Careers at HLM Architects

We achieve all we do because of the passion, commitment and enthusiasm of our people. Join HLM’s inspiring, thoughtful community.

A nurturing workplace

HLM works as one team across our studios in UK and Ireland; collaborating and sharing our skills, expertise and diverse lived experiences, for the benefit of our clients, projects and communities.

As a 100% Employee Ownership Trust, we’re proud of the ‘employer of choice’ accolades we’ve received over the years. We work together to create a nurturing, inclusive workplace where everyone has a voice and opportunity to flourish.

Vacancies

The skills I have learned have been invaluable. And continuing to learn from my peers and mentoring from my colleagues will only help me continue my journey to becoming an architect. I’m excited to keep growing at HLM.

Part 1 Architectural Assistant

Application timeline

Your application will be reviewed and fairly screened by our hiring team.

If successful, you’ll be invited to meet the hiring manager to discuss your application in more detail. This will also be an opportunity for you to discover more about us. This may be a virtual call or in-person. After this first stage we’ll be in touch to let you know if you’ve been selected for the next stage.

An in-person opportunity to meet with members of our senior leadership team and colleagues, tell us more about your experience, and tour your local studio.

The hiring team will call you with an offer, and send details of our award-winning benefits package and your full contract.

We agree your start date, share further updates, and look forward to welcoming you to the team!

1. CV screening

Your application will be reviewed and fairly screened by our hiring team.

2. 1st stage interview

If successful, you’ll be invited to meet the hiring manager to discuss your application in more detail. This will also be an opportunity for you to discover more about us. This may be a virtual call or in-person. After this first stage we’ll be in touch to let you know if you’ve been selected for the next stage.

3. Meet and greet interview

An in-person opportunity to meet with members of our senior leadership team and colleagues, tell us more about your experience, and tour your local studio.

4. Offer call and contract

The hiring team will call you with an offer, and send details of our award-winning benefits package and your full contract.

5. Welcome to HLM!

We agree your start date, share further updates, and look forward to welcoming you to the team!

I find HLM a very open staff-oriented organisation, where I instantly felt at home and it feels like I’ve been part of the team for years already. Everybody is welcoming and open to new people and new initiatives.

Associate

Our inclusive culture

Fostering diversity, equity and inclusion is an inherent part of HLM – we empower everyone in our team to feel safe, respected and understood. We developed our I-BELONG framework and guiding principles to create a sense of belonging for us all to thrive individually and collectively. We want everyone to feel comfortable bringing their best self to work.

Our thoughtful design approach is all about responding to the diversity of our clients and the communities we work within. By encouraging everyone in our teams to share their views and feel valued for their contribution, we unlock ideas and innovations that can make a positive difference to people’s lives.

Bringing more diverse perspectives into architecture is important to the future of our profession, and we’re proud to be part of the Trailblazer Group which developed two architectural apprenticeship standards in England

Breaking down barriers

Through our connection with various educators around the UK and Ireland, we inspire and prepare young people for the rapidly changing world of work. We regularly participate in local careers fairs across the areas we work in, where our employees give pupils insight into their own career journeys. We work closely with our professional institutes, and our in leadership positions take part in mentoring events to encourage inclusion and retention of more women in architecture.

We work closely with our focus groups, sector bodies, professional institutes to tackle the issues around inequity of opportunity in our profession. We’re signed up to Business in the Community’s Opening Doors inclusive recruitment campaign with a focus on supporting under-representative groups into employment.

I-BELONG framework and guiding principles

Our behaviours can have such a profound impact not only on ourselves, but those around us. They shape the quality of our relationships with each other.

So we’ve set out a number of guiding principles as part of our I-BELONG framework. To help us navigate dilemmas, make decisions in challenging situations, be resilient, and stay focused on what matters the most – respecting the values we hold close as an EOT.

These principles are our moral compass, that set our direction of travel as we create better places for people and planet, and create a sense of belonging for us all to thrive individually and collectively.

Our award-winning benefits

We provide a comprehensive lifestyle package to everyone which includes; SMART contributory pension, paid subscriptions, bike to work scheme, finders fees, season ticket travel loans, enhanced maternity and parental leave, cash rewards, discount shopping vouchers, Octopus Electric Vehicle Scheme and an annual training allowance.

We provide a health cash plan with over £1,000 to spend on optical and dental treatments, wellbeing and complementary therapies, chiropody, health screening, 24 hour confidential advice line, and face-to-face counselling sessions each year.

