JM architects has transitioned to employee ownership and will have a new trust board chaired by marketing industry leader Ian McAteer.

He recently led the same move for The Union, the advertising agency he led for 30 years.

One hundred employees work at jmarchitects’ studios in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester and London. The practice has been behind a number of high profile projects including the Market Street Hotel and James Gillespie’s High School in Edinburgh.

It was also engaged on the Reid Building for Glasgow School of Art, collaborating with New York’s Steven Holl Architects.

Architecture is among the most sectors most eagerly embracing employee ownership, with about a quarter of the top 100 practices in the UK now owned by an employee ownership trust.

Managing director Brian Thomson said: “We are very pleased to announce the next phase in the 60-year evolution of our practice, established originally as a partnership, then becoming a limited company and now an EOT.

“We see this model as an ideal opportunity to develop our leadership team and reward all our extraordinary staff while continuing to deliver excellence in architectural services for our clients and produce the very best spaces and places which inspire and delight.”

Mr McAteer added: “After transferring The Union to employee ownership, I am understandably passionate about the EOT concept.

“jmarchitects is a fantastic firm with a great reputation, stretching back over 60 years. Therefore, the opportunity to be involved, with another like-minded creative business, is naturally very exciting for me.