RE—SET—GO: Accessible, hands-on, paid workplace experience and mentoring

29 October 2021

Despite the built environment’s influence on our everyday lives, women and Black, Asian and multi ethnic groups are still under-represented in the professions that shape it.

We want to help correct the bias in who gets to shape the cities we live and work in. We know that much more needs to be done to create opportunities in architectural practice, which has a poor track record when it comes to wider participation and diversity.

We Made That has, in collaboration with two other female-led architectural practices based in south London; IF-DO and Gort Scott, on programme leadership and the London Practice Forum, launched a pioneering initiative with a mission to diversify the architecture industry.

RE—SET—GO will make space for excluded voices and pilot ways to build more progressive and representative architectural communities.

The profession has been growing faster than any other creative industry in London but structural issues and a poor track record persists and results in a lack of diversity within the industry. Only 7% of all registered architects are people from BAME backgrounds, 37% of all architect jobs in London are held by women and 90% of jobs in the creative economy were done by people in more advantaged socioeconomic groups.

Saturday Club Trust ‘masterclass' on urban planning streets and spaces © Karl Hopkinson

“It’s indisputable that greater diversity and representation within the architecture sector benefits everybody... If we want to be serious about promoting diversity and inclusion within the architecture profession, we as industry professionals need to be proactive in creating pathways and opportunities for access into the sector for people from lower-income and underrepresented backgrounds.”

Nisha Kurian, Associate, We Made That

RE—SET—GO has secured support funding from Stride, who campaign to build networks that inspire imaginations, encourage collaboration and the exchange of knowledge. Backed by the London Boroughs of Lambeth, Lewisham, Southwark and Wandsworth, the £85,000 pilot programme launched in November 2020 and runs for one year. Over this time it is expected to provide more than 150 individuals from under-represented backgrounds in these boroughs the experience, skills and connections to prepare for employment in architecture practice.

A number of activities will operate over this pilot year, including paid work experience; participative workshops; knowledge exchange events; and 1-to-1 mentoring sessions to support future generations of architects, designers and architecture practices.

RE—SET—GO zine making workshop with Afterparti

“As employers, we have the tools to directly address the structural issues of lack of diversity within the industry. Under-represented individuals setting out on a career path in the architecture profession can benefit from the experience and support that this programme can offer. It is this drive for action that has motivated us to develop the RE—SET—GO initiative with the support of Stride.”

Holly Lewis, Co-founding Partner, We Made That

Get involved here: re-set-go.xyz