New York, Paris, Hexham?

Each year 27’s location becomes more important to our employees and less important to customers.

The pandemic didn’t change everything but it accelerated trends. When I left university I moved to London to work as a designer, because that’s what you did. Later I moved to a Tyneside agency when that became an option. When I set up 27 in 2007 - I did so in my home town of Hexham.

Years later, the pandemic’s enforced homeworking gave way to remote/hybrid. Those who commuted to Newcastle felt they could live a little further away. Those who had long based themselves away from the city realised location was no longer any barrier or something to apologise for.

Hexham is already a “15-minute” community. There are a dozen coffee shops in five minutes from our Meal Market office (that’s situated over a Costa!). A direct train line to Newcastle is 10 minutes walk. Colleagues' children can call in after school.

And Hexham’s confidence is growing.

As the commute dies so does the concept of commuter towns. We’re finding clients are increasingly saying “no, we’ll come to you” then we learn they’re travelling from homes on our doorstep.

Obviously to national and international clients - it makes absolutely no difference whether we’re in London, New York, Paris …or Hexham.