A typical day for me is really variable ….design crits, sourcing new work, admin/finance aspects and of course doing architecture itself, including client and design team meetings, fee proposals and ultimately seeing the delivery on site which is the most rewarding part for all us Architects.

I work on all sorts of projects from branding to planning documents, but the Reading illustrative map was definitely a career defining moment for me here! I always knew that when I joined, illustration was something new that I could bring to the team but I never imagined it would kick off so quickly!

I was always drawn to the idea of working as part of a multidisciplinary team alongside like-minded professionals where planning and design work seamlessly to create functional and sustainable environments.

I graduated in July 2014 after studying Geography at Durham University, the following October I started here! It’s been a good place to start my career, everyone is so supportive and always there if you have any questions or need any help. I work closely with my immediate team who are a fantastic support network but I have also had the opportunity to work with other planners and designers across the entire Practice.

Within six months of joining I had worked with Planners, Architects and Landscape Architects. This approach is quite different from previous roles and has really helped with my integration, but also gains good results for our clients. I’m particularly interested in the delivery of large scale new settlements so it’s great to be working on these along with a variety of other projects.

Before joining Barton Willmore in 2003 I’d had three jobs in three years, I wondered if I’d chosen the right career. That was 14 years ago. At that time, it hadn’t crossed my mind that I’d be spending the rest of my career here or that I’d end up being a Partner (2013)! I now jointly head up a team of Planners covering the Midlands and further afield.

I've worked here for nine years as an Urban Designer and Masterplanner at our Bristol office, which now has over 50 people. I joined as an Associate and was promoted to a Director in 2012.

I was delighted when Barton Willmore offered me a three-month work experience placement in their Manchester office. Even as an intern, I was given the opportunity to assist and shadow colleagues in a number of high profile projects as well as manage my own smaller scale jobs. After six months I was thrilled to be offered a permanent position as a Graduate Planner, in the following year my responsibilities and workload increased and I was soon promoted to a Planner role before being promoted to Senior Planner in 2016.

I joined Barton Willmore for my year out placement...Eleven years later I’m now a senior architect and have worked alongside a countless number of talented individuals. I was luckily given the opportunity by Barton Willmore to return to university to complete both the Part 2 and Part 3 courses on a part time basis which the Practice also funded. This not only enabled me to return to university but to retain my job and to keep gaining valuable experience alongside academic studies.  

I love the people I work with, both within Barton Willmore and our clients. We often get called upon to deal with the ‘tricky’ projects – which is a great challenge. Since joining I’ve been able to develop my technical knowledge to a level I don’t believe other companies would give me, as well as being given the opportunity to work on strategic projects.

In my view the team structure is pivotal to the success of the company and from a personal perspective, my own enjoyment of the job and projects.