Claremont named Employer of the Year at North West Business of the Year Awards

Office fit-out contractor Claremont has been named Employer of the Year at the North West Business of the Year Awards 2026, the employee-owned firm announced on 10 November.

Claremont said the award recognises organisations that show commitment to their people, culture and workplace experience. The company, which describes itself as the first in its field to go employee-owned, said the result held particular significance because it recognised the people behind its project work.

Natalie Davies, Sales Director at Claremont, said: "Being an Employee Owned Trust means putting our people first, making sure everyone has a voice, feels valued and genuinely shares in the success of the business."

She added: "Getting that right takes commitment, but it's something we're incredibly proud of. To have that recognised is a fantastic feeling."

Project and design awards

Claremont said the employer award followed other recognition during 2026. Its Places for People project in Preston was named Workplace Fit-Out of the Year at the North West Insider Property Awards earlier in the year, the company said.

According to Claremont's case study, the Places for People office covers 37,500 sq ft and was built over a 36-week programme, bringing staff from the housing group's two existing Preston offices under one roof. Claremont said 99% of strip-out materials on the project were diverted from landfill and reused.

At the Fit Out Awards UK, presented at a gala ceremony on 24 September 2026 at the Park Plaza London Riverbank, the organiser lists Claremont Group Interiors as winner of Fit Out Design Practice of the Year 2026. Claremont said Grace Eley was also named Designer of the Year – Rising Star.

The organiser also lists Claremont's Black Cat Building Consultancy project in Manchester as winner of Fit Out Project of the Year - Small Office (Under £500k). Claremont's own announcement describes the category as Fit Out Project of the Year – Small Office.

The Black Cat office at One St James' Square in Manchester is 2,500 sq ft and was completed over a three-week programme, according to Claremont's case study. It has 21 workstations with height-adjustable desks and three private meeting rooms named Garfield, Sylvester and Cheshire.

The organiser's shortlist also records Claremont as a finalist in the Large Office under £7.5 million category for its DAC Beachcroft Bristol and Heineken Edinburgh projects.

Claremont's awards page lists earlier wins at the same awards: Fit Out Project of the Year for Small Office (The PFA) and Large Office (Softcat, London) in 2025, and an earlier Fit Out Project of the Year (Large Office over £7.5 million) win for AQA, Manchester.

Project	Floor area (sq ft)
Flutter global HQ (2021)	126,000
Places for People, Preston	37,500
Black Cat, Manchester	2,500

The company

Claremont was established in 1977 and has had a Bristol base since 1994, according to its website. Companies House records Claremont Group Interiors Limited, company number 03280942, as incorporated on 20 November 1996 and registered at The Breeze, 2 Kelvin Close, Birchwood, Warrington, Cheshire, WA3 7PB, under SIC code 43390, other building completion and finishing.

The company moved to an Employee Ownership Trust in 2020. At the time, Claremont said it had appointed a separate governance board to ensure the trust acts in employees' best interests, and that it was on track for £34.5m turnover that financial year, up £10m on 2019/20.

Claremont says more than 70% of its business comes from returning clients. Its biggest project to date, a 126,000 sq ft global headquarters for Flutter, was completed in 2021.

Claremont said it will continue to invest in its people and nurture talent following the award.