We offer a blended work model with a flexible approach to studio and remote working, recognising lifestyles are complex and we all have competing responsibilities. Our SMARTBlend approach supports job sharing, part-time, term time and staggered hours, home working, back to work schemes for parents, keeping in touch days, career breaks, sabbaticals and condensed hours. We recognise no one size fits all. Providing a great studio environment is only part of the equation and flexible ways of working gives us more richness, diversity and choice for how we can work most effectively.

We’re a sociable bunch, and our enthusiastic social committee organise a range of events to suit everyone – from ‘connect days’ to family events. The highlights of our social calendar are our inter-studio events where we all come together across our studios to celebrate and connect.

Guided by our Employee Voice Hub, we have a variety of opportunities to share business planning, project knowledge, seek feedback and test out new ideas. Our fast and dynamic Shout-abouts, Toolbox Talks, Lunch & Learn sessions and Third Thursdays are hubs for strengthening connections between studios and sharing ideas. Our regular design forums and debates facilitated by our Studio Design Champions are open to all, ensuring we tap into the exceptional talent we have across our studios and continue to challenge ourselves to deliver the very best we can.

The HLM Academy supports everyone along their career pathway – capturing passions, driving innovation, and developing the necessary skills to navigate our ever-evolving world. We recognise learning is not just a one-off event. From fostering an inclusive mindset to leveraging cutting-edge methodologies, we’re committed to lifelong learning. And through the Academy and our MentoringPLUS programme, we provide our employees with access to the tools, resources and opportunities to succeed. We support everyone to become firmly established in their role by helping to lay strong foundations and develop the skills and experience necessary to thrive.

We are committed to supporting our employees with their well-being. Employees can access resources through our Health cash plan and EAP scheme such as a screening and self-management app which contains a range of evidence-based techniques and access to a human-led therapy service. We also have a team of qualified Mental Health First Aiders across our studios, who work together to support staff and raise awareness through regular campaigns.

Lifestyle package

We provide a comprehensive lifestyle package to everyone which includes; SMART contributory pension, paid subscriptions, bike to work scheme, finders fees, season ticket travel loans, enhanced maternity and parental leave, cash rewards, discount shopping vouchers, Octopus Electric Vehicle Scheme and an annual training allowance.

Health cash plan

We provide a health cash plan with over £1,000 to spend on optical and dental treatments, wellbeing and complementary therapies, chiropody, health screening, 24 hour confidential advice line, and face-to-face counselling sessions each year.

SMARTBlend

We offer a blended work model with a flexible approach to studio and remote working, recognising lifestyles are complex and we all have competing responsibilities. Our SMARTBlend approach supports job sharing, part-time, term time and staggered hours, home working, back to work schemes for parents, keeping in touch days, career breaks, sabbaticals and condensed hours. We recognise no one size fits all. Providing a great studio environment is only part of the equation and flexible ways of working gives us more richness, diversity and choice for how we can work most effectively.

Social community

We’re a sociable bunch, and our enthusiastic social committee organise a range of events to suit everyone – from ‘connect days’ to family events. The highlights of our social calendar are our inter-studio events where we all come together across our studios to celebrate and connect.

Guided by our Employee Voice Hub, we have a variety of opportunities to share business planning, project knowledge, seek feedback and test out new ideas. Our fast and dynamic Shout-abouts, Toolbox Talks, Lunch & Learn sessions and Third Thursdays are hubs for strengthening connections between studios and sharing ideas. Our regular design forums and debates facilitated by our Studio Design Champions are open to all, ensuring we tap into the exceptional talent we have across our studios and continue to challenge ourselves to deliver the very best we can.

HLM Academy

The HLM Academy supports everyone along their career pathway – capturing passions, driving innovation, and developing the necessary skills to navigate our ever-evolving world. We recognise learning is not just a one-off event. From fostering an inclusive mindset to leveraging cutting-edge methodologies, we’re committed to lifelong learning. And through the Academy and our MentoringPLUS programme, we provide our employees with access to the tools, resources and opportunities to succeed. We support everyone to become firmly established in their role by helping to lay strong foundations and develop the skills and experience necessary to thrive.

Well-being

We are committed to supporting our employees with their well-being. Employees can access resources through our Health cash plan and EAP scheme such as a screening and self-management app which contains a range of evidence-based techniques and access to a human-led therapy service. We also have a team of qualified Mental Health First Aiders across our studios, who work together to support staff and raise awareness through regular campaigns.

Our health cash plan has received the most positive feedback out of all the benefits HLM offer. It relieves the regular financial burdens of medical check-ups that we take for granted throughout the year.

Group HR Coordinator