Central Employment

Central Employment is a privately owned recruitment consultancy in Newcastle, specialising in permanent, temporary, and contract placements across the UK. Rapid business growth highlighted the limitations of their previous premises—interconnected Victorian terraced properties that hindered cross-department collaboration and community. To address this, they relocated to an 8,000 sq ft ground-floor suite at Portland House, offering dual entrances: one facing the Lang Art Gallery for candidate reception and another via the main building entrance for corporate clients.

The new candidate reception features a bespoke desk, timber feature wall with integrated planting, and acoustic ceiling rafts. Adjacent are a large training room and informal meeting rooms leading to a communal breakout space. This area is cleverly divided by the Ikons of Denmark 4T system, serving as both a break area and informal training space, incorporating planters, glazed panels, and a drywipe board to maintain an open feel.

The corporate entrance includes a waiting area with a media wall, boardroom, and a main breakout area featuring tiered seating. Furniture from Nomique’s Plastic Whale range, made from recycled PET bottles, is used throughout. A staff favourite, “The Snug,” offers LED mood lighting, wall plants, a large Lagunitas L-shaped sofa, and a big TV screen, providing a versatile space for meetings, calls, or focused work.

The central workspace houses director offices, a resource area, and open-plan desking from Steelcase. Part-height desk-end storage with planter tops offers privacy and greenery, while full-height storage wall units maximise filing space and accommodate staff belongings. The fit-out showcases a contemporary design with neutral colours and varied flooring to define areas and pathways.