Firm says 15% of staff could go

Archial has said up to 35 staff could be axed from its UK business as its looks to replicate the working methods of its North American sister firm Norr.

The practice, which is owned by the Canada-based Ingenium Group, said it wanted to create bigger studios while reducing the size of some of its smaller offices, and warned this could see 15% of staff go.

It employs around 230 people at 13 offices from Inverness in Scotland down to Plymouth in south-west England.

Chief executive Chris Littlemore said: “It is vital for successful practices to be light on their feet over what will be another challenging year in 2012.

“The proposed restructure is part and parcel of our continuous review of our operations to ensure that we always achieve the optimal balance between resources and workload and that we remain in a position to put our best foot forward when the recovery comes.”

Littlemore said the strategy was being driven to mirror that of Norr, whose US and Canada offices includes bases at Chicago, Tampa and Toronto. Norr’s operation centres on large “delivery studios” supported by a series of regional studios.

“This is a tried and tested model employed by Norr and, as we find ourselves collaborating increasingly closely with them on a range of overseas project, it makes eminent sense that we consider adopting our working methods to reflect this relationship,” Littlemore said.

The firm said it had begun a consultation with affected staff which is expected to take 30 days.