With the opening of the Scottish parliament the British Council decided to relocate to one of Edinburgh’s most exiting new buildings, the Tun in Holyrood.

“It’s a space which makes a clear statement about openness, transparency and democracy. An office of which we can feel proud, which helps us work in new, more flexible and better ways and which is admired by our partners and visitors ”

Micheal. Bird. OBE. Director Scotland.

The British Council had been based in Bruntsfield Square, Edinburgh, since 1961 It occupied two large adjoining traditional terraced houses. Approximately, 10,000 sq. ft of predominately cellular space which accommodated just 36 staff. Since devolution the BC’s role in Scotland had evolved. The premises and location no longer suited its changing role in Scottish affairs, and so in order to bring their working environment in line with the increasingly dynamic nature of their work they decided to relocate to the Scottish capital’s new centre of gravity – Holyrood.

The new premises houses nearly twice as many staff in 60% of the space as their previous premises. It was designed to support flexible working. There are no cellular offices, but rather a series of different settings, intended to allow the staff to work in a manner that best suits their various tasks. Staff are encouraged to ‘release themselves’ from the concept a personally ‘owned’ desk, and work anywhere within the office, or indeed remotely, as appropriate.

The Tun won the ‘British Council of Offices’, Best Commercial Workplace, award for Scotland and the UK.

“A new vessel in which Scotland’s political, economic and cultural aspirations within the UK, Europe and the world will ferment”

— Sir David Steel. Presiding Officer, Scottish Parliament