As we have seen over the last few days a career in architecture is built on education, experience, and mentorship—and for our apprentices, each day is a balance of all three. Whether they’re in university lectures, collaborating with mentors, working remotely, or on-site seeing their work take shape, their apprenticeship experience is grounded in the realities of the profession.
For Day 5 of National Apprenticeship Week, we’re taking a look at a day in the life of an architectural apprentice, exploring how they learn, work, and develop their skills across different environments.
The Apprentice Experience:
At University 🎓 – Barbara spends part of her week at Birmingham City University, with lectures, design discussions, and developing her academic projects. The structured study time helps her build the technical and creative knowledge that supports her work in practice.
With a Mentor 🤝 – Harvey works closely with his mentor, Ben, in dedicated mentoring sessions. Whether discussing project challenges, career progression, or coursework, these sessions provide valuable guidance and real-world insight.
On-Site Experience 👷♀️ – Bethany gains hands-on experience of how projects transition on-site and the daily work required to manage delivery. Being involved in site work benefits her real-world knowledge of construction methods, problem-solving in real time, and coordination with contractors.
Hybrid & Remote Working 🏡 – Katy takes advantage of our hybrid working policy, balancing her university and practice commitments in a way that best supports her learning. The flexibility allows her to manage deadlines, attend lectures, and focus on project work while still being fully engaged with both her studies and practice.
Final Thoughts:
From lectures to live projects, mentoring to meetings, apprentices juggle multiple responsibilities, gaining the skills they need to become fully qualified architects. The combination of university learning, project-based experience, and one-on-one mentorship along with the personal and financial benefits makes the apprenticeship route a powerful way for some to develop into qualified architects.
📸 Scroll through the images to see what a day in the life of an apprentice looks like!
