It's Christmas Eve and as we come towards the end of this annual feature, it's the turn of Neil Brown, managing director of Yorkshire architects brown + company to continue our 2025 popular festive spotlight—featuring regional businesspeople from across the north answering 12 quickfire questions.

1. What were you hoping to achieve by December when you sat down in January, and did you get there?

Generate more positive relationships with new clients, as well as retaining the ones we already have. Yes.

2. Tell us about three moments from 2025 that made you proud of your business.

Adding two more extremely talented (and genuinely nice) people to the team.

Big wins in both a national architectural competition for Portobello Place in Edinburgh and Planning Approval for a 830 bed PBSA/Co-living scheme in Exeter, which had already seen a refusal both at committee and appeal by a previous practice.

Well done to my talented colleague Rob Miller. Seeing some of our people being more autonomous and thriving on the opportunities coming their way.

3. What's been your biggest headache this year - supply chains, recruitment, costs, or something else entirely?

Projects being stuck in the long drawn-out planning process.

4. If you had to describe 2025 using a Christmas film title, which would you choose?

Trading Places

5. What's your number one priority when the office reopens in January?

New commissions for 2026.

6. Which business in the region has caught your eye this year - for all the right reasons?

Artium Construction – A genuinely talented and driven outfit, with immense integrity. A pleasure to work with.

7. Crystal ball time: what does 2026 hold for businesses like yours?

Potentially a tough year ahead with murmurings around the poor state of the economy and another possible recession.

8. This Christmas, are you a "full production" household or a "feet up and telly" one?

A bit of both.

9. Crackers, Brussels sprouts, or pudding - which one best describes your year?

Crackers

10. Which business book, podcast or piece of advice has been your "surprise hit" of the year?

A piece of advice received earlier in the year – “There’s nothing more expensive than a cheap lawyer”

11. As you wind down for the festive break, what are you most looking forward to switching off from?

Everything work-related; it’s the only time of year when nobody contacts you in the building industry.

12. In twenty-five words or fewer, what would you say to your customers, teams and stakeholders as we head into 2026?

Thank you for all your continued support and genuine friendships in the last year. Here’s to more of the same in 2026.



Tomorrow we have the two final Christmas Spotlights.