7th August 2025: Harrison, the full-service design and architecture agency, is celebrating a double success this summer. Associate Director Tim Watkin is celebrating an extraordinary 30-year milestone with the company, while Nathan Stevenson, who joined Harrison as a Senior Designer in 2016, steps up to Associate Director.
Tim’s journey with Harrison began in the mid-1990s, joining as an architectural technician at Harrison’s original Lionel Street offices in Birmingham. Over three decades, Tim’s journey has seen him evolve and develop his own role, holding positions including project manager, team leader, and ultimately Associate Director, a role he has held for over ten years.
“Thirty years have gone by very quickly, and I think that’s a testament to the company itself, the people in the company, and the work that we do,” reflects Tim. “It’s a cliché, but enjoying what you do truly does make the time fly by.”
Over the past 30 years, Harrison has grown from a Birmingham-based team of 20 to a global hospitality design powerhouse with offices across the UK, US and Australia, and projects which touch almost every corner of the globe. Tim has been instrumental in this development, including working closely with Nando’s for over 25 years, one of Harrison’s most enduring and successful client relationships. Since joining the client team in the early 2000s, Tim estimates to have contributed to over 300 Nando’s restaurants across multiple territories, including the UK, Ireland, UAE, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, and the United States.
Tim’s leadership philosophy centres on fostering creativity within the next generation of designers whilst maintaining the high standards that have established Harrison’s reputation. His approach to mentorship and project delivery reflects the company culture that has not only retained talented individuals for decades but also attracted former employees back to the organisation.
“For those of us who have been in industry for a while, it’s really good to work with younger, up-and-coming talent who bring a fresh perspective and an invigorated creative spark,” added Tim. “At Harrison, we have always had the scope to be able to encourage them and incorporate their creativity into projects. We’re lucky to have a varied mix of clients. The clients who have big budgets allow us to bring some truly exceptional visions to life, whereas others challenge us to be creative within limitations, all giving different yet equally valuable and exciting experiences where craft can be honed and skills can be developed.”
At the same time, Nathan Stevenson has been appointed as an Associate Director at Harrison. In his new role Nathan will play a pivotal part in shaping the company’s creative output and future direction, whilst continuing to mentor younger designers within the team. From establishing cross-departmental initiatives focused on enhancing creative processes to exploring new technologies to improve design outcomes for clients, Nathan’s forward-thinking approach to design leadership has positioned him as a key driver of the company’s creative evolution.
Nathan’s advice to aspiring design leaders reflects Harrison’s commitment to career development: “I’ve had an incredible opportunity to work on a diverse portfolio of clients at Harrison, from well-loved brands to working in airport environments. For anyone stepping into the world of hospitality design, my advice would be never stop looking for opportunities to learn and evolve your skills. Here especially, there is a clear path for those who are hard-working and want to progress. The proof in the pudding is how long people continue to stay at Harrison.”
Having worked on some of the hospitality industry’s most well-known brands, more recently Nathan has led Harrison’s relationship with Hickory’s Smokehouse, working closely with the in-house team to evolve their brand presence through carefully considered design developments. Recognised for his significant contributions to the success of the business, Nathan recently became the first person outside of the business to receive a company award in its 15-year history. Presented by Hickory’s Smokehouse founder Neil McDowell, only 100 people have received the accolade over 15 years, and all previously within the business, marking a notable milestone for Nathan.
“This recognition represents our relationship with the Hickory’s Smokehouse team and how together, we have been able to help the design evolution as the business has continued to grow,” comments Nathan. “Being the first person outside of their business to receive this award is an incredibly high recognition, and I’m excited to see what will come next.”
Keith Anderson, Harrison CEO, comments: “Harrison has always invested in developing talent from within, which is why it is so wonderful to be able to celebrate two such incredible achievements. Both Tim and Nathan are instrumental to our business and have dedicated themselves to maintaining the high standards of creative excellence which define the last 35+ years of Harrison. As we look to the future and continue to evolve the business, from working in new markets to adapting and bringing on new services to meet client needs and expectations, it’s wonderful to have such dedicated people in Tim, Nathan, and so many other members of our team, to be part of that journey with us.”