About Hawkins\Brown

In the last year Hawkins\Brown has invested over £300,000 into staff training and study. They have a commitment to both the professional and personal development of all of their staff through increasing their knowledge, skills and confidence to provide high quality architectural services and a supportive learning environment. They operate a training schedule that covers both technical skills such as programming and softer skills such as management training. They also allocate a budget to softer non-work specific skills such as life drawing. They are committed to the on-going development of their staff and offer educational sponsorship up to £3000 and paid study leave days for staff who wish to qualify as an Architect or further their studies in their chosen field as an example marketing or accounts. In addition, Hawkins/Brown understand and support staff who wish to undertake further higher education such as a Master’s degree. Employees can apply for and be eligible for educational funding and paid study days. In additional to external training and study Hawkins\Brown operate an extensive CPD and Lecture program. Every week an external person in the field of design comes to the office to speak about their work and processes. This is not exclusive to Architecture and they have had many artists, graphic designers and design specialists come to speak to an employee. They also operate technical CPD’s where staff or external people with specific skills such as finance, model making and contract set up provide insight and understanding into their work. These sessions allow staff to ask questions as well as build and expand on contacts.

Hawkins/Brown are RIBA Architecture Ambassadors. This program will give young people the opportunity to learn, engage and become more aware of issues around design and the built environment. Linking into their curriculum, the staff run programs in schools which sees students plan and deliver a design. The company’s engagement in the local community and education sector is constantly expanding. Partners regularly give presentation to schools through various charities and connections. They have staff engaged with the Queen Mary Summer School and other similar organisations teaching students from underprivileged schools. Hawkins/Brown are heavily involved in the higher education sector with a number of staff regularly giving lectures, undertaking crits and reviewing students work. Every year they have over 8 students from a range of different backgrounds come and complete 1-2 weeks work experience with them. Feedback from students was very positive: ‘I just wanted to email and say how much I enjoyed experiencing two weeks at Hawkins\Brown. Thank you for all the time you put into it even though you had lots of other things to do, and for making it as enjoyable for me as possible”.

Annually the Studio organises trips to a European City where £500 is paid towards flights, accommodation and food for each employee. This year staff had the option of going to Oslo, Lisbon. Arhaus, Eindhoven, Nantes and Rotterdam. In groups of 25 staff visit and explore various cities, reviewing architecture for the purpose of research and team building. The trips are led by a Partner and made up of a mix of people who don’t normally work each other. The days include waking tours, visit to other architectural practice and cycle tours. While evenings are a time for everyone to socialise over dinner. It is said that Studio Trips are a highlight for staff and a calendar event much anticipated. Upon return staff are encouraged to share photos and present learning’s from the trips to the wider studio.