Valuing graduates in architectural practice
We value the role of graduates in architectural practice, and work to highlight the contribution young professionals make to the successful delivery of architectural projects, large and small.
We place graduates in a range of offices across the UK, performing various roles in practice and on-site. As post Part 1 or Part 2 graduates, many have studied for a career in architecture and hope to qualify as architects. Some are currently working towards their Part 3 qualification, and are in a better position than many of their peer group – they are in paid employment in the profession they trained to work in.
All sectors of the architecture profession have suffered in recent years, but the younger generation of architects is often the first to feel the impact. We therefore seek to highlight the value of this group in delivering high quality architectural services.
Some practices will say our architecture students are unprepared for a commercial office environment. And inevitably there will always be an element of support and training needed - but surely that applies to all industries and generations, and is a cycle to nurture and cherish? By doing so we create diverse and dynamic work environments where design ideas can be shared and all staff are working at levels appropriate to their experience.
All parts of our profession need to act to improve the current employment situation. Architectural students, whose debt continues to mount, have to be open to a range of options in which to practise architecture. Schools of architecture need to adapt and forge links with industry, and continue to shape professional experience policies.
Hopefully this emphasises the importance of community in our unique profession as we work to promote the value of architecture and architects to a wider audience.