity in your approach. We are passionate about what we do, encouraging our employees to express their unique ideas, challenge assumptions and to intelligently explore new possibilities.
- Collaborative — You should be able to work in a team environment to meet tight deadlines. You will have strong communication skills, both within the office and with clients. We believe that working together as a team, sharing ideas and feedback, and helping each other grow is fundamental to success.
- Forward Thinking – We encourage the ongoing education and professional development of our team, ensuring that we remain at the cutting edge of the industry.
- Committed — We will be looking for candidates who take ownership of their work, have considered a wide range of issues, and put together a reasoned, informed response.
And you will have the following key skills:
- Experience in a similar role is preferable but not essential.
- Personable and flexible in approach
- Collaborative
- Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
- Proactive
- Strong organisational skills
- A good manager of people
- Good time and task management
- Experience of Microsoft Office Suite
- Experience of working within Adobe Suite
- Discretion
- An interest or experience in graphic design would be desirable but not essential.
- Experience in an architecture or design-related industry is a plus but not essential.
Key Responsibilities
General
- Oversee day to day office operations, ensuring a well organised and professional office environment.
- Phone answering.
- Support to directors including diary management, travel arrangements etc.
- Organisation of office meetings.
- Manage office supplies and inventory, placing orders as needed.
- Greet clients.
Administrative Support
- Letter writing and filing.
- Assistance in preparing and writing bid documents.
- New project set-up.
- Provide general administrative support to office staff.
Business Development and Marketing
- Provide direct support for business development and marketing.
- Assist in the development and implementation of the firm’s social media posts and manage social media accounts.
Human Resources Support
- Preparation and submission of job advertisements.
- Liaising with prospective candidates around applications and interviews.
- Writing and maintenance of job specifications.
- Support new employee onboarding and integration.
- Assist with annual staff reviews.
Office Culture and Events
- Drive and manage some social events throughout the year.
Working at FEA
The successful candidate will join an enthusiastic, friendly, and dynamic architectural practice which places great emphasis on a healthy work-life balance and encourages a collaborative company culture. Our recent transition to an Employee-Owned Trust puts employees at the heart of the decision-making processes within the practice.
Employee-Owned Trust
Franklin Ellis is proud to be an employee-owned trust since 2022. This ownership model, originally piloted by John Lewis, facilitates and encourages staff involvement in the business.
In our participatory environment everyone is encouraged to engage and contribute, both for personal satisfaction and to engender a strong sense of shared collective achievement.
Underlying our supportive and empowering approach is our shared core values of a collaborative approach, being forward thinking, being creative, and being supportive.
Providing our staff with a say in the running of the business and providing representation on the Trustee Board allows everyone here to contribute to the ongoing success of the firm with the potential of shared profits through dividends.
Remuneration / Benefits
We aim to offer a competitive salary to reflect your skills, experience, and impact on the practice, together with the following benefits:
- Holiday entitlement starting at 25 days per year (and with increments dependant on length of service)
- Contributory pension scheme
- Life assurance
- Health insurance – providing contributions for dental work, optical treatment, physiotherapy, and mental wellbeing
- Salary sacrifice schemes for childcare and Cycle to Work
- Flexible home working
- Company study tours including team visits to completed projects and cities
- Regular in-house CPD. Staff are also encouraged to explore their own CPD opportunities outside the company
- A wide variety of social events
- Part of an Employee-Owned Trust (EOT) with shared profits via dividends.
We always welcome enquiries from talented individuals who want to work for us. We review all applications and may contact you at a later time when we have vacancies.
Franklin Ellis Architects are an equal opportunities employer and consider all applications on merit in the strictest confidence. In the first instance, please email a copy of your current CV to our administrative team: