Inside Our Exeter Office: A Dynamic Team Building Futures Together

At Bailey Partnership, each office has its own character, shaped by the people, the projects, and the culture that thrives within it. Our Exeter office is a perfect example – a place where experienced professionals, graduates, and apprentices work side by side, creating an environment that is both professional and relaxed, ambitious yet supportive.

A Welcoming and Supportive Culture

Exeter’s culture is built on flexibility and trust. The office strikes a balance between delivering high-quality, technically demanding projects and ensuring the team feels supported in their professional and personal lives.

Director Bernie Bonfiglio, who has been with the practice for six years, explains: “What I love about working at Bailey Partnership is the flexibility, and the family culture that we have within the business.”

That focus on people comes through strongly. Apprentice Salma Badawy reflects: “As an apprentice, there’s pressure, but it’s very clear you can just reach out and the help is there when you need it.”

From flexible working to school pick-ups, training to mental health support, the ethos is clear: people come first.

Career Growth at Every Level

For those building their careers, Exeter is full of opportunities. Apprentices receive hands-on project experience alongside mentoring, while graduates and junior staff benefit from structured support towards qualifications such as RICS and professional engineering accreditations.

Quantity Surveyor Jonny House is a great example of how Bailey Partnership invests in its people: “They supported me through my Master’s alongside work and are now helping me through my APC journey – I couldn’t recommend it enough.”

For more senior staff, the same investment applies. Chartered Building Surveyor Stephen Holmes joined from a different professional background: “When I joined, I didn’t have a degree in my profession. I was fully supported to go back to university and the company funded me to get the qualifications I needed. There’s been unwavering support through the whole process.”

This commitment to development, whether at apprentice or director level, sets Exeter apart as a place where careers truly grow.

A Unique Team Spirit

What makes Exeter stand out is not only the professional opportunities but also the sense of community. The team describes the office as “young, dynamic and vibrant”, “hard-working but fun and diverse”, and “professional, effective and understanding.”

Inside the office, collaboration is quick and effective. As Salma highlights:
“It’s nice to be able to just pop an email over and get an answer straight away – the collaboration is so strong.”

Outside of work, Exeter embraces its location and community spirit. From paddleboarding and surfing to volunteering at local beach cleans, the team finds ways to connect beyond the office. Jonny recalls:  “We did a beach clean here in Exeter, one along the quay and another down at Exmouth – it was a great way to give something back.”

Team socials, Christmas parties, and practice-wide events like BaileyFest add to that camaraderie. Bernie sums it up: “We work hard but we play hard as well. It’s good to have that downtime.”

Why Join Us?

The Exeter team’s message to anyone considering joining Bailey Partnership is simple: you’ll be supported, you’ll be challenged, and you’ll belong to a team that genuinely looks out for one another.

Bernie is clear: “If anybody was thinking about joining Bailey Partnership, I’d say you’ll be really well looked after.”

Stephen adds:  “It’s not about what you know, it’s what you’re prepared to learn. I joined quite junior and have had support all the way through.”

And for apprentices like Salma, the advice is encouraging: “Just reach out, have a chat and ask questions about what it’s like being in the office and what kind of projects we work on.”

Bailey Partnership’s Exeter office shows what’s possible when talent, support, and collaboration come together. It’s more than an office – it’s a team where careers grow, friendships form, and the future of the built environment is shaped every day.

Interested in joining the Exeter team or exploring opportunities across Bailey Partnership? Visit www.baileypartnership.co.uk/careers or email rachel.gilchrist@baileyp.co.uk