Build Studios

Public Relations For Architects
2018-02-08 18:30 - 20:30 (Europe/London) | Build Studios, 203 Westminster Bridge Road,, London, SE1 7FR, United Kingdom
PR for architects is a two-part workshop about public relations in the built environment and how good communication can serve the business of architecture. These key skills are not often taught in architectural schools and so practitioners end up trying to figure things out for themselves, which can leave projects without a home in a competitive media landscape. Bad PR can also lead to problems with client relations and even develop unwanted reputations that can take years to undo.
The first session will establish the fundamental basics of PR in the built environment, including the main communication channels that are available to architects, and will feature a series of successful case studies. Awareness of the market is important and so peers and competitors can be used to help define an approach for particular sectors and design approaches. By the end of the workshop, each participant should have a good understanding of how to communicate their practice and its projects to the outside world.
In the second workshop, the group will work on how to put this into everyday use via press releases and developing good relationships with relevant journalists. There are numerous events, awards and networking opportunities available to help access the industry and so this workshop will provide the building blocks for an adaptable PR strategy for the months and years ahead. It’s important to plan ahead for key opportunities and avoid time-wasting activity at all costs.
About the lecturer:
For the last 10 years Robert Fiehn has worked within the architectural community, publishing books and helping practices communicate both internally and with the outside world, from large globe-trotting offices to small bespoke studios. He believes in the power of design to improve our daily lives through practical and cultural implementation.
Robert has extensive experience working with the press, including print, online and broadcast media across local, national, international, trade and consumer titles. Good communication between stakeholders is essential and therefore Robert practices collaborative PR; he is comfortable working with architects, developers, contractors, private clients, local authorities, cultural organisations and educational institutions to ensure that all parties are represented for their role in any given project.

Winning New Work Through Tenders
2018-01-25 18:30 - 20:30
Winning tenders is not a dark art, and contrary to popular opinion, it’s rarely just on price or about who you know. This is your opportunity to get some insight into the what, why and how, so that you can save time and money and bid successfully.
In this two part course we’ll tackle the three key elements of winning:

where to find out about opportunities
understanding the paperwork and how it’s evaluated
how to show off your company’s skills and experience

You’ll get some tips on how to carry out an effective assessment of the opportunity, saving you countless days of wasted time and resources by not bidding on the wrong projects. You’ll also get a good understanding of what’s going on behind the scenes, see how to structure effective responses to get the maximum points and minimise your reliance on being the cheapest bidder. These sessions are your chance to ask lots of questions and get answers to help you become more successful.
Session one will cover:

When are tenders used?
The types of formats and how they should affect your approach
Public sector v Corporate/Commercial
Finding opportunities in your target sector
Carrying out effective analysis of the opportunity – can you win?
Answering the questions

There will be a small assignment (optional) for you to complete prior to Part Two
Session two will cover:

Evaluation & scoring systems
Pricing v Quality
What buyers want to hear about, including the unwritten requirements
Example questions and writing targeted responses (part 2)
Getting ready to bid

About the lecturer:
Carol Hustler is the Author of upcoming book “WIN IT!: How to write tenders the RIGHT way to gain & retain clients” based on 16 years’ experience of successfully winning a lot of contracts, and using feedback from procurers and buyers as well as many other businesses and bid writers. Through regular training sessions she aims to give business owners, marketing and sales professionals the skills to win tenders so that their companies can grow and become more successful.

How to Manage Staff Progression
2018-01-18 18:30 - 20:30
Architectural practices depend on their talent to originate design and execute projects for clients. This presentation focuses on what practice leaders need to know about staff progression. It will help participants understand how to retain, develop, advance and compensate talent. Participants will also benefit from principles for addressing employee turnover and handling individual leaves of absence.
This program is highly interactive and aims to provide participants with actionable insights to improve their management of staff progression. It is suitable for practice leaders or those charged with people management responsibilities.
About the lecturer:
Innovia is Canada’s leading management consultancy for creative businesses, helping owners develop and implement business strategies to reach the creative and commercial potential of their firms. Innovia’s Principal, Rowley Mossop, is trained in the disciplines of architecture, business, media, and design. Rowley is a Rotman MBA, holds a diploma from the Ontario College of Art and Design, and has a B.E.S. (Architecture) from the University of Waterloo.

