The practice also placed 44th overall in the Best Companies ‘Top 100 Best Mid-Sized Companies to Work For’ 2021 list and has been accredited as a World Class Company for workplace engagement.

The highly competitive annual survey and recognition programme spotlights the best workplaces throughout the country, measuring how engaged people are at work and how they feel about their employer, before positioning them in the Best Companies Index. It has become one of the highest-profile events on the national business community calendar.

HLM’s place at 44th overall represents a major leap from last year’s results. In addition, HLM has obtained the highest accreditation rating as a Best Companies 3-Star workplace and stole the number three spot in the Top 5 Best Architects and Surveyors to Work For list. Breaking down the survey regionally, HLM ranked at number 14 for Yorkshire and Humber and 21 for both Scotland and London.

The news comes after HLM became an Employee Ownership Trust earlier this year, transferring share ownership for the benefit of all their employees.

Karen Mosley, managing director, said: “We couldn’t be more delighted with the outcome, which reflects the enhanced empathy, engagement, innovation connectivity we’ve seen displayed by colleagues over the last year. We are now excited to be preparing for our return to the studios, and will be embracing a blended-working approach so everyone can continue to have the flexibility needed to succeed and be their best. My thanks goes out to the entire team for their unwavering support to each other.”

In recent months, HLM has achieved numerous awards including the ‘Architect’ award at the 2021 Cardiff Property Awards, being named the AJ100 Employer of the Year 2020, and Architectural Practice of the Year in the Building Awards 2020.