Case Study
GWR Milford House
Swindon
8,400 sqft
11 Weeks
Reimagining the Learning & Development Centre
What began as a request for more training rooms at GWR’s Milford House training centre quickly grew into a bigger ambition. The project needed to bring the whole L&D function back together, create a brighter and more welcoming space and build a centre that genuinely supports people as they learn, collaborate and grow.
By listening closely to how the team worked, and how they wanted to work, we helped turn a fragmented, overstretched setup into a spacious, flexible and uplifting environment that finally gives trainers, trainees and support staff the space they need to do their best work.
The Brief
A rapidly expanding Learning & Development function at GWR required a purpose-built training centre that could scale with demand and streamline how the team operated. The client needed a minimum of eight training rooms, each accommodating 12 delegates plus a trainer, with the flexibility to convert four of those rooms into two larger 25-person spaces to reduce reliance on external venues and create long-term cost efficiencies.
Beyond capacity, team cohesion was a critical driver. The organisation requested a central open hot-desk zone for trainers, training managers and the allocations team (at least ten workstations) positioned at the core of the centre to rebuild connectivity and improve morale. The aesthetic brief prioritised glass-fronted rooms to maximise transparency, daylight flow and a sense of openness without impacting cost.
Operational functionality was equally important. The new centre required:
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A safe, purpose-designed kitchen and reception area to remove pressure on the wider Milford House building.
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Two glass meeting pods for trainer feedback and confidential assessments.
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A sizeable comms and stationery room capable of housing MTIS machines, tablets and consumables.
What We Delivered
Our design team translated a complex operational brief into a high-performing, future-proofed training environment. The new centre includes:
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Eight 12-person training rooms (+1 trainer), all delivered with full-height glazing for transparency and light.
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Flexible room configurations to support both standard and large-group training formats.
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A large breakout space designed to absorb peak cohort numbers.
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Two built-in storage cupboards and a substantial 1-hour fire-rated comms/store room.
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A dedicated Media Room.
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A purpose-designed Assessment Centre for controlled evaluation and testing.
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An open-plan office environment that consolidates all trainers and L&D staff into one collaborative hub.
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Meeting booths and ample integrated storage to keep the centre operationally streamlined.
“I just wanted to extend my thanks to you and your team for a great delivery of the project!
What it means for the team
The new training centre delivers a significant improvement in operational capability. The reconfigured facility now supports the organisation’s recruitment and training capacity, enabling higher throughput without reliance on external venues. Centralising training, assessment and L&D operations has strengthened teamwork, improved communication and reversed the fragmentation caused by previous layouts.
Breakout congestion has been eliminated and the new reception and kitchen zones provide a professional, safe and self-sufficient environment for trainees.
With dedicated meeting pods, focused feedback spaces and a cohesive office zone, trainers can now deliver a more consistent, higher-quality learning experience while the organisation benefits from a scalable, future-ready training centre built around operational efficiency and people performance.
