Architectural mentor 2: Build The Way

Architectural mentors: the initiatives offering training to young people

Build The Way offers a number of traineeship placements to young Londoners paid the London living wage for a 32-hour week.

Describe who you are
Build The Way is a nine months-long, entry-level architecture traineeship, providing an alternative and accessible route into a career in designing and making buildings, spaces, cities and communities.

What is the aim of your organisation?
Traditionally, a career in architecture has relied on an individual’s ability to fund multiple university degrees and have connections within the industry. This has led to inadequate representation in the workplace.

While there has been an increase in initiatives in the industry, there are still few opportunities for young people to be employed in an architecture practice before they have completed higher education. This can lead to financial and network barriers. Build The Way aims to create more accessible entry-level positions that are paid, as well as offer opportunities to individuals with different learning styles.

Build The Way trainee preparing for final showcase (2023) (photo: James Morrow)

Are you volunteer-led?
We are part volunteer-led, with two paid members of staff who work part-time: Rachael Davidson and myself, Annie Simpson.

Do you partner with any other organisations?
We partner with many organisations to help strengthen the programme and help hold us accountable. Our education partner is the London School of Architecture. It runs an extended project qualification (EPQ) in architecture, which the trainees have the opportunity to complete. Our mentoring partner is POoR Collective, which has worked on the programme since its conception. It supports the trainees in their professional development with sessions on networking, social media and how to use your skills to start working as soon as possible. All the architecture practices involved – GPAD, HUT, Morrow + Lorraine, shedkm, Child Graddon Lewis and Jan Kattein – offer additional support to the trainees and guidance to the organisation.

What kind of programmes do you run?
We just run one programme: our nine‑month traineeship. Over the coming years, we hope to include more outreach programmes to spread awareness of different careers in the built environment to young Londoners.

Trainee practising presentation skills (photo: Jane Lim)

What has been your landmark achievement?
It is seeing our recent trainees complete the programme with two being offered apprenticeships, further continuing their accessible route into the industry. It shows us that this programme is really helping those who need it the most.

What role are you filling that other outreach programmes aren’t?
We believe we’re allowing individuals to gain proper workplace experience while being paid a fair wage. We’re giving young people the opportunity to explore a career in the built environment before committing to university and the extortionate fees that come with it – not to mention the amount of time out of paid work. If one of our trainees decides that a career in this industry isn’t for them, then we’ve still succeeded, as they have had the opportunity to explore it, gain valuable skills and be paid.

What single biggest change would you like to see in the architecture industry?
To allow for more diverse and varied entry points as this will widen the talent pool and create a more inclusive environment.

What advice do you give your students who are thinking of pursuing a career in the built environment?
To really think about why you’re interested in it and explore all the different career opportunities out there. Attend talks and networking events to try and expand your network and knowledge of different working environments. There are some exciting and unique roles in the built environment that I had no idea about while studying interior architecture at university. I wish I’d put more time into meeting different people to see how I could find a career that best suited my interests and skills.

Questions answered by Annie Simpson on behalf of Build The Way