Embedding Culture Through Workplace Design

A workplace built around One Birstall

From the outset, the project was shaped through collaboration. Tom Kilroy at Mars and the onsite innovation project team had already begun exploring improvements and identifying what the site needed.

These early discussions highlighted the importance of the One Birstall concept: a connected site, where associates feel aligned, informed and part of something bigger than their individual teams.

Workshops and engagement sessions helped shape a brief grounded in day-to-day reality, while aligning the design to the site’s focus on health, inclusivity and recognition. The result is a workplace that supports wellbeing, makes communication easier, and brings the One Birstall culture to life in practical, everyday ways.

The new environment reinforces One Birstall in a way that associates can see and feel every day.

Managing delivery in a live manufacturing environment

Delivering change at a busy site meant keeping everything organised and moving, without interrupting daily operations. It took close coordination across Mars, Blueprint and the wider project team to make that happen.

Associates relocated upstairs into interim spaces during the build, with regular updates to keep everyone in the loop. Blueprint managed on-site coordination, while Gleeds kept the client project management, compliance and documentation on track.

That shared approach kept the programme moving and allowed Mars to stay focused on key decisions.

Spaces designed for connection

A key priority for Birstall was creating spaces that bring people together more effectively, whether that’s the whole site gathering at once or smaller groups needing room to collaborate.

At the centre of the new layout are a Park and the Auditorium. These open, flexible environments support celebrations, activities and site-wide updates, giving associates space to connect as one community rather than as separate departments.

Alongside these community zones sits a dedicated panel room, providing a consistent setting for structured communication and operational updates. In a manufacturing environment, having a clear place for morning product quality reviews and shared discussions helps strengthen visibility across teams and keeps messaging consistent.

For smaller group work, co-creation and flexible collaboration settings support project work and problem-solving, giving associates space to step away from desks and work together more easily across the day.

The spaces are already proving their value in practice, including at the launch, where around 200 associates gathered comfortably without the area feeling crowded.

Keeping associates engaged throughout the journey

A big part of the project’s success was keeping associates informed and involved from the beginning. Workshops, regular updates and open conversations meant people could see the transformation taking shape, share feedback early, and understand the thinking behind key decisions.

As the build progressed,3D walkthroughs and ongoing communication maintained momentum, even during the temporary relocation. By the time the doors reopened, associates weren’t just arriving in a new workplace; they were coming back to a space they had helped shape.

ENCOURAGING ASSOCIATES BACK ON SITE

One of the aims of the transformation was to encourage more associates to spend time on site.

Mars knew the best way to bring people back was to make the workplace genuinely worth coming to. The focus was on improving the on-site experience, with spaces that support collaboration, wellbeing and connection.

Since completion, on-site attendance has increased, with associates choosing to be there because the environment supports teamwork and connection.