When you move into a new workplace, the space you lease is often delivered with a Cat A fit‑out – that clean, neutral, functional base-layer prepared by the landlord.

What turns that blank canvas into your office is the Cat B (Category B) fit‑out – the layer where your organisation’s identity, operations and personality come to life.

A Cat B fit‑out is the process that brings branding, bespoke layouts, finishes, technology and furniture into a space. It’s what transforms a standard shell into a workplace that reflects your culture, supports your team, and aligns with your operational needs.

What Cat B Covers

Cat B fit‑out includes everything that a Cat A fit-out doesn’t: the customised elements that make your space functional and distinctively yours. Key components include:

• Partitioning & Layout: Installation of demountable walls, meeting rooms, quiet pods, private offices or feature glazing to create versatile layouts tailored to your team.
• Branding & Graphics: Feature walls with your corporate colour, branded signage, vinyls, murals or bespoke art that express identity and ethos.
• Floor & Ceiling Enhancements: Upgraded flooring such as designer carpets, wood veneers or polished finishes; upgraded or modified ceilings with feature lighting or acoustic baffles.
• Lighting & Controls: Custom lighting schemes, dimming systems, task lighting and ambient enhancements catering to mood, energy efficiency and spectacle.
• Joinery & Finishes: Reception desks, bespoke boardroom tables, custom cabinetry, break-out seating or kitchen joinery designed to specification.
• Furniture & Layout: Desks, soft seating, meeting pods, acoustic booths and informal areas; inclusive of operational planning for staff numbers and flow.
• Acoustics & Comfort: Acoustic screens, wall treatments, flooring and ceiling upgrades to control sound across zones, critical in open or collaborative offices.
• Technology Infrastructure: Power, data and AV integration managed from the bare provisions of Cat A into utilised end-points – including smart meeting-room tech, cable routing, etc.
• Specialist Requirements: Anything from lab spaces, medical or clean zones, hospitality style reception areas or wellness zones – designed with functionality in mind.

In short, Cat B shapes how your team works, meets, moves and interacts with the space.

Why Cat B Is Important

Tailored for You

While Cat A gives you a floor and walls, a Cat B fit‑out gives you your space. Every shelf, screen and seating area reflects how your organisation operates and presents itself.

Enhances Productivity and Experience

People work better in spaces that feel intuitive. Cat B can improve sightlines, movement, acoustics, daylight access and ergonomics – boosting performance and satisfaction.

Brand Expression

Your actual workspace becomes a brand touchpoint. Premium finishes, colour palettes and signage reinforce corporate values – whether you’re meeting clients or working on the everyday.

Flexibility and Adaptability

Demountable partitions and modular systems mean layouts can evolve with organisational needs – future-proofing growth, hybrid working or team reorganisation without full re-fit.

Regulatory and Operational Compliance

Cat B takes you safely over the finish line. Access compliance, acoustic standards, lighting levels, ventilation, fire safety and accessibility are refined in functional detail.

The Cat A + Cat B Partnership

Cat B can only begin once Cat A is complete – but both stages work in harmony:

1. Cat A handover provides infrastructure: HVAC, lighting grid, raised floors, basic power and safety systems.
2. Design research & briefing follows: space planning, workplace strategy, branding and user needs.
3. Cat B build-out: partitions, subjective lighting, bespoke finishes, joinery and furniture installation.
4. Testing & commissioning: ensuring services and ergonomics meet requirements.
5. Move-in and snagging: final fine-tuning and handover for occupancy.

Read more: What’s the Difference Between Cat A and Cat B Fit Outs?

Planning a Cat B Fit‑Out

Engage User Experience Upfront

Understanding who uses the space, when and how informs layout, privacy, collaboration zones, breakout areas and wellness facilities.

Built-in Flexibility

Use demountable partitions, loose furniture or modular pods that allow rearrangement or expansion without structural work.

Balance Form and Function

Marrying practicality with aesthetic flair is key. Lighting should be operationally fit-for-purpose yet visually supportive of brand and mood.

Preempt Acoustic Needs

Integrate acoustic treatments early in joinery, ceilings, furniture and partition decisions – especially in open-plan or flexible workspaces.

Accessibility and Inclusion

Ensure all areas meet regulations and team diversity needs, from doorway widths and ramp access to inclusive furniture and quiet zones.

Sustainability and Wellbeing

Look at low-VOC finishes, active air quality systems, daylight optimisation and wellness areas – all part of the growing expectation for thoughtful workplaces.

At CCWS, our experience managing the two stages ensures that Cat A and Cat B dovetail efficiently – avoiding mix-ups, delays or cost overruns.

Costs and Timelines

Cat B is highly variable – dependent on grade of finishes, extent of custom joinery, acoustic enhancements and bespoke features. A small Cat B fit‑out might take 6–8 weeks, while full-scale implementations in large footprints can take several months.

Costs can range significantly: from fairly modest investments per m² (e.g. for plug-and-play schemes) up to multi-thousand pounds per m² for high-end, fully customised offices. The budgeting groundwork in the early briefing stage is crucial to align expectations with vision.

Functional Infrastructure Meets Identity

A Cat B fit‑out is where functional infrastructure meets identity. It’s the creative layer that makes your workspace yours – reflecting your brand, adapting to your working style and supporting your team. It’s about turning a basic shell into a productive, engaging and flexible environment.

At CCWS, our end-to-end approach ensures Cat B delivery is seamless from initial strategy through to furniture hand-in, helping you move in on time, on brand and fully operational.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need architects for Cat B?

Often yes – architects or workplace designers guide the layout, material selection, branding and regulatory compliance, especially in larger or complex schemes.

What happens if we downsize or grow?

If walls and furniture are demountable and flexible, you can easily reconfigure. We often advise on modular strategies that allow adaptation without demolition.

What if we share space with other tenants?

Shared reception or breakout space requires carefully managed design to ensure brand distinction, wayfinding clarity and acoustic comfort.

Can Cat B include wellness zones or break areas?

Absolutely. These are often key focus areas in Cat B design – dedicated zones for relaxation, kitchens, gyms or prayer rooms can all be incorporated.

What comes after Cat B?

After office fit out, your workplace enters the operational phase. Ongoing maintenance, upgrades (like tech refreshes or branding changes) fall under facilities management rather than build-out.