Professional Programmes and Work Experience

Built environment companies that take part in or run their own programmes, traineeships, scholarships, internships, work experience opportunities, school visits, careers fairs, mentoring and workshops.

Avison Young

Programmes: apprenticeship, work experience, school visits, careers fairs, workshops

Overview: Graduate Scheme including rotations with professional qualification support and professional skills training. Apprenticeship scheme including rotations with professional qualification support and professional skills training. Summer internships, 4 week paid scheme. -Informal work experience. Partnership with a few different organisations to aid social mobility and access into the profession. Careers fairs at schools/colleges and universities.

Target Age: 16+

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Build the Way

Overview: Build The Way is a nine-month entry-level architecture traineeship providing an alternative and accessible route into a career designing and making buildings, spaces, cities, and communities. Each trainee is paid London Living Wage for a 32-hour week, with an additional 1 day a week for their professional practice and to undertake an EPQ at the London School of Architecture.

With no experience-based barriers to application, places are offered to those who can show a passion for design and cities.

Participating practices: GPAD, HUT, Morrow + Lorraine, ShedKM, Child Graddon Lewis

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Child Graddon Lewis

Programmes: apprenticeships, traineeship, work experience, school visits, careers fairs, workshops, mentoring

Overview: Numerous programmes and initiatives including: Build The Way, Westminster City Lions, Architecture in Schools.

Target Age: 18-24 years old

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East London Waterworks Park

Programmes: school visits, workshops, placements & site walks

Overview: We provide learning experiences in and through the project and park, for schools, universities, community groups and charities, which develop and practise our learning design principles, enabling our community to learn how to live harmoniously with nature while acquiring new skills. We have worked with the University of Sheffield, University of Westminster, UCL, Buxton Secondary, RCA, among others.

Target Age: 6+

Quote: “I was recently involved with the East London Waterworks Park inclusivity circle through work with my secondary school, Kingsmead. We were able to be involved in podcasts and design projects which I really enjoyed working on. When I think of the phrase to dream of parks like this, it means imagining everything I want for a better future where things are a lot more fluid and less rigid and people are able to do more of what they want in life.” Charlotte, 16, Kingsmead School, Enfield

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Eon

Programmes: apprenticeships, work experience, school visits, careers fairs, work shops, mentoring

Overview: Enterprise Advisors. We create learning resources for schools and colleges we have R&D projects with universities. We run tours, teacher and learner encounters and workshops. Invested in Skills Street. North Star Science Event, Eon Net Zero Academy.

Target Age: all age groups

Quote: “I absolutely loved building and racing my wind-powered car, it was so much fun to learn about renewables and how all parts of my car was recyclable, and that I can also plant the sail so I can grow meadow flowers.” Workshops at recent North Star STEM Event.

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EPR Architects

Programmes: apprenticeships, work experience, school visits, careers fairs, workshops, mentoring

Overview: Our school outreach program offers 24 students from across three schools/colleges the opportunity to participate in a week-long work placement to gain an insight into the career as an Architect. Through our collaborations with RIBA Future Architects, Construction Youth Trust, RIBA, and the Fluid mentoring schemes, along with delivering EPR-led presentations and workshops in schools, we provide a range of services designed to support students, from career guidance to one-on-one mentoring. To support the development of architectural apprenticeships, EPR has partnered with South Bank University to offer Level 6 placements, and with the University of Nottingham for Level 7 placements.

Target age: 16-18 years old

Quote: 'The project itself was definitely fun and I did love the freedom to create something that was wholly yours. I had an amazing time there with the other students and the friendly staff, and would definitely recommend this opportunity to others.'. Blina Bytyqi, 17.

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Fathom Architects

Programmes: workshops, mentoring

Overview: Fathom Architects take part in Scale. Open Studio brings together creatives from around London in a collaborative space. A series of studio sessions for a limited group of architecture students, graduates and professionals who can come to seek advice, mentoring, learn from peers, network in the industry and gain vital skills that will help them in their careers. This is done through monthly workshops, kindly hosted at practices for a group of 10-16 participants, ideally from ethnic minority backgrounds to make an active effort in breaking barriers to the workplace.

Target Age: 18-24 years old

Quote: “Applying and getting rejected from job applications can feel extremely isolating, however, it was nice to know that there are other people in the same boat. It is an insightful event and a great opportunity for those from BAME backgrounds who may not necessarily have the connections to attend events similar to this!”

