Fresh Projects is a UK-based software platform designed for architects, engineers, and other built-environment professionals to manage financial aspects of their projects. It helps teams track fees, timesheets, expenses, billing, and overall profitability to keep projects on budget and profitable. The platform also centralises project data, streamlines administrative tasks, and offers mobile app support for easy access and updates.
1a Colinette Road
London
SW15 6QG
© 2026 Fresh Projects
Product
Fresh Projects is a UK-based software platform designed for architects, engineers, and other built-environment professionals to manage financial aspects of their projects. It helps teams track fees, timesheets, expenses, billing, and overall profitability to keep projects on budget and profitable. The platform also centralises project data, streamlines administrative tasks, and offers mobile app support for easy access and updates.
1a Colinette Road
London
SW15 6QG
© 2026 Fresh Projects
Product
How MCMa Streamlined Practice Operations Without Compromising Design
How MCMa Streamlined Practice Operations Without Compromising Design
How MCMa Streamlined Practice Operations Without Compromising Design
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Balancing creative ambition with operational complexity
Balancing creative ambition with operational complexity
Balancing creative ambition with operational complexity
Based in London, MCMa (Miltiadou Cook Mitzman Architects) has built a reputation for thoughtful, transformative architecture that balances sustainability, collaboration and sensitivity to place. Founded in 2000 and led by partners Socrates Miltiadou and Rupert Cook, the practice specialises in residential, educational and cultural projects and is widely recognised for work that delivers both social impact and design excellence.
Among their recent projects is the South Staffordshire College Fitout, a transformational education project that converted a former granary barn into a Green Energy Centre for training tradespeople in low-carbon technologies. In residential work, projects such as Finsbury Park House demonstrate the practice’s ability to rework complex existing buildings into light-filled, contemporary homes.
These projects underline MCMa’s design ethos: architecture as a tool for long-term value, not just visual impact.
However, delivering this level of work brings operational complexity. Shifting client budgets, evolving briefs, intricate timelines and multi-disciplinary coordination all place pressure on the systems that sit behind the design work.
Like many established architecture practices, MCMa initially relied on spreadsheets to manage the business. As projects became more complex, this approach became increasingly time-consuming and fragile. The practice later adopted specialist software, but it introduced new frustrations rather than solving existing ones.
“It lacked flexibility. When we needed customised reporting, they simply refused. The licensing model was also rigid, locking us into unnecessary costs.”
— Socrates Miltiadou, Partner, MCMa
Financial visibility was a particular concern.
“If you don’t have a clear view of project profitability, you risk losing money and jeopardising the practice.”
Without reliable insight into project performance, invoicing and resourcing, senior leaders were forced to spend more time managing the business manually, diverting attention away from clients, teams and design leadership.
Based in London, MCMa (Miltiadou Cook Mitzman Architects) has built a reputation for thoughtful, transformative architecture that balances sustainability, collaboration and sensitivity to place. Founded in 2000 and led by partners Socrates Miltiadou and Rupert Cook, the practice specialises in residential, educational and cultural projects and is widely recognised for work that delivers both social impact and design excellence.
Among their recent projects is the South Staffordshire College Fitout, a transformational education project that converted a former granary barn into a Green Energy Centre for training tradespeople in low-carbon technologies. In residential work, projects such as Finsbury Park House demonstrate the practice’s ability to rework complex existing buildings into light-filled, contemporary homes.
These projects underline MCMa’s design ethos: architecture as a tool for long-term value, not just visual impact.
However, delivering this level of work brings operational complexity. Shifting client budgets, evolving briefs, intricate timelines and multi-disciplinary coordination all place pressure on the systems that sit behind the design work.
Like many established architecture practices, MCMa initially relied on spreadsheets to manage the business. As projects became more complex, this approach became increasingly time-consuming and fragile. The practice later adopted specialist software, but it introduced new frustrations rather than solving existing ones.
“It lacked flexibility. When we needed customised reporting, they simply refused. The licensing model was also rigid, locking us into unnecessary costs.”
— Socrates Miltiadou, Partner, MCMa
Financial visibility was a particular concern.
“If you don’t have a clear view of project profitability, you risk losing money and jeopardising the practice.”
Without reliable insight into project performance, invoicing and resourcing, senior leaders were forced to spend more time managing the business manually, diverting attention away from clients, teams and design leadership.
