At Grainge Architects we are keen on supporting education alongside working in practice. We have a long history of working with apprenticeship students via Exeter College alongside the more typical Part 1 and Part 2 Architectural graduates looking to complete their architectural education.
Lewis Gliddon has been with the office for three years and has just completed his first year of a Part 1 Degree Apprenticeship – so we thought it was a good time to get his thoughts on this alternative approach towards qualification.
Finding the right option – my route into the Degree Apprenticeship
After completing a Level 4 apprenticeship and gaining a HNC through Exeter College in ‘Construction and built environment’ in 2023, I initially thought to pursue the career of an architectural technician and start the process to become accredited by CIAT (Chartered institute of Architectural Technicians). With opportunities to become a registered Architect being slim without going to university full time this seemed to be the most sensible route to entering the industry without a prior degree in Architecture.
Throughout the three years since joining Grainge Architects it has become apparent that whilst being based in the southwest, there are opportunities available to become a qualified Architect without full-time University but you do just have to search a little deeper to find them! Only 2 universities in the country offer the Part 1 Architecture degree apprenticeship, these being Portsmouth and London South Bank University.
In September 2023 I started the Architectural Assistant Degree apprenticeship (RIBA Part 1) programme offered at Portsmouth which means working 4 days a week in the practice and 1 day a week attending lectures, studio sessions and completing academic work at Portsmouth University.
Balancing Work and University
Balancing both practice and university work is something I have been doing since joining Grainge with the level four apprenticeship and is a skill I am still learning to master. Dealing with university coursework alongside the demands of the 4 days in office requires effective time management and prioritization – an ability that my colleagues tell me will set me up well for a career in this industry! Being disciplined with time management and allocating specific times for both academic work and apprenticeship tasks is crucial to meeting deadlines.
I have also learnt to keep an open mind when approaching both the university tasks as well as those in practice. Coming into university with a more ‘real-world’ mindset and prior industry knowledge has its benefits, but I have also learnt university can be a place to explore design more conceptually without some of the constraints that real projects face.
Likewise academic learnings, experiences and discussions taken from university has boosted my confidence and background knowledge when approaching design in practice. Overall I believe having both academic study and in-practice experience running in tandem is providing me with a more rounded outlook on the industry.
Making the most of the people around you
Making the most of the mentorship within practice from experienced architects is something I wish I picked up sooner. Ask questions! Most of people around me in the office are either currently doing their Part 2/3 or have done it all before and have many years of experience – and they are always happy to pass on their insights. This is an invaluable resource to make the most out of when approaching both university and work-based tasks – and something you would miss out on if always within the vacuum of full-time academic study.
This year 8-degree apprentices started at Portsmouth with others also taking a long commute from places as far as Gloucestershire, Bath and Shropshire to attend the day at university. Having a good relationship and collaborating with other apprentices that are in the same boat has really helped to soften the initially intimidating commute and workload balance as well as building a network of professionals within the industry.
One year in
Ultimately, an architectural apprenticeship is an opportunity to be surrounded by industry experts to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world projects, earn while you learn and contribute meaningfully to the built environment around you. Now one year in, I am happy with my decision to take on the course and would recommend that it is worth looking into for anyone looking into alternative options for Architectural education.
