Autotrader Case Study
Autotrader is the UK’s largest automotive marketplace, with technology playing a central role in how the organisation operates and collaborates.
Working alongside Autotrader and principal contractor Oktra, ClearVC designed, delivered, and continues to support a connected workplace technology ecosystem that enables everything from everyday collaboration to company-wide communication and large-scale events.
Project Overview
When Autotrader relocated to its new Manchester headquarters, it saw an opportunity to create a workplace that better supported collaboration, communication, and employee engagement across the organisation.
Working alongside principal contractor Oktra and Autotrader’s internal project team, ClearVC designed, delivered, and continues to support a connected workplace technology ecosystem spanning 86 AV-enabled spaces throughout the building.
The project included 44 meeting rooms, 14 collaboration spaces, 26 meeting pods with integrated room booking, a flagship curved LED reception canvas, a multi-purpose auditorium, and workplace technology supporting a range of specialist environments. Together, these spaces form an integrated communication ecosystem that enables seamless collaboration, company-wide communication, and engaging workplace experiences.
As David Grierson, Workplace Project Manager at Autotrader, explains:
“The most important thing for us was that everything worked from day one.
We were bringing people back into the office after an extended break, and there was no fallback – the building needed to be fully operational so teams could hit the ground running.
If the technology hadn’t been ready, it would have had a real impact on collaboration and productivity across the business.”
David Grierson – Workplace Project Manager, Autotrader
Technology Partners
The Challenge
Delivering workplace technology for a project of this scale required far more than installing AV equipment. With multiple contractors working simultaneously and the building still under construction, every element of the technology deployment had to be carefully coordinated with the wider programme.
Meeting room technology, room booking systems, workplace connectivity, the curved LED reception display, and the auditorium all needed to be integrated seamlessly into the evolving building, while remaining on schedule for employee occupation.
Success depended on early engagement. By becoming involved during the planning and design stages, ClearVC worked alongside Autotrader and principal contractor Oktra to ensure workplace technology requirements were considered from the outset. This allowed infrastructure, room layouts, furniture integration, and cabling routes to be coordinated before installation began, reducing risk and avoiding costly changes later in the project.
As Kaiser, Senior Project Manager at Oktra, explains:
“ClearVC became involved at an early stage of the project, which was hugely beneficial.
It allowed them to contribute to the design process, coordinate with the wider project team, and make sure the AV requirements were built into the overall plan from the start.
Technology is no longer something that can simply be added at the end. It is a core part of how the workplace functions day to day.”
Kaiser – Senior Project Manager, Oktra
By integrating technology into the wider workplace design from the beginning, the project team created the foundation for a successful office move and a workplace that was ready to support employees from day one.
Our Solution
Working closely with Autotrader throughout the discovery and proof-of-concept process, ClearVC designed a connected workplace technology ecosystem that prioritised simplicity, consistency, and long-term flexibility.
Understanding how employees would use each space was central to the design. Rather than creating different experiences in different rooms, the objective was to provide a familiar and intuitive workplace where users could move seamlessly between meeting rooms, collaboration spaces, and communication environments without having to think about the technology.
As Andrew Ormrod, Head of Technical at ClearVC, explains:
“Most of their workforce uses Apple Mac devices, so the goal was to create meeting spaces where users could simply plug in their laptop via USB-C and immediately start presenting or launching Microsoft Teams meetings.
Autotrader were very clear that they didn’t want complex meeting room systems. They wanted people to walk into a room, connect their device, and start collaborating immediately.”
Andrew Ormrod – Head of Technical, ClearVC
That design philosophy was applied across 86 AV-enabled spaces, including 44 meeting rooms, 14 collaboration spaces, 26 meeting pods with integrated room booking, and a range of specialist environments designed to support different ways of working across the organisation.
Beyond everyday collaboration, the solution also incorporated two flagship communication environments that have become defining features of the new headquarters.
The reception space is centred around a 24.4-metre curved LED canvas, creating an impressive arrival experience while providing a flexible platform for branded content, live marketplace data, company announcements, presentations, and events.
The multi-purpose auditorium provides a dedicated environment for leadership presentations, town hall meetings, hybrid events, and external functions, enabling effective communication at scale.
ClearVC’s involvement continues beyond project completion through a dedicated onsite engineer, providing day-to-day technical support and working closely with Autotrader’s Workplace Technology team. This ongoing partnership helps ensure the technology continues to perform reliably while giving employees immediate access to expert support whenever it’s needed.
By combining intuitive collaboration spaces, high-impact communication environments, and ongoing onsite support, ClearVC delivered a workplace technology ecosystem designed not only for a successful office move, but to support Autotrader’s evolving ways of working for years to come.
The Result
Autotrader’s move to its new Manchester headquarters was completed successfully, with every collaboration space, communication environment, and workplace technology system fully operational from day one.
Employees were able to move into the new workplace and immediately begin collaborating without disruption, benefiting from a consistent experience whether working in a meeting room, collaboration space, auditorium, or communal area.
As Paul Stephenson, Workplace Technology Manager at Autotrader, explains:
“We wanted users to be able to move between rooms without having to think about how the technology works or adapt to different setups.
So, whether it’s a small meeting room or a larger space, the experience is the same – simple, predictable, and reliable.”
Paul Stephenson – Workplace Technology Manager, Autotrader
Beyond supporting the day-to-day needs of employees, the new headquarters has transformed how Autotrader communicates across the organisation. The curved LED reception canvas has become a striking focal point for visitors and employees alike, while the multi-purpose auditorium provides a professional space for leadership presentations, company-wide meetings, hybrid events, and internal communications.
