Are today’s apprentices tomorrow’s practice leaders?
“When I finished my degree, many years ago, I knew next to nothing about the real world of architecture, and how you contribute to a studio,” recalls Jason Geen, Studio Leader at apt.
“But at the end of four years, having been in a practice from day one, just imagine how extraordinary these two candidates will be,” he muses. “Will we see the next studio leaders emerging?”
Geen is referring to the two Level 6 apprentices who the practice took on in September 2021, in association with London South Bank University. Level 6 apprenticeships take students, who might be school leavers, through to graduate/Part 1 level; while Level 7 is from Part 1 to fully qualified Part 3.
Apt’s Level 6 apprenticeship offers a four year employment contract, during which the apprentices attend university one day per week during term time. The practice received 270 applications and was so impressed by the strength of the candidates that they changed their original plan of taking on only one apprentice.
“During these early months we have to be very responsible: we are not plunging Holly and Angellyca into learning CAD skills. It is all about drawing, model making, getting an overview, and working on multiple projects. They are discussing architectural drawings, and asking all the right questions about programmes.”
Apt provides its apprentices with mentoring at different levels; with support from the practice’s Part 2s and from a senior project leader.
“They will pin their university projects up in the studio,” reveals Jason Geen. “So we have critiques and chats about their emerging college work.”
At the practice Ingleton Wood, Senior Associate Max Chapman is able to mentor apprentices with direct personal experience, having been a Level 7 apprentice himself.
“Architecture school can be gruelling at times, so a good understanding of deadlines both in practice and university is key to ensure apprentices are supported,” Chapman counsels.
His colleague, Lily Green, agrees, pointing to time management as the biggest challenge an apprentice is likely to face. It is very important that the practice is flexible and supportive with apprentices’ time: both Ingleton Wood and apt allow their apprentices an extra regular study day than the stipulated minimum.
“With the apprenticeship, you have a lot more administration: you have to evidence that you are meeting the KSB criteria expected by your university,” she states.
KSB stands for knowledge, skills and behaviours, and set out what the practice must be providing the apprentice. While keeping the KSB record up to date might be a chore, the KSBs themselves impart standards of professionalism that an apprentice’s peers at university do not necessarily experience. It is a wide knowledge base, Green says.
“A full-time graduate might qualify with a Masters degree but not know how to detail a project, produce a tender package, or become a contract administrator. There are huge employability benefits to working alongside studying: you have the same qualifications but much more experience."
This added professionalism is cited by many apprentices and their mentors as hugely advantageous. Jack Davies is an apprentice at multi-disciplinary practice Ridge and Partners, studying towards Level 7 at the University of the West of England (UWE).
“Being able to experience everything Ridge has in its portfolio has makes it easy to understand how what I’ve learned at university feeds into the real world,” Davies states.
He was first introduced to Ridge through the RIBA Student Mentoring scheme at UWE as a Part 1 Architectural Assistant.
“To generalise a little, the university curriculum is mainly focused on design,” Davies suggests. “But what you learn in a practice is how the project fits together: who is involved, who needs to be contacted after design changes, and how that affects the client, suppliers and contractors. All the things running simultaneously that keep a project going to completion.”
There are two schools of architecture (LSBU and Portsmouth) offering Level 6 courses at the moment, although Sheffield Hallam is currently in discussion with the RIBA over validation of its Level 6 pathway. The recent increase to £25,000 in the funding available to universities for Level 6 courses is likely encourage more to look at this option.
There is steady progress with the take up of Level 7 places among students and practices, with ten schools on the list of universities offering apprenticeships and a further eight in discussion with the RIBA over validation. The University of the West of England (UWE) hopes to achieve a 50/50 balance of apprenticeships and full-time students in place over the next eight years.
The RIBA website provides more information, whether you wish to become an architecture apprentice, offer an apprenticeship at your university or employ an apprentice at your architecture practice.
Thanks to Jason Geen, Studio Leader, apt; Jack Davies, Architectural Assistant, Ridge and Partners; Lily Green, Architect, Ingleton Wood; and Max Chapman, Senior Associate, Ingleton Wood.
Text by Neal Morris. This is a Professional Feature edited by the RIBA Practice team. Send us your feedback and ideas.
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