Inc Architects was formed in 2025 through the merger of two established Stoke-on-Trent practices, Mode Architects and Byatt Oliver.

Bringing two teams together could have been complex but instead it became the foundation for a collaborative practice built on shared values, mutual respect and a clear sense of purpose.

The new practice combines the creativity and values of Kim Mountford, who has been working in the industry for 14 years and ran Mode Architects for eight years, and the commercial knowledge of David Byatt, who has 25 years of experience and founded Byatt Oliver in 2013.

The merger saw all seven existing staff retained, with a strong focus on how the team wanted to work together going forward.

The name ‘Inc’ was chosen to reflect a commitment to inclusivity and collaboration – both internally and with clients – and making meaningful change through design.

The practice, based on Piccadilly in Hanley, has intentionally applied that commitment to how they work together as well as to how they support their clients.

Rather than growing first and defining their values later, they put the foundations in place to create a supportive environment for their team and deliver excellent results for clients.

There are plans to recruit further this year, adding like-minded colleagues without compromising the culture.

Director David Byatt said: “What sets this practice apart is its strong foundation of trust and integrity, combined with a genuine desire to continually improve and push the quality of every project. There’s a clear sense of ownership in the way the team works, and each project is treated as if it were our own personal project.

“We value honest conversations, shared problem-solving and working proactively with clients, consultants and each other.”

Architectural assistant Rahat Abid said: “The openness within the office is great. All ideas are shared and collaboration helps work through any problems that occur. If there are obstacles that I feel I can’t manage, I know there’s support when needed.

“I’m forever grateful for the colleagues I have – they make working at Inc even more enjoyable.”

Director Kim Mountford, who is also a part-time lecturer in University of Staffordshire’s School of Architecture, added: “When we were considering a merger, we realised that our ethos, approach and goals were so closely aligned that we could achieve more together.

“We kept everything that made our individual practices successful, including our staff and our culture, but we added even more strength and depth through simple systems to support staff – not death by admin but to retain creativity.

“We have made it a priority to get to know the team personally as well as professionally, recognising individual motivations and preferred ways of working and learning.

“As a team we want to do good things. The desire to change things for the better is threaded through everything we do.”

In less than a year, Inc Architects has successfully integrated two established practices, retained and developed its team, implemented new systems and created a shared culture rooted in trust, accountability and ambition.

The result is a resilient, collaborative practice that is delivering strong outcomes for clients and building a workplace where people want to stay and grow.

Inc Architects has entered the Team of the Year category of University of Staffordshire Business Awards.