Replacing fragmented systems with a practice-wide source of truth
Replacing fragmented systems with a practice-wide source of truth
Replacing fragmented systems with a practice-wide source of truth
Fresh Projects was introduced to address these challenges directly. Built specifically for architecture and engineering practices, the platform provided MCMa with an integrated way to manage projects, resources and finances in one place.
“It’s like having a finance manager in-house, but without the cost of a full-time hire.”
The project planner quickly became central to how the partners managed the practice. It gave real-time visibility into workloads and capacity across the team.
“We can see who’s busy, who’s under pressure, and who’s underutilised.”
This clarity made it easier to distribute work fairly, avoid bottlenecks and plan ahead with confidence, rather than reacting to problems after they emerged.
Fresh Projects also transformed how MCMa handled invoicing and financial tracking. By linking time, costs and income, the system ensured that invoices were accurate and timely, while overdue payments were immediately visible.
“Getting the finances right – money in and money out – is key.”
Instead of relying on spreadsheets or manual reconciliation, the practice gained a consistent, real-time view of financial performance across projects. This gave leadership confidence that decisions were based on current data, not assumptions.
Fresh Projects was introduced to address these challenges directly. Built specifically for architecture and engineering practices, the platform provided MCMa with an integrated way to manage projects, resources and finances in one place.
“It’s like having a finance manager in-house, but without the cost of a full-time hire.”
The project planner quickly became central to how the partners managed the practice. It gave real-time visibility into workloads and capacity across the team.
“We can see who’s busy, who’s under pressure, and who’s underutilised.”
This clarity made it easier to distribute work fairly, avoid bottlenecks and plan ahead with confidence, rather than reacting to problems after they emerged.
Fresh Projects also transformed how MCMa handled invoicing and financial tracking. By linking time, costs and income, the system ensured that invoices were accurate and timely, while overdue payments were immediately visible.
“Getting the finances right – money in and money out – is key.”
Instead of relying on spreadsheets or manual reconciliation, the practice gained a consistent, real-time view of financial performance across projects. This gave leadership confidence that decisions were based on current data, not assumptions.
Less administration, stronger control, more time for design leadership
Less administration, stronger control, more time for design leadership
Less administration, stronger control, more time for design leadership
The impact of Fresh Projects on day-to-day operations has been significant. Administrative tasks have been reduced by 75%, freeing partners and senior staff to focus on client relationships, collaboration and design quality.
“Fresh Projects does 90% of what we would dream of in a practice manager.”
“It’s brilliant at supporting our goals, both creatively and financially.”
With clearer visibility into profitability, resourcing and cash flow, MCMa is able to run the practice with greater confidence and control. Financial oversight no longer depends on manual effort or fragmented reporting, and teams have a shared understanding of how projects are performing.
Fresh Projects now underpins MCMa’s operations across a wide range of work, supporting both complex cultural projects and detailed residential schemes such as Canonbury Courtyard House and Finsbury Park House.
For MCMa, Fresh Projects is more than a system upgrade. It has become an integral part of how the practice operates, enabling leadership to balance creative ambition with commercial clarity and ensuring that time is spent where it adds the greatest value.
The impact of Fresh Projects on day-to-day operations has been significant. Administrative tasks have been reduced by 75%, freeing partners and senior staff to focus on client relationships, collaboration and design quality.
“Fresh Projects does 90% of what we would dream of in a practice manager.”
“It’s brilliant at supporting our goals, both creatively and financially.”
With clearer visibility into profitability, resourcing and cash flow, MCMa is able to run the practice with greater confidence and control. Financial oversight no longer depends on manual effort or fragmented reporting, and teams have a shared understanding of how projects are performing.
Fresh Projects now underpins MCMa’s operations across a wide range of work, supporting both complex cultural projects and detailed residential schemes such as Canonbury Courtyard House and Finsbury Park House.
For MCMa, Fresh Projects is more than a system upgrade. It has become an integral part of how the practice operates, enabling leadership to balance creative ambition with commercial clarity and ensuring that time is spent where it adds the greatest value.
Published:
Published:
Contributors:
Contributors:
Simon Berry, Founder
Simon Berry, Founder
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Fresh Projects is a UK-based software platform designed for architects, engineers, and other built-environment professionals to manage financial aspects of their projects. It helps teams track fees, timesheets, expenses, billing, and overall profitability to keep projects on budget and profitable. The platform also centralises project data, streamlines administrative tasks, and offers mobile app support for easy access and updates.
1a Colinette Road
London
SW15 6QG
© 2026 Fresh Projects
Product
