Woodhouse Celebrates 50 Years of Shaping How People Work

Woodhouse, a family-owned specialist in workspace strategy, design and delivery, is marking its 50th anniversary — five decades of helping organisations create environments where people do their best work.

Founded in 1976 by Gordon Cooper, the business has grown from a small construction company into an award-winning commercial fit-out specialist, built on three enduring principles: facilitating team togetherness, blending creativity with pragmatism, and earning clients' total trust.

Over five decades, Woodhouse has continuously evolved in step with the changing world of work. From its origins in construction, the business has developed into a full-service commercial fit-out and workplace consultancy, integrating architecture and design expertise to deliver increasingly complex, high-value projects. That progression is reflected in a strong portfolio of award-winning work and enduring partnerships with leading organisations across a range of sectors.

As Woodhouse enters its 50th year, the business does so with significant momentum. The company has recently onboarded major clients including easyJet, Maersk and Kennedy Wilson, and has begun 2025 with four landmark project wins — reinforcing its position as a trusted partner for organisations investing seriously in their workplaces.

Woodhouse continues to differentiate itself through what it calls "The Woodhouse Way" — a philosophy that goes beyond workspace design to focus on creating environments that shape cultural behaviours, foster collaboration and drive genuine employee engagement.

Managing Director Matthew Cooper commented:

"Reaching 50 years is a significant milestone for any business, but particularly for a family-owned company. Our longevity is a testament to our people, our values, and our commitment to delivering exceptional spaces that truly work for our clients."

The business's performance is underpinned by long-standing relationships and operational rigour, including:

• 90% of subcontractors retained for over five years
• An independently assessed Health & Safety rating of 98.2%
• A Net Promoter Score of +76
• ISO9001, ISO14001, ISO45001 and Planet Mark certifications

The company also offers a lifetime guarantee on workmanship — a reflection of the confidence it places in the quality and durability of its work.

Founder Gordon Cooper added:

"I'm incredibly proud of what Woodhouse has become. The business has grown and evolved in ways I couldn't have imagined, but the principles that have guided us from the start — being straightforward with clients, making a genuine difference, aiming high, respecting the people we work with and working as one team — those haven't changed. They're as relevant today as they were 50 years ago."

As workplaces continue to evolve in response to hybrid working and rising expectations around employee experience, Woodhouse remains focused on helping organisations create environments that give people a compelling reason to come together.

With a strong project pipeline and continued investment in design and innovation, we enter our next chapter from a position of real confidence — and with the same values that have driven us since 1976.

To mark our 50th anniversary, we will be hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by the Lord-Lieutenant of Hertfordshire at our newly refurbished headquarters in Hatfield from 3:00pm on 30th April, followed by drinks, networking and an opportunity to see first-hand how workplaces are conceived, designed and delivered. We'd love to see you there — those wishing to attend are invited to register their interest by contacting us via hatfield@woodhouseworkspace.com.

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