HAVING been awarded a Silver Investors in People accreditation last year, GSSArchitecture are continuing their impressive commitment to training and encouraging the future faces of architecture through various company initiatives.
Apprenticeships remain a key focus across all industries, none more so than in construction and, with this in mind, GSS are ensuring that they are actively doing their bit to promote up and coming talent within the sector.
As a national practice of chartered architects, lead consultants, quantity surveyors and principal designers, GSSArchitecture specialises in providing an all-encompassing solution for clients. GSS believes that its staff are the greatest contributors to its success and underpin its ability to deliver its goal: to produce creative design which provides cost-effective results that exceed clients’ expectations.
One example of GSS’s commitment to investing in the future generation is Shannon Langley. Always interested in design, Shannon began her architectural journey in September 2012, studying Architecture at Northumbria University. Shannon graduated in July 2015 and secured a Part 1 placement with a multi-disciplinary practice in North Tyneside where she was for two years, before joining GSS in August 2017. Having gained invaluable professional experience, Shannon has now returned to Northumbria University to take part in the brand new Architect Degree Apprenticeship, with the support of GSSArchitecture. Recently approved by the RIBA and ARB, this alternative part-time route combines Part II and Part III into a four-year course, meaning that upon completion of the course Shannon will be a chartered architect. Northumbria University was the first university in the UK to be approved to deliver this apprenticeship, with Shannon being one of the first to undertake the apprenticeship.
As an official sponsor of the Leeds Beckett University Built Environment & Engineering Society (BEEsoc), GSSArchitecture works closely with the students to provide an insight into the built environment industry. Chelsea Holgate is a Trainee Architectural Technologist at the Harrogate office, studying for her BSc (Hons) at Leeds Beckett University through GSS’s training sponsorship programme, and has been named as the Vice President of BEEsoc for the 2018/19 academic year.
As a recognised Investor in People, GSS continues to offer educational and training opportunities to all staff. A total of 12 members of staff are currently undertaking year-out placements, studying part-time to become fully qualified or on apprenticeship schemes or work experience, working within architecture, architectural technology, quantity surveying, project management, graphics design, ICT and business administration.
If you are interested in joining the forward-thinking team at GSSArchitecture visit the Careers Page of the website – www.gssarchitecture.com – to see current vacancies across all offices – www.gssarchitecture.com