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Formation Architects

Programmes: apprenticeship, work experience, mentoring

Overview: Partnerships with Cardiff University, Westminster University and Oxford Brookes University, RIBA work experience programme offer the Level 7 Architecture apprenticeship, Oxford Brookes University offer summer internships to university students completing their part 1. Work experience partnerships with Eltham College and Charter North Dulwich. We offer students the opportunity to design a pavilion and learn a variety of different skills that are used on a daily basis by Architects, including hand sketching, AutoCAD, Revit, Sketchup, Photoshop and InDesign.

Target Age: 16-24 years old

Quote: "It has really helped me decide whether I wanted to take on architecture for uni which I hopefully will be doing next year! I learnt a lot, from using new softwares to seeing how the firm works on a daily basis. I have decided to apply to Oxford Brookes, Sheffield and Manchester Uni. The week at formation architects also helped me start to prepare my portfolio which I’m very grateful for."

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Haworth Tompkins

Programmes: Apprenticeship, Work experience, Careers fairs, Workshops, Mentoring, 4-week internships, School visits

Overview: Haworth Tompkins operate outreach programmes that are designed to help young people into employment in the profession, particularly those from sectors of society that are currently underrepresented. To help students access work and training, we partner with organisations such as Blueprint for All, Access to Architecture, RIBA, Social Mobility Foundation and Arts Emergency and offer month long paid placements every summer.

During 2024 we launched our first apprenticeship scheme and welcomed two apprentices to the studio, at Level 6 and at Level 7, aiming to create a more inclusive and diverse route to architecture. We run an annual work experience programme with schools linked to our projects, through Local Authorities and Inspire. We offer mentoring and training to under-represented groups which supports small businesses, students and school age children, which includes business skills training, student workshops and work experience placements. We also host regular studio tours mainly for primary and university students organised through direct requests or facilitated through Accelerate and Open City.

Target Age: 16–18-year-olds

Quote: “I enjoyed my week at Haworth and Tompkins. I had a warm welcoming from all the different teams and was set up and ready to work quickly. My experience was informative and productive, with a variety of tasks which helped me developed skills in a range of areas.”

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Heatherwick

Programmes: work experience, school visits, workshops

Overview: In The Making is a three-year creative education programme working with 600 young people aged 10-14. It aims to inspire young people to see themselves as creative and support all 6,000 architecture practices across the UK to engage with schools. The work involves light touch, high-volume creative learning. It has been co-designed by Heatherwick Studio with young people and then tested through a year-long pilot involving 230 teenagers and 21 architects. All the resources are open source and freely available, including a Practice Guide, a workshop template, and a short summary of evidence from around the world showing the impact of childhood engagement in art and creativity.

Target Age: Under 16 years old

Quote: “Creativity and the arts are a vital part of what brings meaning to our students' lives. Arts education develops a lifelong curiosity, it gives them the chance to look at the world from different perspectives, and through craft develops a sense of quality. These qualities are all vital to a thriving society.” Tom Aldridge, Head of Art, Maria Fidelis Secondary School, London, one of the participating schools.

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Jackson Coles

Programmes: apprenticeship, work experience, mentoring

Overview: We have apprenticeships and are involved with providing RIBA mentoring and mentoring via the University of Westminster Champions programme.

Target Age: 18-24 years old

Quote: “I really enjoyed my industrial placement... I was exposed to a wide range of projects and appreciated the level of responsibility entrusted to me, along with all the support I received. I was therefore eager to continue the positive experience.”

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Lambeth Council

Programmes: Apprenticeship, traineeship, work experience, school visits, career fairs, workshops

Overview: SWAPs (Sector Based Work Experience Programmes) and other pre-employment training. We provide a range of activities including delivering on a direct job brokerage service, organising jobs fairs, and securing S106 and social value commitments to create pathways into the built environment for young people. We also have a schools engagement programme, and coordinate an annual work experience programme. Working with Cenergist, who are contracted through the council's decarbonisation programme to retrofit 5 schools and 3 leisure centres, we secured apprenticeship commitments for local residents.

Target Age: 18-30 year olds, with a focus on priority groups e.g. care experienced young people, young people who are NEET or at risk of becoming NEET, young people who are known to the criminal justice system, young people with disabilities and health conditions.

Quote: Queen, a 29-year-old resident who grew up in Lambeth, registered interest in the opportunity and was supported to apply for a role and gained experience, learning about green construction. She has now been offered a permanent position and says, “I’m really happy, it’s the perfect opportunity for me, and my family are really proud. Also, my little daughter is really jealous of the high vis vest and other equipment I have for my new job."

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Levitt Bernstein

Programmes: apprenticeships, work experience, school visits, careers fairs, workshops, mentoring

Overview:
EDI schools outreach: we work with schools local to the practice. We either join in their pre-planned events, including careers fairs, or offer talks/workshops. We discuss our visits with the careers advisors/teachers at the school to tailor talks/workshops to the students.

