Last week, HUT founder and Director of Build the Way, Andrew Whiting and Build The Way C.I.C trainee, Jamila Saha had the pleasure of talking to friends, colleagues and industry professionals at the RIBA London Regional Awards 2024.
Jamila and her Build the Way colleagues, were presented with certificates honouring their contribution to the initiative and demonstrating that a more equitable route into a historically inaccessible profession is possible.
What is Build the Way?
Build the Way is an innovative 9-month traineeship for young people interested in understanding more about design, architecture, and how our cities are made. The aim is to make space for young people with a passion to get involved in architecture - specifically those that might not otherwise have the opportunity
Working with our friends at GPAD l, Morrow + Lorraine and shedkm, the programme has been designed to create a more equitable and accessible route into the architecture profession.
As our cities are defined by the diverse wonderful people that live, work and play in them, so why are they so under-represented in both architecture and other professions shaping our built environment?
Build the Way challenges the status quo.
Key to the programme is that trainees are paid a pro rata of the London Living Wage, with funding from various sources including businesses within the Construction Industry, the RIBA, Local Authority Section 106 money, and the participating practices.
The trainees work in each practice 4 days a week, and earn a pro-rata of the London Living Wage. The 5th day is spent either on a “day in the life” with one of BTW’s partners, or at the London School of Architecture. Here, the trainees work on an EPQ (worth 28 ucas points) helping to support any application to university.
Why get involved?
It’s refreshing to be part of a network of practices sharing the same values. We get to become agents of change and bring real Social Value into our studios.
What does the future hold?
We hope that we all share the view that our cities should be made by just as diverse a group of people as live in them. We need programmes like Build the Way to help provide both opportunity and support so that this can happen.
We are looking to double our funding, the number of participating practices and trainees each year to provide this opportunity to an increasing number of young people.
Lots more information on our website http://buildtheway.co.uk