Learning on the job: Kamil and Joel’s apprenticeship journey
As it’s National Apprenticeship Week, we’re taking a moment to highlight the experiences of our two current apprentices, Kamil and Joel. As a practice, we believe apprenticeships play a crucial role in shaping the next generation of architects, offering a unique blend of education and hands-on experience - but what do they think?
Why choose an apprenticeship in architecture?
"My passion for architecture comes from my love of problem-solving. For me personally, the more constrained by the real-world challenges of construction, the more rewarding the process of design becomes. The apprenticeship enables this far more than a traditional degree, as it continually exposes me to the world of practice, and allows me to reflect on those issues and bring them into my academic studies. Beyond that, I find that practical experience is so key in today’s professional world, and being able to continue my career debt free while gaining all this extra experience felt like a no-brainer! I was already doing my Part 1 at Studio PDP, and I was really excited about the apprenticeship route because I knew it would allow me to keep developing my skills while working on real projects." says Kamil.
Joel realised how valuable learning in practice could be: "I realised how much I was learning while working in practice and I didn't want to lose that by returning to a full-time course. There are so many things in architecture that you simply need to learn in practice and I felt an apprenticeship was the way to go. It really helps you to find links between what you are learning at university and in practice, whereas I had previously found the two quite disjointed. Additionally, working in practice and studying at the same time means I am bringing a sense of reality into my architecture projects at university; while designing I am always considering relevant building regulations to make the project as realistic as possible!'‘
How do you think your apprenticeship has helped you to develop real-world skills, compared to more traditional study routes?
“The most important thing I have learned is time management.” says Joel. “Trying to balance university and practice work can certainly be challenging, but it really pushes you to get on top of things and take ownership of your work. It has also helped me develop my presentation skills significantly. Having to present work consistently for a week at university and then getting thrown back into the office really gives you additional confidence when presenting your work in practice.”
For Kamil, it’s collaborating with the wider design teams and access to training which has made a real difference. “I have been working full time while studying for nearly 3 years now. Within that time, I have worked on huge projects, collaborated with engineers, manufacturers and consultants. I’ve had the opportunity to attend professional training events on relevant industry issues such as Building Safety, Decarbonisation and many more. I’ve worked across all RIBA stages and been able to take on responsibility for presenting to clients, planners and members of the public. All of these things are usually reserved for those who are already in full time work, in some cases, only for the first time after completing their Part 3 – I feel that, not only have I had a chance to develop, but I’ve been able to do so far earlier than normal.”
How do you balance studying with working in a professional setting?
“Balancing university and working is one of the biggest challenges of the apprenticeship. Often, tasks aren’t massively complex, but they require a large amount of time. My primary way of managing is being strategic with my choices of design concepts and research questions. So far, a lot of my research has looked to deepen ideas I am already interested in, allowing one to feed the other and maximising the value of the time I schedule for study. The practice has been very understanding and accommodating around study leave and around deadlines, allocating me to manageable and relevant projects and providing great facilities and resources for me to use across both work and university.” says Kamil.
Joel admits “This can be a challenge! I always keep my team in the loop about upcoming study leave and will occasionally swap things around if there are big deadlines coming up. Fortunately I have a very supportive team and mentor who understand I need to dedicate a portion of my time to studying and are always happy to chat things through.”
Advice for future apprentices
When asked what advice they would give to others considering an apprenticeship, both had valuable insights to share.
Joel: "Do it! I am so glad I went down this route. You are always learning, gaining experience and earning a stable income. As long as you keep on top of your workload and stay organised, it is much more manageable than most people expect."
Kamil: "I have, and continue to champion the apprenticeship route for anyone who is self-driven and passionate about architecture. The apprenticeship treats you with far more freedom and opportunity to grow, but it also challenges you with the responsibilities and risk of having to make a lot of your own decisions. In a way, it’s very reflective of how architecture is in itself. It is a big commitment, but the rewards can be massive if the individual is dedicated to drawing out as much as possible from the whole process. The skills you learn are often the skills you need, and so being up to the challenge is a natural part of succeeding in an Architectural Apprenticeship."
Looking ahead
Joel: "In five years I will have been a qualified architect for two years. I'd hope to be starting to take more of a leading role on the projects I am working on, doing the majority of the coordination work with the design team. The apprenticeship is a long, 4 year commitment, but is the same amount of time as the traditional route of a full time masters followed by a year in practice and then your Part 3. On top of this, I will have 2 years' additional experience compared to another recently qualified architect who has taken the more traditional route."
Kamil: "In five years I’ll have been a fully qualified architect for over 3 years, with a total of 8 years in practice. Taking into account the impact of Covid on my generation of architectural graduates, many people are finding themselves qualifying part 3 with maybe a year or two. The apprenticeship is not only helping me towards being a competent architect, but one with the experience and confidence to hit the ground running and really apply themselves to pushing the projects we work on to new levels of quality and ambition, and in my case, especially focused on safety and sustainability. This year in May I will submit my final academic design project, which will be a fantastic milestone. Onwards from there, I am very excited to build on my knowledge of the architect’s professional responsibilities, aspects of law and contractual obligations."
The value of apprenticeships
At our practice, we believe apprenticeships bring fresh perspectives, energy, and innovation to the architectural profession. We’re really proud to support emerging talent, and encourage more aspiring architects to explore this route into the industry.
Apprentices tend to graduate as more rounded architects having benefitted from being able to relate their studies directly to work in practice, whilst also gaining more experience compared to most graduates following the traditional route. An apprenticeship provides the opportunity to develop closer ties between academia and work in practice. The apprentices are able to explore ideas through their studies that are directly related to the work of the practice and can therefore be fed back into practice work. As Kamil mentioned, they each feed and support the other.
The challenge of balancing studies with work in practice that comes with apprenticeships means that our apprentices tend to be focused and driven, and develop skills in managing their workload.
Are you considering an apprenticeship in architecture? We’d love to hear your thoughts! Feel free to reach out to us or join in the conversation over on our LinkedIn page.