School work experience builds career path in construction for Josh

When Josh Compton undertook a placement with RSK Group company Kendall Kingscott before starting university, little did he know the role it would go on to have in his journey to becoming an architect.

His first experience with the multi-disciplinary construction consultancy took place when he was still at school back in 2013.

Josh said: “I contacted Kendall Kingscott after hearing about it through my father. With a strong creative inclination and a family background in construction, I always knew I wanted to pursue a career in architecture and hoped to gain some experience before starting university.

“During my placement, I spent time working closely with an architect on a design challenge, reviewing technical drawings, and attending a progress meeting for a local housing project. I also shadowed a building surveyor, which offered insight into another aspect of the practice and included several site visits.

“This early exposure provided me with a valuable introduction to both office life and the broader architectural and construction industry, affirming my decision to pursue a career in the built environment.”

As a student at the University of the West of England (UWE), Josh had the opportunity to participate in the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Mentoring Scheme, an initiative led jointly by the institute and the university’s architecture faculty.

Designed to connect chartered professionals in the region with students approaching the end of their undergraduate degrees, the mentoring aims to bridge the gap between academia and professional practice. Participating firms commit to three structured sessions, which offer insight into the realities of the profession. Josh, along with two other students, was allocated a mentor from Kendall Kingscott.

“One of the early sessions involved a site visit to a University of Bristol refurbishment project that our mentor was overseeing. For most students, this is the first experience on a live construction site, and it offered insight into health and safety protocols, the structure and purpose of site progress meetings and how a live site operates.

“The final session was focused on professional development, where we presented draft versions of our portfolios and CVs for constructive feedback and career guidance.”

Following the final session, Josh was invited to an interview with the studio director and one of the team leaders from the business, where he was offered a position as a Part 1 architectural assistant within the Bristol studio’s retail team. He said it was this opportunity that marked the beginning of his professional journey.

Josh added: “It was during my placement year that I began considering the next steps in my academic journey. I realised that returning to a full-time master’s course was not the right route for me so started to explore part-time and hybrid study options at several universities.

“I discussed it with the studio director, and we looked at the newly established Level 7 Architect Apprenticeship programme offered by UWE; the business expressed an interest in sponsoring me should I wish to pursue this route.”

After careful consideration, the opportunity to work in practice while undertaking his academic studies – combining the Part 2 and Part 3 elements of the architectural qualification – emerged as a logical and rewarding path for Josh.

Josh said: “Throughout my apprenticeship, I participated in regular progress meetings with a mentor from both the university and Kendall Kingscott. These sessions provided valuable opportunities for structured feedback on my academic work and professional practice, ensuring continuous monitoring and alignment with the apprenticeship objectives.

“As I gathered evidence to meet the RIBA core principles and work stages, it became clear that broader exposure within the practice was necessary to develop the comprehensive understanding, experience and knowledge required. This led to a transition into the community and living team at Kendall Kingscott, where I have remained since qualifying.”

Josh has been supported in his development over the years by the team at Kendall Kingscott. He said the consistent mentorship and time invested by colleagues have been instrumental in his progress, and he would strongly recommend the apprenticeship route.

Speaking as someone who has been both a mentor and a mentee, Josh said exposure to the field is invaluable: “This exposure is best gained through engaging with professionals to understand their experiences, as well as through direct involvement in project tasks and site visits.

“Above all, I’d advise those early on in their careers to just ask questions and be involved. At its core, architecture is such a broad brush as a professional career; there is something that can apply to every interest.”