Zaha Hadid Architects is one of many leading practices that have said they are putting staff on furlough.

Grimshaw, BDP, Sheppard Robson, Broadway Malyan and Scott Brownrigg all confirmed they are taking advantage of the chancellor’s job retention scheme, while others like Allies & Morrison are considering it.

From global multi-disciplinary Atkins to small design practices like Ash Sakula, architects of all sizes are signing up for Rishi Sunak’s deal in which 80% of their staff’s wages can be underwritten by the state for at least three months. The scheme was announced by the chancellor at a Downing Street press conference on March 20 in an unprecedented bid to stop thousands of firms going bust and causing the economy to collapse. Some nine million Britons are predicted to be furloughed, at a cost to the taxpayer of £30-40bn over the initial three months. Sunak said the scheme would be extended if necessary.

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