Apprenticeship: We have a level 6 apprentice, who joined the practice in 2020, studying part-time while working as an architectural assistant. Our apprentice meets with his mentor weekly to support his development.

Work experience: Every year we offer multiple students the opportunity to work alongside architect, landscape architects and urban designers. Each student is supported by a mentor and is invited to join meetings and/or site visits where possible.

We offer Part 1 and Part 2 programme to support staff throughout their career development. We have close links with UEL, UCL and University of Sheffield.

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LocatED

Programmes: apprenticeship, work experience, school visits, career fairs, mentoring

Overview: We offer work experience placements from Year 10 through to University. We have apprentices and graduates. We take part in career fairs and talks in schools. Some of our employees mentor younger individuals. We run early career networking events.

Target Age: All

Quote: “LocatED helped me understand the property sector. All the staff are amazing and the work environment was fantastic. Thanks to all the team for helping me out during my time there.”

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Multiplex

Programmes: work experience, school visits, careers fairs, workshops, mentoring. Bespoke programmes created for school and student engagements

Overview: Bespoke programmes created for neurodiverse students. Employability workshops and support for students. General work experience placements. Participation in careers fairs. Classroom visits for students of all ages. Guest Lectures. Student site visits and presentations.

Target Age: We work with a range of students from Year 5/6 (not so often), to secondary school students 12- 16 years, and university students.

Quote: “I believe the work experience has benefited me a lot as I have a greater knowledge of what an engineer does so I can side to which sector I would like to go into”. Work Experience Student aged 17-18.

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Prologis

Programme: Apprenticeship, traineeship, work experience, school visits, career fairs, workshops, mentoring

Overview: We offer Inclusive Apprenticeships to young people from SEND backgrounds. We support numerous school, college & university site tours to encourage interest in the Built Environment. We employee two BE undergraduates for a year in industry. We have a purpose-built training and development centre at a key UK location.

Target Age: all ages

Quote: “It’s a great feeling to be one of the first people on the training programme – I already feel like I’m ahead of the game.” Solomon

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Stace LLP

Programme: apprenticeships, work experience, careers fairs, grad scheme

Overview: The scheme is promoted by UCL, University of Reading, and Anglia Ruskin University with fully funded Masters programmes in Construction and Management (if coming from a non-cog background). Regular review & feedback sessions are given with a diverse range of CPD / industry-specific workshops. This is advertised at careers fairs, schools, and on social media (LinkedIn).

Target Age: 18-24 years old

Quote: “The best thing about working for Stace is that everybody is an equally valued member of the team. I think it is important that everyone is treated the same. Everyone wants you to succeed and Stace provides the opportunity for all of us to develop our careers and reach our ambitions.” Joe Rose

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Stanhope

Programme: work experience

Overview: We support Construction Youth Trust's 'Pathways to Professional Careers' programme and Mayor's Fund for London 'Access Aspiration' programme through our Stanhope Foundation. We also run a work experience programme.

Target Age: 16-18 years old

Quote: “This experience has further fuelled my passion for the industry and given me a clearer vision of my career path moving forward.” Ayisha - work experience candidate.

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Stride Treglown

Programmes: work experience, school-based workshops, career days, apprenticeships

Overview: Shape my City Workshop. Shape My City is a talent accelerator programme for 15–18-year-olds from diverse backgrounds around Bristol and the Southwest region, supporting young people to have a voice in our built environment.

This award-winning scheme by Design West seeks to change the future workforce across the built environment, giving talented young people opportunities they might not otherwise have. Female students, those from BAME backgrounds and under-represented socio-economic groups are particularly encouraged to take part. Stride Treglown are proud to support Design West in this initiative, collaborating in regular talks and workshops. In this instance, a walking tour gave the students a chance to explore the Whitehouse Street Regeneration site, experience its current uses, character, massing, heritage, landscape and infrastructure, and then consider the constraints and future opportunities. The workshop was an opportunity for the students to better understand the consultation process and the importance of community engagement for sustainable planning. As the Whitehouse Street project was at the consultation stage at the time, it was a perfect setting for students to make their voices heard and have their observations genuinely feed into a live project.

Target Age: 15-18 years old

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Westminster City Council

Programmes: Apprenticeship, work experience, career fairs

Overview: Summer work experience programme for year 10, year 12-14 students in Westminster schools, students from Inspire/2-3 degrees. Also offer planning graduates work experience.

Target Age: 16-18 years old

Quote: “It was extremely helpful, I wish I had a few more days to learn with you. I have a much better understanding on how planning applications are assessed and reports drafted.” Planning student at Manchester university.

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Professional Programmes and Work Experience

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