We’ve worked hard to recruit some of the most experienced global talent from the world of design, build, construction, and project management.
And, each month, we put one of our colleagues in the spotlight so you can learn a little more about their role…
Next up, it’s our recently appointed UK country head, Daniel Hunt.
As the newly instated UK country head, I am responsible for growing the UK business and establishing a sustainable structure made up of happy and ambitious Agilité employees!
It’s early days, but I would like to think they already see me as a dedicated member of the team.
Its unwavering commitment to doing the right thing — whether through B Corp initiatives or the way we treat clients, colleagues, and partners.
It’s hard to pick, so some special places would be Monte Carlo, Skorpios Island in Greece, Tokyo, Abu Dhabi. If pressed for a favourite, it would have to be Sipan Island, northwest of Dubrovnik.
Maintaining a happy team that wants to progress and develop. Watching younger colleagues rise through the business to take on more senior roles has always given me particular satisfaction.
Liverpool Football Club calling to discuss a new fitout of the Kop!
Allow yourself time to do the due diligence.
Carshalton Athletic Football Club, watching my two girls play or train.
A number of exciting new projects and further growth opportunities.
There has been lots of environmental progress in the industry recently, however, some key challenges lie ahead.
Increasingly demanding legislation around energy efficiency in the UK will have a dramatic effect on existing office space and how usage is controlled in ageing buildings. This will hopefully have a positive impact, not only on energy consumption when the building is in use, but also the way spaces are optimised to perform as efficiently as possible. Agilité’s teams will be required to speak from an informed position on these matters, so high level training should be put in place to address this subject with authority.
As we continue to bolster Agilité's global footprint across France, Germany, Luxembourg, Italy, and the UK, we are delighted to announce our newest appointment.
To find out more about our recruit, read the official press release below.
International commercial interiors specialist Agilité has marked its continued growth with the appointment of a new country head for the UK. The news comes in line with the company surpassing its fifth year of trading, with 2023 turnover expected to exceed €50 million.
Daniel Hunt will be stepping into the role of country head for Agilité’s UK division. As a former regional director of multi-disciplinary construction company Aecom, Daniel brings decades of industry experience working in the retail, leisure, commercial fit-out, public, and residential sectors, and has a proven track record of delivering successful budgetary control, project management, and quantity surveying services for clients across the country.
This recent appointment reflects Agilité’s commitment to bolstering its already established UK presence. Daniel will play a leading role in achieving these goals, where he will be responsible for cementing team structures, and managing UK delivery targets in a way that mirrors the Paris-headquarters’ operations overseas.
With other existing bases in Luxembourg, Milan, and Berlin, as well as a planned expansion into the US, the London evolution comes as Agilité chalks up its 235th project since its inception in January 2018 – delivered across 11 countries.
Agilité’s burgeoning client portfolio includes brands such as Lids/NBA, END., Lululemon, Big Mamma, Savills, LVMH, Booking.com, Deutsche Börse, and The Instant Group, as well as several major multinationals in the tech and finance sectors.
Enhancing the UK base marks a natural progression in Agilité’s international growth — offering a myriad of valuable opportunities to the organisation as it looks to secure new contracts, build new relationships, and continue to grow its diverse client portfolio in the English capital.
Commenting on his new role, Daniel said: “I’m delighted to be joining Agilité as the country head for the UK. I’ve always admired the business for its commitment to sustainability and an innate ability to deliver complex and dynamic projects — so it’s really exciting to be playing such a central role in expanding the organisation in the UK.
“Joining the UK business for the next stage of its evolution will help us take advantage of the numerous opportunities on offer and begin work on new projects for world-leading brands. I look forward to meeting the rest of the team and building upon what is already an innovative, pioneering organisation.”
Speaking on the announcement, Agilité’s founder and MD, Neil Coales, added: "Our vision has always remained the same — an unwavering pursuit of quality to support our clients’ growth plans. Part of this strategy has seen us establish a truly pan-European business that is operational in multiple locations for a range of customers — providing flexible and agile end-to-end service to meet the varying demands of our clients’ business needs.
“So, as we push ahead on our next chapter of success, it’s important that we focus on identifying locations and opportunities that best support our clients, and the strong supply chains we’re establishing along the way.
