Dancing walls and 360-degree cameras: Deloitte opens 'future of work' Edinburgh office

Accounting and auditing giant Deloitte is offering a new working environment for hundreds of Edinburgh staff after opening the doors to a “future of work” office in the city centre.

Located at the new 9 Haymarket Square building in the city’s west end, the office is now open to the 400-plus people based out of Deloitte’s Edinburgh operation.

Located at the new 9 Haymarket Square building in the city’s west end, the 16,383-square-foot office is now open to the 400-plus people based out of Deloitte’s Edinburgh operation. The Big Four accountancy firm said the new space had been designed in response to what its “people have asked for”, after a survey found that 86 per cent of respondents ranked “collaborating with team colleagues” and “interacting with others” within their top three ways they envisage using the office.

The Edinburgh office is the latest in a series of UK office announcements that the firm has made, including Bristol and Manchester, with a new Newcastle office being occupied in 2022.

Douglas Farish, office senior partner for Edinburgh at Deloitte, said: “We listened to our people and incorporated what they wanted into the design of our new Edinburgh office. The way we deliver work for our clients has evolved, so we needed to rethink our office environment based on how, when, and where we want to work to deliver the best for our clients’ needs. We’ve created a very open and welcoming space for our people and clients, and it really is a physical manifestation of our culture - a place for collaboration, connection and innovation.”

The firm said state-of-the-art technology, including 360-degree cameras and adjustable height desks, created an “inclusive meeting experience for all”, allowing for a “seamless connection” to those working away from the office. The new office has also introduced “dancing walls” in the collaboration spaces that double as interactive screens to allow for easy presenting and workshops.

Farish added: “We’re not mandating a set number of days in the office. Instead, we trust our people to manage their working week between client site, the office and home - and the new technology will enable seamless connection between our people and clients wherever they choose to work. The configuration of the space, and the variety in the style and size of its rooms, allows those using it to be agile and productive.”

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