Rob A’Bear participated in the online Cirencester Careers Convention
Rob A’Bear, co-founder of A’Bear & Ball Architects LLP, created a video for the online Cirencester Kingshill School Careers Convention 2020 last week along with 40 fellow exhibitors and contributors. In the video for pupils in Years 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, he talked about the different options for pursuing a career in architecture, resources to check out, what the day-to-day of an architect looks like and background information on the Practice.
Rob exhibited at this careers convention in person last year and talked to pupils and their parents about a career in architecture and publicised work experience opportunities with A’Bear & Ball Architects. Despite not being able to exhibit at a careers convention in person this year, the Practice felt it was important to continue supporting local students, especially during these challenging times.
With a tradition of helping local students who are interested in pursuing a career of architecture, A’Bear & Ball Architects has welcomed numerous work experience students into our office over the years year to shadow our project work and develop their own designs. We haven’t been able to do that this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but we look forward to when we can welcome another work experience student to our office.
Our newest team member Duncan Pritchard, who we welcomed to the practice in March, is a Part 2 qualified Architectural Assistant. He completed his postgraduate studies at Oxford Brookes University. We’re supporting him with his RIBA Part 3 Architectural Practice exams next year and look forward to him becoming a fully qualified Architect in the near future.
Architecture students and the future of the architecture sector
A recent survey by the Royal British Institute for British Architects (RIBA), which was completed by nearly 400 architecture students, revealed 58% of respondents said that their mental health has deteriorated due to the COVID-19 crisis. Job roles have naturally been directly impacted by the pandemic, and many students are concerned about their future. The architecture and construction sectors are facing a range of challenges because of the pandemic, lockdown restrictions and the recession. However, the future is looking brighter.
The latest RIBA Future Workload Index shows there has been a growth in architects’ workloads, which is being driven by optimism about private housing. Homeowners are also increasingly demanding properties that better support their new ways of living with many of us spending more time at home and working remotely. In another survey by RIBA, 70% of respondents stated they believe the design of their home has affected their mental well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of this, there is a strong demand for home transformations and self-building.
Helpful resources for students interested in architecture
RIBA has a range of helpful resources for students interested in studying architecture and pursuing a career as an architect. The institute’s website has guides on how to become an architect and how to study architecture, including advice on where to study. There are also numerous upcoming events and opportunities for architecture students and early career professionals.
If you or someone you know is interested in pursuing a career in architecture and has any questions, please email studio@abear-ball.co.uk and we will be happy to offer any advice and information.