Design Assistant

McLennan Architecture and Interiors

Morris & Spottiswood Ltd is a leading provider of fitout, housing, maintenance and M&E services to the retail, banking, commercial, education, housing and healthcare sectors across Scotland and North West /West of England. Our offices are based in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Warrington and Leeds.

Morris and Spottiswood’s in house design team, McLennan Architecture and Interiors, are looking for a Design Assistant to join their growing team of architectural and interior designers in the delivery of design activities across our National Frameworks, Finance Sector and other architectural/design projects.

The successful candidate will be engaged in all design stages within the company’s scope of service, working closely with the Design Directors and other design team staff. They will support the team with the design and delivery of new and renovated spaces within a variety of sectors, including financial, public sector, office and workspace sectors. They will be expected to provide the design team with assistance in all project phases, from initial concept design and through the detailed development stage, statutory applications and assisting the delivery teams during the site delivery phase. They will also be expected to contribute to our overall design excellence in the fields of sustainability and health and safety, ensuring that design risks are mitigated during the design process.

Required

-Graduate qualification in Interior Architecture or equivalent

-Ability to commute to the London area.

-Working knowledge of UK Planning and Building Regulations.

-Proficiency in AutoCAD, Revit, SketchUp and Enscape (preferred)

Personal Attributes.

You should have excellent graphic, written and verbal communications skills as you will be required to express your design and specifications graphically, in writing and verbally within the internal design team and to the wider project team and consultants. In addition, you should be able to demonstrate a good track record of working with clients to meet their expectations as well as to deliver for the business.

Strategic / Operational

* Support the Design Director and project teams to deliver work across all RIBA stages and on site, from inception to completion.

* Contribute to feasibility, research/precedent studies, and concept development, support design delivery across sectors.

* Develop architectural, space planning and interior design solutions for new-build and refurbishment projects, including permanent detailing and temporary elements, ensuring briefs and Design Guides are met.

* Produce drawings, plans, visuals and client-facing concept material (e.g., boards, palettes) using Revit/AutoCAD/Enscape.

* Ensure designs comply with planning, building regulations and safety standards; coordinate with consultants, contractors and specialist trades.

* Work to agreed programmes and attend site visits (initially shadowing) to record observations and support alignment with design/specification.

Financial

* Demonstrate commercial awareness of budgets and support profitability.

* Deliver accurate work efficiently, maintaining quality and reducing rework.

People

* Communicate professionally, learn from senior colleagues, and contribute positively to the team.

* Support client liaison to confirm requirements, deliver added value, and strengthen relationships.

General

* Maintain accurate departmental documentation and complete required duties to support business objectives.

* Commit to learning and development, flexibility, and continuous improvement.

Other information

* Core hours: 8–5 Mon–Thu and 8–4 Fri (1-hour lunch). Hybrid working (London office/home). Site visits required to review delivery and compliance with specifications.

Remuneration

* Competitive salary (DOE) + car allowance

* Healthcare benefits

* 5% employer pension contribution

* 33 days annual leave (incl. public holidays)

* Half-day paid leave on your birthday

Valuing People at McLennan Architecture and Interiors

McLennan Architecture and Interiors is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.

One of our core values is to ‘Value People’. We are passionate about investing in people and genuinely take care about what we do and how we do it. This ensures that the working environment, staff, suppliers, and the communities we serve always remain at the front-of-mind.

Put simply, a diverse and inclusive workforce opens our business up to a much wider talent pool and greater innovation and creativity through teams with different experiences, backgrounds, and education.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a successful team