Player sponsor feature: Aitken Turnbull Architects

• 21 Dec 2023
• Features

We catch up with Aitken Turnbull Architects who have this year sponsored back-row Connor Boyle.

From the history of the organisation to their biggest projects, learn more about the business in our player sponsor blog feature below!

Can you tell us more about Aitken Turnbull Architects, the history of the organisation and how long you’ve had offices based in Edinburgh?

We trace our roots back to 1887 in Hawick.  Since then, we’ve expanded across the Borders and into Dumfries & Galloway before opening in Edinburgh in 2007.

We’ve transitioned from an old-fashioned general practice into a knowledge driven studio working across the UK in five primary sectors; Health, Community, Leisure, Living and Workspace.

Can you talk us through any notable projects you’ve been involved with or a project that Aitken Turnbull Architects are particularly proud of?

Because we work across multiple sectors, we have the opportunity to deliver many exciting projects.

We’ve worked with committed community groups to meet local needs, like the Stow Community Trust who we delivered the Stow Station House with.

We’ve worked with inspiring healthcare professionals to deliver health environments, including specialist Cancer spaces with Macmillan Cancer Support like the Altnagelvin Health & Wellbeing Campus in Northern Ireland.

Our leisure team were behind the award-winning Fletchers Spa and the Performance Academy at Archerfield.

We’ve delivered stunning one-off houses across the UK including houses at Kings Cairn as well as affordable housing developments in The Borders and South-West Scotland meeting the needs of local communities.

Our workspace team delivered the fit out of HMRC’s Edinburgh Office, including the only cabinet room for the UK Government outside London.

What are the biggest challenges that Aitken Turnbull Architects face in 2023 as an organisation and how are you overcoming that?

The economy has been challenging for most businesses.  Our industry is particularly susceptible to economic confidence, however by diversifying across multiple sectors and working across the UK we’ve been able to protect ourselves from the most challenging [elements] of this year.

Finding new staff members has been difficult this year, however we’ve been very fortunate in finding seven amazing new team members this year, we’ve invested in our team and improving and developing our culture which has definitely helped us in attracting great people.

Continued growth will always be a challenge, growing relationships with our current clients as well as finding new clients and partners is one of the things that motivates our team most.

You’ve chosen to sponsor Connor Boyle for the season – why have Aitken Turnbull Architects chosen Connor and what will it mean to have Connor represent you this season?

We’ve been business club members for the last two seasons and as a practice are invested in Edinburgh Rugby.

Aitken Turnbull are dedicated to helping young emerging talent meet their full potential and sponsoring a player with Edinburgh Rugby seemed like the perfect opportunity to add to our current sponsorships.

Having watched Connor’s impressive progression over the past two seasons coupled with the undeniable passion he exhibits both on and off the field, choosing him as our sponsored player was a natural and compelling choice.

Finally, what are the main targets/objectives of the organisation heading into the New year

We’re opening a new studio in Manchester in February. This will be our fourth studio and our first permanent base in England.

We’re looking to continue to grow our team, strengthening our current sectors as well as expanding into industrial work, building on a strong pipeline in the sector.  We want to continue to invest in our team and our communities – and the sports clubs and individuals that we sponsor.