National Apprenticeship Week

Celebrating its 18th year running, National Apprenticeship Week 2025 comes at a critical time, as we face future government funding for such built environment apprenticeships at risk of being withdrawn.

As a practice that helped establish the Architect Degree Apprenticeship at Northumbria University at its outset, we continue to support apprentices who are gaining full-time, practical experience in architecture while studying.

It feels more important than ever to highlight the value of apprenticeships in architecture.

The Architect Degree Apprenticeship at Northumbria University is a route to qualification which sees students complete their master’s degree part-time over three years and then undertake their professional examinations in the fourth, alongside working in-practice throughout this time. The apprenticeship is an opportunity to ensure that architectural education is more inclusive and progressive. Some year groups have even seen degree apprentices outnumber those taking the traditional master's route at Northumbria.

Below, our current apprentices (Daniel: second year; Fraser, Ken, Nicoleta: third year; Adam: fourth year) share their experiences.

“During my year out after undergraduate study, I quickly realised how much I was learning through exposure to practice working. This experience added depth and technical resolution to my university work. My academic studies then pushed my design thinking further, enhancing my approach in-practice. The apprenticeship has undoubtedly supercharged my learning and journey to becoming an architect.”

As part of his university work, Daniel has been developing The LANDFORM Rehabilitation Centre, which integrates therapeutic spaces within the natural landscape of Big Waters Country Park, creating a welcoming setting that fosters healing and well-being through organic architecture and connection to nature.

“Working on sports and masterplanning projects at university and the practice has helped me develop my skills, with knowledge and experience feeding into each other. The experience I’ve gained in-practice has improved my technical understanding and project management skills, which has made my university work more grounded and refined.”

Fraser has worked and collaborated with key stakeholders on various sports facilities and masterplan designs across Europe and the Middle East.

“What has proven invaluable is the opportunity to work continuously whilst advancing my academic learning. This has allowed me to bring practicality into academic and conceptual design work whilst working on projects that have tangible impact. Working in-practice has helped me develop my network, teamworking skills and responsibilities at a much earlier stage of a career.”

Ken has worked on projects such as Ladbroke Grove, contributing placemaking efforts, focusing on townscape analysis and optimising building layouts ranging from masterplan to individual building scale.

“I chose the apprenticeship for the valuable experience it provides, as the professional environment offers great opportunities and enables early career development. Additionally, the financial stability it offers is a significant advantage, allowing me to remain financially independent while continuing my studies.”

Nicoleta worked on Teeside University Bios laboratories facility from the concept stage, informing and graphically communicating the design during stage 3. During stage 4, she worked closely with the technical team to prepare robust pricing and construction information.

“An apprenticeship gives you the opportunity to combine the specialist knowledge from your workplace with the freedom of academic work, which hopefully results in much richer and grounded university projects, and research which will inform your practice.”

During the final year of his apprenticeship, Adam has been actively involved in the Riga Waterfront masterplan team at FaulknerBrowns, further collaborating with local architects to support the scheme’s delivery.

Apprenticeships offer a more accessible route into the field, where sponsors can pay university fees whilst the apprentice continues to earn a wage. Critically, this opens the profession up to those who might not have considered qualifying traditionally, encouraging greater diversity within the industry.

Apprenticeships evidently also bring diverse thought to architecture, with students learning to design by working out real-life solutions on real-life projects.

For more information, guidance and support on apprenticeships, visit: https://naw.appawards.co.uk