“I am delighted with Daniel’s appointment,” Neil continued. “And the bolstered UK base means we’ll have the means and resources to compete with other notable firms in our space.”The augmentation of the European company — which provides office, retail, and hospitality construction and fit-out work across the continent — follows 30% year-on-year growth and an increased company-wide headcount of 75.
One core belief that we stand by at Agilité is that we are only as good as our supply chain. But what does this mean in practice? Every decision we make as business owners has some impact on the environment – whether it’s direct, such as greenhouse gas emissions, or indirectly through our suppliers.
We all want to do better for the planet. But one of the biggest objections to making sustainable change comes from lack of knowledge. How can we measure the impact of our carbon-cutting initiatives, and where does the supply chain fit into this?
A great place to start is by reviewing our suppliers. We need to look for credentials – real standards as set by organisations such as the Global Reporting Initiative – as well as solid evidence of change-making. This will require some degree of research and transparency between suppliers, for example:
Moving to a sustainable supply chain affects every facet of the business. In our latest report, Conscious Construction: Building a Sustainable Supply Chain, we discuss the wide-reaching benefits.
1. The climate imperative
At present, the construction industry is one of the biggest contributors to climate change – responsible for 40% of water pollution and 50% of landfill waste respectively. By reducing our climate impact, we can create a more sustainable future, while also improving our bottom lines.
Alexandre Loisy, pre-construction director at Agilité, says: “Reducing your business’ environmental impact can lead to huge savings. Not only will it reduce waste; it will also boost efficiency and create a positive culture within the organisation.”
2. Legislative concerns
An ESG conscience is not only a “nice-to-have”, says Cintia Procaci, founder of eco-conscious consultancy A Beautiful Green. Legislative changes can impact risk management, so it is important for companies to have full transparency over their supply chain.
Likewise, she notes, pressure from other organisations such as the EU will put the spotlight on reporting. “One EU proposal will demand that multinationals have clarity around human rights in the value chain, whilst another asks companies to produce non-financial reports that detail their sustainability efforts.”
3. Winning new business
Corporate social responsibility is now becoming aligned with other value-adding factors such as price or reliability. Procaci adds: “Ethically, stakeholders are becoming increasingly educated around the sustainable issues facing the global population.”
This means that businesses are increasingly incentivised to work with others who share their values. As Loisy notes, making our green agenda known can help to establish strong professional connections. Accreditations such as ISO 14001 only serve to strengthen this further.
4. Diversifying the supply chain
The events of 2020 and beyond have wreaked untold havoc on supply chains throughout the world. From a pandemic to conflict, stakeholders are having to source new means to deliver their products on time.
A sustainable supply chain is a diversified one – working with multiple suppliers to reduce mileage and deliver on schedule. This prevents downtime and protects companies’ reputations.
5. Improving company culture
A sustainable supply chain helps us to mitigate risk. These risks are not only about buying and selling, but about the workforce itself. Just as our clients are looking to work with more socially conscious businesses, so too are colleagues.
A global millennial survey by Deloitte found that 63% of workers in this age range donate to charities, while 43% volunteer. By weaving sustainability into the company culture, we can attract top talent.
Prioritising corporate social responsibility will have far-reaching, long-term benefits for your business. But how can we start to make the change? Our report, Conscious Construction: Building a Sustainable Supply Chain, offers actionable tips and insights to help you get started.
Download the free report here >
British fashion brand, End. — a leader in streetwear fashion — has landed in Milan, with a new store in the historic Palazzo Venezia.
The store fit-out project — imagined by interior designer, Brinkworth London, in collaboration with ML Architettura and Tekne Spa — and brought to life by European commercial interiors specialist, Agilité called for the complete transformation of the 1,800 sqm space.
Set across three levels, the new store boasts impressive windows and a trio of entrances from Via Mercanti, Via Orefici, and Piazza Mercanti — making the space not only a shopping destination, but also a passageway between Milan’s busy streets.
Agilité began work on the store in March 2022 before handing over to the client in February 2023. Now open to the general public, the shop is dominated by a 15-metre-high central atrium — complete with a crystal ceiling — which connects all three levels via a quartet of elevators.
The site had already been upgraded by the owner from an architectural, structural, and plant engineering point of view, therefore Agilité's objective was to inject a degree of luxury by selecting best-in-class subcontractors, natural — and at the same time — valuable materials, as well as high-end finishes, fixtures, and furnishings.
