In October 2017 we launched our RIBA West Midlands Learn It, Earn It initiative. The programme connects the West Midlands Schools of Architecture with the expertise and specialisms of local architectural practices through a series of workshops.
During the 2017/2018 programme, the RIBA West Midlands team, along with collaborating architectural practices, have made progress towards the goal of raising awareness of the careers and job opportunities that are available for students in the West Midlands. The workshops have highlighted to students that it is possible to not only learn, but also to earn in the West Midlands.
Introducing more examples of professionals working and building careers for themselves in the West Midlands enables students to discover the wide range of projects and job opportunities in the area first-hand. We are optimistic that this will contribute to strengthening the future of the region’s architectural design capacity and reputation, enhancing our regional architectural practices with locally educated graduates.
Sponsored and supported by Ibstock Brick, this initiative celebrates and showcases a wide range of commercial and residential projects that are being delivered by architects working within the West Midlands. It has been enthusiastically embraced by the Schools of Architecture and the architectural practices involved.
As a result of the achievements of the 2017/2018 Learn it, Earn it programme, the RIBA West Midlands team are now calling for architectural practices throughout the region to take part in the next phase of this unique initiative during 2019/2020. Applications are open to a range of architects, at differing career stages, based across the West Midlands.
For more information and to get involved in the 2019/2020 programme, contact RIBA Project Manager Conor Nolan.
BM3 Architects said: “The Learn it, Earn it events were a really valuable sequence of events for BM3, connecting back to those who will form the practice in the future. Three representatives from the company were able to visit both Coventry and Wolverhampton’s Schools of Architecture, meeting the current cohort, presenting our work and answering questions. Our interaction proved inspirational as we received direct positive feedback from many students afterward and relish the opportunity to maintain this important link between practice and academia in the coming years.”
Colin Orr, Head of Department – Architecture, Wolverhampton University, said: "The University of Wolverhampton are delighted to be part of this exciting architectural collaboration (practice and education) driven by RIBA West Midlands. The best form of local competition is collaboration; the winners being students of Architecture in the West Midlands."
Jack Bowden, Architectural Assistant Part 1 at Create.If and M.Arch Student at Birmingham School of Architecture and Design (BSOAD) said:
"As a sixth year student and still going through the training process, I feel that the new Learn it, Earn it programme will be a great engagement point to bridge the gap between architectural practices and the students themselves within the universities.
"Having studied the BA (Hons) Degree full time, it was not until I returned to university to study the MA in Architecture that I then had the interaction with other students who had just been through the same process as myself, but at completely different practices.
"There is currently little exposure for undergraduate students to architectural practices with the exception of the larger, more well-known ones, and I feel this is a great way to educate both the students and the employers as to 'who' and indeed 'what' is actually out there."
