Company details

HEADCOUNT

100-499

ORG TYPE

Corporate

SECTOR

Real Estate & Built Environment

WEBSITE

http://www.hlmarchitects.com/

About the company

HLM Architects is an employee-owned architecture practice working across the UK and Ireland, with studios in cities including London, Sheffield, Cardiff, Glasgow, Plymouth, Belfast and Dublin. The company works by sector and shares resources across studios rather than running fully separate local teams. The company promotes a people-centred design approach and positions social value and inclusion as core themes. Current hiring spans architecture and adjacent functions such as HR.

Locations and presence

HLM Architects operates across multiple UK studios and also has an Ireland presence (including Dublin). The company recruits into specific studios while describing cross-studio collaboration as the default way of working.

Palpable Score

72.3

/ 100

HLM Architects gives early-career applicants a clear, respectful hiring journey and backs it with visible development support and flexible working policies. The score is held back mainly by limited salary transparency and only a moderate volume of clearly entry-level roles at any one time.

Pillar 1: Early-career access

Score

13.8

/ 20

The company has visible early-career entry points such as Trainee HR Assistant and Part 2 Architectural Assistant roles, plus regular “assistant” level hiring across studios.
HLM Architects uses early-career architecture pathways in practice, with Part 1 and Part 2 assistant roles explicitly referenced in careers content and vacancies.
The company’s live vacancy mix still leans toward experienced roles (Architect, sector leads, project directors), so entry-level access is meaningful but not dominant.

Pillar 2: Hiring fairness and transparency

Score

16.5

/ 20

The company publishes an application timeline that spells out CV screening, a first-stage interview, an in-person meet-and-greet, then an offer call and contract.
HLM Architects sets expectations that shortlisted applicants will be contacted and describes who you’ll meet, which reduces uncertainty for first-time applicants.
The company still uses a mix of “apply via ATS” and “send your CV and work examples” routes across roles, which can make the experience less consistent role to role.

Pillar 3: Learning and support

Score

16.5

/ 20

The company describes structured internal development through the HLM Academy and a MentoringPLUS programme, positioned as support along career pathways.
HLM Architects states training can be provided for core software used in the practice (for example where Revit, ArchiCad and Adobe skills are preferred).
The company’s public role pages do not consistently show practical ramp detail (buddying, 30-60-90 day goals, review cadence), so the day-to-day learning structure is not fully inspectable.

Pillar 4: Pay fairness and stability

Score

12.5

/ 20

The company publishes a strong benefits bundle including paid professional subscriptions, an annual training allowance, season ticket loans, enhanced parental leave, and a health cash plan.
HLM Architects offers flexible working through a named model (SMARTBlend) that includes options like staggered hours, term-time working, job sharing, sabbaticals and condensed hours.
The company does not consistently publish salary ranges in its own job adverts, which caps confidence on pay fairness for early-career candidates comparing offers.

Pillar 5: Early-career outcomes

Score

13.0

/ 20

The company has generally positive employee sentiment signals, with strong overall ratings and a majority recommending HLM Architects as a workplace.
HLM Architects has mixed progression feedback in public reviews, including some comments about being pigeonholed and finding progression harder than expected.
The company does not publish early-career outcome metrics such as promotion timing, qualification support outcomes, or 12–24 month retention for assistants, so outcomes rely on reviews rather than measurable pathways.