Carrara marble inserted in resin concrete was chosen for the multiple levels, and on the ground floor, a 'scarpa' terazzo effect was achieved using 10,000 6.5 cm pieces of quarry marble, which were inserted by hand as the concrete was poured.
To set the stage for merchandising, all END. product displays and walls are clad in a mixture of marble, Grecian stone, terrazzo, brushed stainless steel, and wood.
The building meets the highest standards and requirements for LEED and BREEAM certification thanks to the strong emphasis on the materials chosen and the sustainable components. In the pre-construction phase, Agilité partnered with the Greenwich Company — which provided technical assistance to demonstrate the compliance of materials with LEED and BREEAM credit requirements, as well as providing support for the environmentally sustainable disposal of construction site waste and its computation.
A sophisticated BMS system has been installed, which monitors the building's climate control status in real time, to ensure safety and energy efficiency — an indispensable requirement and strategic objective for all the properties in the Generali Real Estate portfolio.
Client: END.
Designated Use: retail - clothing store
Where: Via Mercanti 21 - Palazzo Venezia - Milan
Ownership: Generali Real Estate (Tiepolo fund)
Architectural project: Aldo Cibic
Project fit-out: Brinkworth-London,UK
Works direction local coordination: ML Architettura
Systems design: Tekne spa
csp/cse: Romeo Safety Italia srl
General Contractor: Agilité Italia
Start of work September 2022 - End of work February 2023
Agilité is a pan-European company specialising in fit-out project development in the office, retail and hospitality sectors. With headquarters in Paris and offices in Milan, London and Luxembourg, it supports the growth and expansion of its clients across the continent by providing turnkey fit-out solutions.
The company offers a wide range of services: from initial consultancy for space planning to interior fit-out and feasibility assessment. Agilité manages the project at every stage, providing technical expertise on any specific aspect, thanks to a network of high-level professionals experienced in space planning, design and construction services, with a focus on the office, retail and hospitality sectors.
Major clients include Mozilla, Singapore Airlines, The Instant Group, Five Guys, Hydrafacial, Fred Perry and JD Sports. NBA, Lids, Lululemon, END, Ok-ta, Zedra, QBE, Aurel BGC, Big Mamma. www.agilitesolutions.com
For further information: Scriba PR | Alice Kelly | alice@scribapr.com | +44 01484 489 333
European commercial interiors specialist Agilité has expanded into Berlin, Germany – marking a natural progression in the company’s international growth.
The news follows several retail roll-out projects in the country – for clients such as NBA, Lids, Fred Perry, Lululemon, Instant, Facilitate/Zander, and TOG Berlin. Since its creation in 2021, the business has over-performed, with turnover in excess of €5m, six full-time members of staff, and a forecasted increase of 200% in both turnover and headcount by the end of 2023.
“Germany is a very important market for Agilité, and one that has continued to grow as we maintain our strategy of following clients into new territories,” explained Kirsty Shearer, Agilité development director.
“Due to its vast geography, it has quickly become apparent that we need to have people and a supply chain spread across the country to support the growth that we are seeing as a business – as well as that of our clients.”
As opportunities in Germany have increased, the local team continues to flourish and there are plans to recruit for further roles, including project and construction managers, as well as cost estimators in the coming months.
Neil Coales, managing director of Agilité said: “Given our ever-increasing order book in Germany, expanding our operational footprint has been a natural growth progression and will allow us to better serve our customers in the region. The Berlin bureau is important for colleagues and team building as our organisation grows, as well as to uphold our ambition of being a truly local delivery partner.”
It’s also loyal customers — who account for 65% of Agilité’s portfolio — that are the driving force behind its rapid expansion, as Neil continued: "When we decided to launch Agilité, the strategy from the beginning was to have a seamless pan-European business that could be operational in numerous locations for multiple customers.
“We don't want to have an office in every country, rather, we identify locations that best support our clients' growth plans and the strong local supply chains we are trying to build. The pursuit of quality is as much our goal as the overall expansion."
The expansion of the European company — which provides office, retail, and hospitality construction and fit-out work across the continent — promises further growth in all locations in 2023, as well as exciting new geographies.
We’ve worked hard to recruit some of the most experienced global talent from the world of design, build, construction and project management.
Each month, we put one of our colleagues in the spotlight so you can learn a little more about their role.