Reflecting on the project, David Grierson, Workplace Project Manager at Autotrader, says:
“The overall experience of working with them was genuinely effortless.
They took everything in their stride, and nothing ever felt like too much trouble – even when working across multiple contractors and stakeholders.
I would absolutely recommend ClearVC.
The level of planning, testing, and professionalism they bring is exceptional, and their support doesn’t stop at installation – they genuinely care about making sure we continue to get value from the technology long term.”
David Grierson, Workplace Project Manager, Autotrader
By combining early engagement, thoughtful workplace design, and seamless technology integration, ClearVC helped Autotrader create a future-ready workplace that supports collaboration, communication, and innovation across every part of the organisation.
Featured Products
Technology Partner Spotlights
Delivering a workplace of this scale required collaboration with industry-leading technology partners. Explore the solutions behind the project and hear directly from the manufacturers who helped bring Autotrader’s new headquarters to life.
Yealink
Delivering Consistent Collaboration Across Every Space
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Creating a consistent meeting room experience was a key objective throughout the Autotrader headquarters project.
Working alongside ClearVC, Yealink technology helped deliver a simple, intuitive collaboration experience across meeting rooms and larger collaboration spaces throughout the building. The solution was selected to support Autotrader’s requirement for a consistent user experience, regardless of room size or location.
In smaller meeting rooms, ClearVC deployed the Yealink S40 as a compact all-in-one collaboration solution, providing high-quality audio and video performance while maintaining a straightforward user experience.
For larger collaboration spaces, training rooms, and boardrooms, the solution was expanded using the Yealink S90 platform and UVC86 intelligent camera systems. Features including automatic framing, speaker tracking, and audio tracking help create a more natural and engaging meeting experience for both in-room and remote participants.
The platform was designed to support a wired BYOD workflow, enabling users to connect their laptop with a single cable and immediately access the room’s AV peripherals without navigating complex controls or interfaces.
By standardising the core collaboration experience across the estate, employees can move between spaces without having to adapt to different systems or workflows.
The result is a workplace where meetings start quickly, users require minimal training, and technology supports collaboration without becoming a barrier to productivity.
Ochno
Simplifying Connectivity Across the Workplace
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Creating a consistent meeting room experience was a key requirement throughout the Autotrader headquarters project.
To support this, ClearVC implemented Ochno Power Conference connectivity solutions across meeting rooms and collaboration spaces, enabling employees to connect quickly and easily regardless of where they are working within the building.
The solution was selected to support Autotrader’s goal of creating simple, intuitive meeting spaces where users could walk into any room, connect their device, and begin collaborating immediately.
At the heart of the deployment is a single USB-C connection that provides access to room displays, cameras, microphones, speakers, network connectivity, and laptop charging through a single cable. This removes the need for multiple adapters, simplifies the user experience, and reduces potential points of failure.
The approach was particularly well suited to Autotrader’s predominantly Apple Mac-based workforce, helping create a consistent workflow across every meeting room and collaboration space.
By standardising connectivity throughout the workplace, employees benefit from a familiar experience regardless of location, reducing friction at the start of meetings and supporting more productive collaboration.
Working alongside ClearVC, Ochno helped create a workplace where technology feels seamless in the background, allowing teams to focus on communication, collaboration, and decision-making rather than the technology itself.
The result is a simple, reliable, scalable, and future-ready connectivity platform that supports Autotrader’s modern way of working.
Sony
Professional Displays Designed for Modern Workplaces
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Sony BRAVIA Professional Displays play a key role throughout the Autotrader headquarters, supporting collaboration, communication, and content sharing across a wide range of environments.
Working closely with ClearVC, Sony supplied 70 BRAVIA Professional Displays across meeting rooms, collaboration spaces, and specialist environments throughout the building.
The deployment included twelve 98-inch BRAVIA BZ30L displays within larger meeting rooms, alongside two 98-inch BRAVIA BZ53L displays installed within the studio environment.
Within the studio space, Sony’s Deep Black Non-Glare technology plays an important role in maintaining image clarity, contrast, and colour depth while minimising reflections. This helps ensure content remains clearly visible both on camera and within the room itself, even in challenging lighting conditions.
Beyond visual performance, Sony’s professional display range also supports the project’s wider sustainability objectives. The displays are designed with energy efficiency and long operational lifespans in mind, helping reduce power consumption while delivering reliable performance over time.
The result is a consistent visual experience that supports effective collaboration, content sharing, and communication across the workplace while helping future-proof the technology investment for years to come.
LED Studio
Creating Landmark Communication Spaces
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Working alongside ClearVC, LED Studio helped deliver two of the most visually impactful environments within the Autotrader headquarters.
The technology was selected not only to create a memorable visual experience, but also to provide highly flexible communication platforms capable of supporting presentations, events, company announcements, and day-to-day engagement across the workplace.
The reception space features a 24.4-metre-wide curved LED canvas spanning approximately 120 square metres. Acting as both a digital landmark and a communication platform, the display showcases branded content, live marketplace data, presentations, and immersive visual experiences that create a powerful first impression for employees and visitors.
At the opposite end of the building, the auditorium incorporates a large-format LED display measuring approximately 12 metres wide by 3.6 metres high. The display supports leadership presentations, company-wide meetings, hybrid events, and external functions, helping transform the space into a professional communication environment capable of supporting large audiences.
Both environments utilise COB LED technology, offering improved durability, reduced heat output, and lower power consumption when compared to traditional LED solutions. This helps support the project’s wider sustainability objectives while delivering exceptional image quality and reliability.
Together, these environments demonstrate how modern LED technology can support far more than visual impact alone. They provide flexible communication platforms that can adapt to a variety of business requirements while creating memorable experiences for employees, visitors, and stakeholders.