Working With: Architects and Lighting Designers
2017-11-30 18:30 - 20:30
The design of a building always involves numerous stakeholders who ultimately contribute in shaping the experience of spaces and places. Therefore, architects need to build positive working relationships with engineers, lighting designers, project managers or suppliers, in order to ensure the positive outcome of a project. Part of MoA’s Working With series of talks, this event will explore the synergy between the architect and the lighting designer, by looking at the example of Maggie’s Yorkshire designed by Heatherwick Studio.
Maggie’s Yorkshire will be a positive and uplifting domestic environment helping patients of St. James’ University Hospital, their families and friends as well as the wider local area. Developed as a collection of large garden vessels, the studio’s design aims to capture the calming experience of being amongst plants and green space to help with the emotional and psychological effect of dealing with cancer.
Rebeca Ramos, Project Leader at Heatherwick Studio and Anna Kharchenkova, Director at Light Bureau will discuss the process of working together, and what impact it has made on the final design of Maggie’s Yorkshire.
The talk will cover:

Lighting as an integral part of the architectural design
The importance of early involvement
Architects & Lighting Designers working together on:

Developing a working relationship
Design collaboration
Decision making

How to Differentiate Your Practice
2017-11-23 18:30 - 20:30
In an increasingly difficult landscape, architects need to find meaningful ways of standing out in the current market. In the current context, purpose driven business models offer a meaningful path forward. Leading business analysts from all over the world are demonstrating that this purpose driven economy is expanding at a dramatic rate, but the architecture profession has not fully yet embraced this concept.
Starting and surviving in today’s world is tough, but the businesses that figure it out have something in common: the pursuit of purpose, alongside the pursuit of profit. Purpose is a valuable tool for attracting and engaging employees, customers, and communities who value a company that does good.
This talk will examine:

What is the purpose driven economy and how it can help you stand out
As practice leaders, how can you connect with your own purpose
How you build your practice not from the ground up, but from the purpose up
How this can change what you do, today

Who is this for?

You lead a practice that could benefit from a purpose-led approach. You want to understand how purpose could benefit your business’ culture, brand or bottom line
You’re on the purpose journey already as a sustainability or social responsibility professional, but want to take these ideas into the core of your company’s strategy

Principles of Cashflow Management
2017-11-07 18:30 - 20:30
Session 1: 7 November 2017
Session 2: 9 November 2017
Time: 6.30-8.30pm
Venue: Build Studios, 203 Westminster Bridge Rd, London SE1 7FP
Lecturer: Rowley Mossop, Innovia Partners
Price: £125 + VAT, concessions £75 + VAT
Cash flow management can indicate oncoming issues and ongoing problems, and drive solutions. Businesses can be topline strong or have steady bottom line profits, but without cash they cannot move forward.
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This interactive workshop will help you understand how to mitigate risk, plan investment, and collect accounts receivable. It will help you understand how to manage cash flow and the relevant insights and performance benchmarks that can inform strategic decisions, unlock value for the company, and increase reward to Directors and Partners. Systems and processes for managing cash that can allow more time for creative projects and business development will also be presented.
To purchase a ticket, please follow the link below:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/principles-of-cashflow-management-tickets-39092564914

Write for Your Website: How to turn what you do into words
2017-10-12 18:30 - 20:30, 2017-10-05 18:30 - 20:30
Session one: 5 October 2017
Session two: 12 October 2017
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Venue: Build Studios, Waterloo
Price: £125 + VAT, concessions £100 + VAT
Lecturer: Juliette Mitchell, Architypal
Getting the text right on your website is crucial if you want your clients to understand what you do. Over the course of two hands-on sessions, you’ll learn new ways to write about your practice, your projects and yourself. By the end of the workshop, you’ll have got the critical elements of your website written and you’ll have the framework and the inspiration to write the rest. And you’ll have learnt the secret of writing – and talking – about what you do.