Next up, it’s our new construction manager Leon …
I was initially approached by Agilité with the prospect of coming to work for them. At the time, I was looking for a career change, and the opportunity to get back to my roots of retail construction for a growing organisation was too good to turn down.
As I previously alluded to, my experience is largely in the retail construction world — having held positions as both project and construction manager, in Germany as well as South Africa.
I oversaw the rollout of around 45 supermarkets on behalf of the biggest retailer in Southern Africa over the course of just two years. Amid this huge project, we also completed around 30 small shop fit-outs in three months — quite a significant, yet memorable, challenge!
As construction manager in Germany, I am charged with overseeing the on-site activities throughout an entire project lifecycle. Liaising with the sub-contractors, project manager, and client, I ensure that the developments are progressing within the agreed timeframe, and to an excellent standard.
There are a number of very exciting projects coming up, which I am looking forward to getting started on. The variety of Agilité’s portfolio means that the team is always kept on its toes, and we always have new obstacles to overcome.
A client that presents an interesting and challenging brief which allows us to think outside the box.
I like to stay active, so in my spare time I will either be wakeboarding on a lake in Berlin, or running in a nearby forest.
For an off-the-beaten-track trip, South America. Or, for natural beauty and a completely different cultural experience, I’d opt for Japan.
Break tasks down into small, manageable chunks.
A bespoke, general contractor that offers personalised solutions for each and every client.
I’d say the biggest challenge we are facing in the industry is waste. I think first steps towards rectifying this issue would be to change people’s mindsets around what should and shouldn’t be classed as ‘waste’.
Connect with Leon on LinkedIn to find out more about him.
We’ve worked hard to recruit some of the most experienced global talent from the world of design, build, construction and project management.
Each month, we put one of our colleagues in the spotlight so you can learn a little more about their role. Next up, it’s project manager, Federica Pisacane, who is based out of our Luxembourg office…
Describe your job in one paragraph
My role as project manager is to foster strong customer relationships while planning and implementing the design element of our developments.
I love taking the lead on projects and site meetings, as well as delivering top quality results — not only to meet the client expectations, but to bolster Agilité’s reputation as a trusted, professional partner.
Which one word would colleagues use to describe you?
I think ‘proactive’. I love to find solutions to meet the challenges of a project and really understanding the needs of the client in order to produce the best results — both in terms of quality and cost-effectiveness.
Why do you think Agilité stands out from competitors?
We always put the customer first and are human in our approach.
You have worked in some amazing places around the world. Which has been your favourite?
As an architect of interiors, Milan has been the key inspiration for my early career. The fairs, events, and fashion have motivated my studies and ignited my passion for the industry.
What’s your biggest career highlight to date?
I have been designing retail stores throughout the pandemic which has been a real challenge and encouraged me to think outside of the box when reimagining spaces.
The phone rings and it’s your dream client… who is it?
My dream client would be one that allows me to think to 360 degrees while experimenting with new methods of design. I thrive off unconventional projects — researching new ways of managing the space is what thrills me the most.
What key piece of advice would you give to a client planning a fit-out project on a budget?
A clear brief is the best starting point to get to the result in the most efficient way. Keeping the objective and priorities in mind throughout is key to ensuring you deliver the highest quality result within the budget.
When you’re not at work, where are we most likely to find you?
On my terrace taking care of my plants — and trying not to kill them! Gardening is something that really relaxes me and I’m happiest when I’m outside on a sunny day tending to the various leafy species.
What’s next for Agilité?
To become the number one trusted partner across Europe. We continue to build a strong team — leveraging our collective expertise to strengthen our reputation as competitive players in the construction industry.
As an organisation with sustainability at its heart, Agilité is dedicated to minimising environmental impact within the construction industry. What do you think is the biggest challenge facing the sector, and how do you think we can rectify it?
Waste is definitely one of the major topics in our sector, as it can turn into a serious issue for every construction project. I would say the biggest challenge is trying to incorporate reusable elements while minimising waste. This can only be achieved if everyone involved in the construction process plays their part. Ultimately, it’s about each person — from designers to tradespeople — having a more sustainable attitude, while working together to reduce our environmental impact.
We’ve worked hard to recruit some of the most experienced global talent from the world of design, build, construction and project management. Each month, we put one of our colleagues in the spotlight so you can learn a little more about their role. Next up, it’s assistant project manager, Kiran Kondrapu...
