Watson Batty Architects, which has offices in Leeds and Loughborough, has made four high-level promotions.
Robert Jagger has been promoted to Associate Director with a remit to grow the already established residential and specialist living sector portfolio at Watson Batty. Robert has over 16 years’ in-depth experience in both sectors and will work closely with registered providers, contractors, and local authorities to deliver innovative design solutions. He will also continue to lead on maintaining standards across the practice including Revit software and BIM Level 2 compliance.
Rob Cundy has been promoted to Associate and will assist in developing business across higher education whilst helping to mentor younger architects through qualifications and career path development. Rob has over 22 years’ industry experience working with both private and public sectors and has designed complex projects for Durham, Newcastle, and Leeds Beckett Universities
Gemma Bottomley is also promoted to Associate, primarily working across the specialist living sector and helping to develop the interior design service at Watson Batty. Gemma, who has 14 years multi sector experience, will also lead on dementia design compliance across the practice and is developing schemes towards gold standard University of Stirling Dementia Design Accreditation.
David Whalley also becomes an Associate, further developing the large-scale master planning expertise at Watson Batty. With 22 years’ industry experience focused on the living and specialist living sectors, David will help grow the PRS and student residential sectors and ensure that the practice is at the forefront of fast-moving technological advancements in the industry. He is also part of the practices’ sustainability taskforce in response to the climate crisis and commitment to the RIBA Climate Challenge.
Watson Batty Architects employs a team of 35 across studios in Leeds and Loughborough, and expects to surpass its £2.8m turnover targets by around 7% by April year end.
MD Peter White said: “These well-deserved promotions represent the future of Watson Batty and have proved themselves to be at the forefront of design innovation and aspiring leaders in their respective sectors.
“With a strong business pipeline and robust and incentivised team in place, we are pushing forward with a business priority on sustainability as we face the urgency of the Climate Crisis. We have established a sustainability taskforce to address this and to guide our clients on how to design and deliver buildings on the journey to net zero. Our principles look to drive change within the industry in sustainability as well as fire safety, modern methods of construction and inclusive design.”
