2023 was a pivotal year for our business.

We kicked things off with a rebrand, with our refreshed vision and identity better reflecting where we are as a business, and most importantly, how we can work to realise the full potential of the built environment.

Underpinning this rebrand has been an unwavering commitment to social impact. We have spent 2023 constantly challenging the industry to do better – through the work that we do, the speeches that we make and the organisations that we help embolden, who now demonstrate social value best practice day in, day out.

A huge part of this has been our programme of social value symposiums – roadshowing an event format across some of the UK’s major cities including Bristol, Cambridge, London and Manchester.

Countless good ideas have been exchanged and hundreds of meaningful connections have been made between private, public and third sector colleagues all striving to deliver for their communities. It has been a pleasure to facilitate these symposiums alongside organisations including Socius, Places for People, BoKlok, Hill, Savills Earth, Building Heroes, Regal London, FEC and Muse.

We’ve supported our clients this year to gain planning consent for thousands of new homes, new jobs, new megawatts of renewable energy and more. Our steadfast commitment to social impact has helped us secure commercial success as well with high-profile project and client wins, contributing to a 22% boost in like-for-like revenues.

We’ve welcomed new team members and even new faces to our Board of Directors.

Having previously pivoted to an entirely remote working model, this year has also seen the return of a place to call home in our fair capital. Our London hub in Farringdon is already fast becoming a hive of activity, supporting colleagues based in London and across the South East.

2024 is already set to become another interesting and rewarding year at Meeting Place. With five new staff members due to join us, a General Election on the cards and (another) new NPPF, change is certainly afoot.

The constant through it all is our belief in the built environment as a force for good and we look forward to creating positive change from new developments with you in the New Year.