When reading the job specification, I noticed how many of the candidate’s ideal qualities — punctuality, accountability, willingness to learn — I possessed myself. I was further motivated to apply because of the high calibre of clients that Agilité works with. The likes of Fred Perry, Indeed.com, Lids have a reputation for superior standards — something I am keen to deliver on behalf of my new organisation.
I grew up, completed my bachelor’s degree, and began my career in India before commencing the next phase of my education in Northumbria, England. My background in civil engineering and project management means I have an eye for detail and thrive when overseeing a construction project from start to finish.
Beginning my journey with Agilité. I have always had an interest in the construction industry — as a young boy I loved assembling sandcastles and playing with building blocks. In my undergraduate degree, I achieved a distinction and the highest mark in my course — a record I still hold to this day! When I moved to UK, I decided to take a leap of faith and follow my passion — now here I am in my perfect role.
My job is mostly about planning and supervision — coordinating with stakeholders, clients, colleagues, and subcontractors to ensure targets, standards, and expectations are met throughout a project.
I am looking forward to getting to know my new colleagues and clients, building strong professional relationships, and doing my best.
This is a very hard question — someone with a high standards who presents challenge. But, if you’re asking me to choose just one, I would say Five Guys, because I’m extremely familiar with the organisation, which probably gives me a unique perspective in delivering the work.
In the evenings after work, I tend to have my head in a novel — a recent favourite was ‘The Fault in Our Stars’ by John Green. But I also love travelling, so when I have a little more time off, you’re unlikely to find me as I’m always on the move!
Paris, to see the Eiffel Tower. Working with Agilité, this may happen sooner than I’d anticipated!
I find that if you are accountable for something, it’s the biggest motivator of all.
My dream job.
I personally believe, the biggest challenge is the industry mindset. If we drilled down into the root causes, the thirst for profits at corporate levels can sometimes come at a cost, and one which ignores the wider environmental impact. The solution is simple, yet difficult to implement — focus more on purpose than bottom lines.
For this reason, I am proud to be a part of Agilité, as we are already making excellent headway in the sector — implementing changes to reducing carbon emissions and protect our planet for future generations.
When we launched Agilité, the strategy was always to have a seamless pan-European business that could be operational in multiple locations for multiple customers. Growth has been exponential, so after only four years in business, our brand needed a refresh, to reflect the journey we’ve been on, and the reputation we’ve carved in the industry as the European commercial interiors specialist.
That’s why you might have noticed something a little bit different in the way we ‘look and feel recently – and here’s how (and why) we did it.
Formed by a senior management team with extensive experience in the European construction sector, when Agilité was launched in January 2018, we wanted to tackle construction and fit-out projects in the way we truly believed they should be done. Fast-forward four years, and much has changed for the business – but our values and reason for being remain very much the same.
Over the past nine months, we’ve revisited the Agilité brand – alongside our communications partners, Scriba PR, and specialist branding experts, The Engine Room – to ensure the way we present ourselves is consistent across the countries and nationalities we work in.
What began as a Parisian construction and fit-out company, has evolved into a truly Pan-European commercial interiors specialist, with offices in France, Italy, Luxembourg, and the UK – with Germany and the US to follow soon. Therefore, our brief was simple: “Help us to underpin what our brand purpose and principles are and understand how to manifest these throughout various international fractions.”
To start the ‘coming of age’ project, every single one of our colleagues joined a brand workshop to share their interpretation around what Agilité does, our personality, and what sets us apart. The Engine Room also spoke with our clients and consultants, to understand their perspective, too.
All of these elements were brought together to define our purpose and principles – the very foundations of every project and client/colleague interaction.
While a brand update is about so much more than tweaking the logo, we did update our avatar, as well as our colour palette – but the main element of the project involved communicating our USP in a concise fashion. You’ll now often hear us talk about Agilité PACE.
PACE is the secret to our success, and is the reason why office, retail, hospitality, and leisure clients turn to us time and again. Find out more, here.
While we could ruminate around the origins, process, and outcomes of this project for the entire day, the best way to experience the changes, is by taking a look at our website, as well as LinkedIn, and Instagram feeds – please do let us know what you think.
careers@agilitesolutions.com
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UK +44 (0) 7500 221 075
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