We came together at Ashridge House to celebrate our biggest Summer Conference yet, reflecting on the people, projects and progress shaping Circle’s future.
Celebrating project milestones together
Our Summer Conference brought the whole Circle team together at the historic Ashridge House in Hertfordshire for a day of reflection, collaboration and celebration. It was an opportunity to celebrate our journey to date, and the relationships, trust and commitment that have helped shape the business we are today.
Travelling together from London Euston set the tone for the day. As the team arrived at the Grade II* listed Ashridge House, surrounded by more than 190 acres of historic parkland and gardens, it was the perfect setting to step away from our day to day projects, reconnect with colleagues and celebrate everything we have achieved together.
Celebrating our journey
Following breakfast beneath the impressive painted ceilings of the Old Library, Managing Director Joe Cutler and Director Aled Williams opened the conference with a business update that reflected on Circle’s journey.
The presentation celebrated the collective achievements of every member of the business, highlighting not only the projects we have delivered but also the relationships we have built with clients and peers. It was an opportunity to recognise how far we have come together and share our ambitions for the future.
The figures demonstrated the scale of that growth.
- A positive start to 2026, with an average of 4.81 new project appointments every month
- 68 live projects
- 10 new clients secured so far this year
- 10 new employees joining the business this year
- 11% year on year growth
- 5,800 co-living homes supported to date
- 894 BtR homes currently under our Quantity Surveying and Employer’s Agent services
- 10 projects already started on site this year with another 10 expected before year end
The presentation also celebrated achievements beyond project delivery, including ISO 9001 Quality Management certification, four internal promotions (Florence, Charlie E, Ollie, Phil), three successful RICS charterships (Cameron, Chloe, Katie), an ICWCI accreditation (Erika), an ICWCI Overall Winner at the Building Quality Awards (Dan), multiple national award shortlist recognition and continued investment in our people.
Listening, learning and improving
Our Summer Conference is much more than a social event. It provides dedicated time for the whole business to reflect, learn and shape how we continue to improve together.
Alongside business updates, the team discussed lessons learned from recent Gateway 2 submissions, project insights and appraisal feedback. Sharing experiences openly across all disciplines encourages collaboration between our integrated service lines and ensures everyone benefits from collective knowledge, regardless of role or experience.
The conference also highlighted several initiatives introduced following employee feedback, including expanded specialist technical training alongside existing APC support, continued investment in internal RICS counsellors and mentors, greater collaboration between service lines and ongoing Life Cycle Assessment learning as we continue embedding carbon conscious thinking across the business.
Listening to our people remains central to how we grow. Feedback is welcomed, valued and acted upon because continuous improvement applies as much to our culture as it does to our projects.
Competition, collaboration and plenty of laughter
Once the presentations concluded, attention quickly shifted from business updates to friendly competition.
The Great Circle Scavenger Hunt
Seven teams set off across the Ashridge estate for a GPS scavenger hunt, racing against the clock to complete a series of timed challenges and collect as many points as possible.
What began as a simple team selfie quickly descended into full competition mode.
Teams sprinted across fields to reach checkpoints, iPads were flipped in attempts to slow opponents down, and rumours of stolen points soon started circulating as everyone became determined to climb the leaderboard.
Between trivia questions hidden around the estate, teams were regularly interrupted by surprise photo and video challenges. From recreating gym workouts and revealing hidden talents to performing choreographed routines to The Time Warp, every challenge brought plenty of laughter and even more memorable moments. Many of the submissions will feature in our conference reel, although a few might be best left in the archives.
The event also gave future colleagues Chris and Boyko the opportunity to meet everyone before officially joining Circle. Chris certainly made an impression, throwing himself into the competition with such enthusiasm that one determined sprint ended in an equally determined tumble.
Congratulations to Team 4 comprising Abdul, Charlie C, Chris, Katie, Phil and Joe for taking the overall victory, although a few other teams still believe their dance routines deserved bonus points.
Putting Circle knowledge to the test
After returning to base and cooling down in the summer sunshine, Cameron hosted a brilliantly creative Circle quiz that tested everyone’s knowledge of the business.
From current projects and key milestones to colleague nicknames and company history, the quiz provided another opportunity for plenty of laughs while celebrating everything that makes Circle unique.
Congratulations to Dillon’s team for taking home the quiz title.
Rounders in the sunshine
Following a BBQ enjoyed together on one of the hottest days of the year, four teams took to the field for an energetic game of rounders.
Competition remained fierce throughout. Fielding standards were exceptionally high, meaning even well struck shots often resulted in impressive catches and early dismissals.
One player stood out from the crowd. Gregory produced an outstanding all round performance with excellent batting and catching throughout the afternoon, prompting suggestions that perhaps a Circle rounders team should be next on the agenda.
A record breaking game of Jenga
As the afternoon continued, attention turned to the garden games, where Giant Jenga unexpectedly became one of the day’s biggest spectator events.
The tower continued to grow until it had wrapped around the table three times, drawing an ever larger crowd with every successful move.
When Teddy stepped forward to tackle his third block, the pressure was on. Hands shaking, he found himself surrounded by a circle of engineers offering strategic advice from every conceivable angle. Somehow, he kept his composure, carefully removed the block and placed it on top, prompting cheers and applause from everyone watching.
Sometimes the simplest games produce the biggest celebrations.
The day concluded with drinks before many continued celebrations back in Fitzrovia, bringing a memorable Summer Conference to a fitting close.
Building the next chapter
Looking back at our journey puts into perspective how much has changed since Circle secured its first projects.
From our first project in January 2019, to our team of over 50 professionals, our growth has been built on trusted relationships, repeat business and a shared commitment to delivering outstanding outcomes.
Today our expertise spans Quantity Surveying, Project Management, Employer’s Agent, Clerk of Works and Quality Management, Carbon Management and Technical Advisory services across Build to Rent, co-living, single family housing, industrial and logistics, education, commercial, super prime residential, regeneration and infrastructure.
While the numbers are something to celebrate, the people behind them remain our greatest achievement.
A huge thank you also goes to Charlie, Ewelina, Phil, Rupert and Sam, whose hard work behind the scenes made the day possible. From planning the conference and organising every detail to ensuring everything ran smoothly from the first train to the final drinks, they created a memorable day that brought the whole team together.
Discover more about our integrated services, meet the team, explore careers at Circle or get in touch to discuss how we can support your next development.
