Office fit-outs are costly affairs, with the bill routinely running into seven figures. But one Manchester-based business working in the charity sector has found a novel way to cut the costs: equip your offices from a charity shop.

Key Travel has welcomed staff to its new offices at Bruntwood Works' St James’ building, Oxford Street, in Manchester city centre.

The company, which works travel services for the humanitarian, faith and education sectors, has invested almost £1M in the 20K SF space, to encourage flexible working and improve collaboration. It paid for new floors, breakout spaces and equipment. But what many visitors will not realise is that the bulk of the ornaments were snapped up from thrift shops for about £700.

Key Travel scoured charity shops across London and Manchester to find objects that reflected the four continents after which the four parts of their offices are named. These includes vases, trinckets and boxes.

“We obviously got a boomerang to represent Oceana, and we found some nice Chinese style vases for the Asian section, and lots of little curios and glass objects which look lovely with the natural light,” Key Travel Property and Facilities Manager Megan Cameron said.

“In the African area we’ve got some wooden statues and some quite cool papier-mâché elephants. And there’s a small wooden giraffe, too. I suppose the whole collection is a bit of a throwback to the 1970s. But I hope it doesn’t look like your gran’s sitting room from when you were a kid.”

The entire office was equipped for £700.

“It all started out as fun, but became a bit of a weekend obsession for me. We managed to dress a lot of space for not much money,” Campbell said.

The business also recycled old furniture “redressing” desks to make them look good.