Ian Burnett: qualified architect
Can you tell us about what you do now?
I work as an architect in south Manchester. I worked at a medium-sized practice in the city (designing high-rise residential & office buildings etc) and have since set up my own company designing for domestic clients locally (one-off houses, extensions, loft conversations etc.).
What do you enjoy about it?
What I enjoy about working in architecture (and more broadly construction) is I get to solve problems on a daily basis. Each day is different. Sometimes you work alone, sometimes as a team, but always searching for creative answers to find workable solutions. It’s a very varied skill set which you can apply to many things - plus designing each day can be exciting, especially when you see a finished building constructed. A happy client can be very satisfying. But of course like any job, there are good days and bad days - you just have to hang on to your passion for the role even through the tough times.
How did you get there?
I studied Art, Graphics and Geography at A-Level, the results of which got me a place at Manchester School of Architecture (shared across the University of Manchester & Manchester Metropolitan University). Once at uni, you study three years to gain your Bachelor in Architecture (BArch) - this is called your Part 1. Then you take a year (or more) in industry working for an architect, then back to uni (doesn’t have to be the same as your Part 1) where you study for a further two years (5th & 6th year) to gain your Masters in Architecture (MArch) - this is called your Part 2. Then you have an end of year exhibition and hopefully get offered a job as a Part 2 Graduate working for an architect - if not you can always apply for vacancies which is the majority of students. You then work as an architect for at least two years to gain sufficient experience to sit your Part 3 exams. These are your professional exams which are followed by an interview with the RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) who will assess if you are ready to pass and therefore officially call yourself an ‘Architect’ - which is a protected term by law. If you pass, then you can legally practise as an architect and pay yearly fees to the Architects Registration Board (ARB) for the privilege… then you get a pay rise.
What advice would you give to your younger self ?
Not to be too hard on yourself. Take courage and be confident. You’re always learning and mistakes happen - It’s how you respond to those mistakes which is what matters. Listen more. There is no such thing as asking a stupid question - ask as many as you can. Anyone who scoffs at you asking a question, probably doesn’t know the answer themselves.
What is something that one of your teachers did that you remember to this day?
Nothing in particular, but you remember the good ones who got the best out of their students.
What are your strongest memories of school?
Being out on the playing fields when the summers were hot. School was always better when the sun was out.
What were your favourite subjects?
Art & Graphics.
If you could go back, what is something that you would do differently?
I would have focused more in language classes (French/German). Definitely taken one at AS/A Level - probably French. I believe that’s a skill which is really valuable - I’d love to be able to speak another language. It gets harder to learn as you get older, plus takes time (you don’t have) and costs money (you don’t have) to do it later down the line so it's worth knuckling down in those classes I would say.
What is your proudest moment from Heathfield?
Doing better than my predicted grades in my GCSEs.
What is your proudest moment from any point in your life?
Marrying my wife. The birth of my son, and learning/trying to be a good dad. Becoming an architect.
Have you got any regrets about your journey so far?
Not really. I wish I’d joined the ski society at uni - that looked a lot of fun from the outside! It’s not really a regret, but I wished I had asked more questions earlier in my career - it’s sometimes best to swallow your pride and get to the answer quicker through asking someone who knows.
What advice would you give to students about their next steps and ambitions?
Take the rough with the smooth. Learn to accept as quickly as you can, to allow yourself to adapt to whatever is in front of you. Learn to trust your gut with big decisions. Some decisions you’ll look back later down the line and realise the enormity of them then - but it’s important to not overthink them at the time of making them (I still live in Manchester after moving there at the age of 18 straight after A-Levels for example). Sitting on a decision can hold you back - best to keep moving towards your eventual goal. The path isn't always linear - trust and believe in yourself that you’ll get to the place you want to be in the end whatever the route. Never give up. Finally - travel as much as you can.
I work as an architect in south Manchester. I worked at a medium-sized practice in the city (designing high-rise residential & office buildings etc) and have since set up my own company designing for domestic clients locally (one-off houses, extensions, loft conversations etc.).
What do you enjoy about it?
What I enjoy about working in architecture (and more broadly construction) is I get to solve problems on a daily basis. Each day is different. Sometimes you work alone, sometimes as a team, but always searching for creative answers to find workable solutions. It’s a very varied skill set which you can apply to many things - plus designing each day can be exciting, especially when you see a finished building constructed. A happy client can be very satisfying. But of course like any job, there are good days and bad days - you just have to hang on to your passion for the role even through the tough times.
How did you get there?
I studied Art, Graphics and Geography at A-Level, the results of which got me a place at Manchester School of Architecture (shared across the University of Manchester & Manchester Metropolitan University). Once at uni, you study three years to gain your Bachelor in Architecture (BArch) - this is called your Part 1. Then you take a year (or more) in industry working for an architect, then back to uni (doesn’t have to be the same as your Part 1) where you study for a further two years (5th & 6th year) to gain your Masters in Architecture (MArch) - this is called your Part 2. Then you have an end of year exhibition and hopefully get offered a job as a Part 2 Graduate working for an architect - if not you can always apply for vacancies which is the majority of students. You then work as an architect for at least two years to gain sufficient experience to sit your Part 3 exams. These are your professional exams which are followed by an interview with the RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) who will assess if you are ready to pass and therefore officially call yourself an ‘Architect’ - which is a protected term by law. If you pass, then you can legally practise as an architect and pay yearly fees to the Architects Registration Board (ARB) for the privilege… then you get a pay rise.
What advice would you give to your younger self ?
Not to be too hard on yourself. Take courage and be confident. You’re always learning and mistakes happen - It’s how you respond to those mistakes which is what matters. Listen more. There is no such thing as asking a stupid question - ask as many as you can. Anyone who scoffs at you asking a question, probably doesn’t know the answer themselves.
What is something that one of your teachers did that you remember to this day?
Nothing in particular, but you remember the good ones who got the best out of their students.
What are your strongest memories of school?
Being out on the playing fields when the summers were hot. School was always better when the sun was out.
What were your favourite subjects?
Art & Graphics.
If you could go back, what is something that you would do differently?
I would have focused more in language classes (French/German). Definitely taken one at AS/A Level - probably French. I believe that’s a skill which is really valuable - I’d love to be able to speak another language. It gets harder to learn as you get older, plus takes time (you don’t have) and costs money (you don’t have) to do it later down the line so it's worth knuckling down in those classes I would say.
What is your proudest moment from Heathfield?
Doing better than my predicted grades in my GCSEs.
What is your proudest moment from any point in your life?
Marrying my wife. The birth of my son, and learning/trying to be a good dad. Becoming an architect.
Have you got any regrets about your journey so far?
Not really. I wish I’d joined the ski society at uni - that looked a lot of fun from the outside! It’s not really a regret, but I wished I had asked more questions earlier in my career - it’s sometimes best to swallow your pride and get to the answer quicker through asking someone who knows.
What advice would you give to students about their next steps and ambitions?
Take the rough with the smooth. Learn to accept as quickly as you can, to allow yourself to adapt to whatever is in front of you. Learn to trust your gut with big decisions. Some decisions you’ll look back later down the line and realise the enormity of them then - but it’s important to not overthink them at the time of making them (I still live in Manchester after moving there at the age of 18 straight after A-Levels for example). Sitting on a decision can hold you back - best to keep moving towards your eventual goal. The path isn't always linear - trust and believe in yourself that you’ll get to the place you want to be in the end whatever the route. Never give up. Finally - travel as much as you can.
