HLM Architects is a RIBA Chartered Practice founded in 1964 in Scotland by three students David Hutchison, Graham Locke and Tony Monk. Now operating out of five offices across the UK, the practice works on projects ranging from Passivhaus residential developments to innovative university and hospital buildings.
HLM Architects were one of 20 practices in the Trailblazer Group which developed the apprenticeship for architecture in 2018.
For National Apprenticeship Week 2020, we spoke to apprentice Daniel Stokes and Managing Director, Karen Mosley who work at the London studio to find out more about the value of apprenticeships to the profession.
"Becoming a fully qualified architect has been an ambition for many years," says Daniel Stokes, apprentice at HLM Architects. "However, because of academic and career choices made when I was younger, combined with the cost and time implications of studying Parts 1 to 3, the opportunity to study architecture was increasingly remote. The introduction of apprenticeships created a route to qualification which enabled me to transition from working at HLM Architects as an architectural technician to an apprentice.
I take on a wide variety of tasks, which is fantastic because I am always learning and experiencing new things. These range from working on earlier RIBA stage projects producing work for feasibility studies and planning applications, visiting sites, attending project meetings, working on drawing packages for projects at technical stages as well as conducting research for materials and products.
A typical day is led primarily by the short and medium requirements of the project I am working on in conjunction with the apprenticeship syllabus. This can be desk and CAD based, design discussion internally or visiting sites or external project meetings.
The highlight so far has been the opportunity to foster my creativity and learn and develop design skills within the university design studio using a range of mediums and processes.
The principle challenge is the sacrifice of spare time for studying in my evenings and on weekends. Studying architecture through the apprenticeship is demanding and this requires a lot of dedication to ensure you fulfil your practice obligations, and also produce successful academic work that ultimately makes the commitment worthwhile.
There are definite benefits to qualifying through the apprenticeship route. The ability to work and learn in practice simultaneously with the academic study creates a learning process that feeds off both sides, creating a more holistic learning process.
Apprenticeships offer practices the opportunity to secure members of staff for an extended period. Throughout this time the apprentices are dramatically upskilling and bringing the latest elements of their architectural education to practice. This benefits both the staff, the business and ultimately the profession."
Karen Mosley, Managing Director at HLM Architects, says: "We are proud to have been one of 20 practices in the Apprenticeship Trailblazer Group which developed the apprenticeship for architecture with the support of the RIBA. We are committed to providing equality of opportunity for all, and as a business we rely on the employment of new students each year bringing added enthusiasm, passion and valued input to our workplace. Using the apprenticeship levy, we have been able to put an existing member of our London team, Daniel, through the Apprenticeship course at London South Bank University, where he is in the process of transitioning from his technical role to becoming a qualified architect. He started his course in September 2018 and is supported internally by one of our dedicated HLM Apprentice mentors.
We assign tasks and responsibilities that are relevant to where the apprentice is within their course and try and match what they are learning in theory with practical experience.
Not all students are suited to the traditional academic route to becoming an architect, which involves many years studying at university. The apprenticeships allow individuals to ‘earn while they learn’ and not have to suffer the financial burden of studying on a long course.
The apprenticeship scheme has the ability to diversify the profession. It is a more accessible route which will help people from a broader spectrum of backgrounds to qualify, enabling employers to tap into a bigger talent pool.
At HLM we have a thorough and inclusive recruitment strategy, developed at Board level but with full input from our Studio Directors. As part of this we identify skills gaps within our teams and recognise the importance of including apprenticeship, year out and junior positions and the value they add to each Studio. We allocate a percentage of our annual spend to allow our staff time to support work experience students within each region and encourage staff to get involved with careers fairs and school events to inspire and encourage young people to enter our industry.
The practice supports apprentices through the HLM Academy, a personal and professional development programme, which gives them the opportunity and resources to reach their full potential. The academy gives bespoke support to young apprentices entering work for the first time to develop both their soft and technical skills.
Each apprentice is assigned a specific mentor and a buddy to work with them and their apprenticeship tutor at the university, we also hold regular review meetings to monitor progress and provide further support if needed.
Apprenticeship schemes improve the link between academia and practice, giving practices a more significant role in training the next generation, matching up the skills we want as employers with those that prospective employees have to offer."
At RIBA, we can support you whether you're looking to become an architecture apprentice, or if you're looking to employ an apprentice at your architecture practice.
RIBA Future Architects also offers information and resources for students and early career architects.
Join our conversations about National Apprenticeship Week 2020 on social media using the hashtags #NationalApprenticeshipWeek, #NAW2020 and #LookBeyond.
