Any people working as architects?

paroxysm
New Member



Joined: 05 Mar 2008
Posts: 1

Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 8:31 pm

 

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I am currently completing my undergrad in architecture in Canada and plan to move to the UK after I graduate. I will be working for a year or two and then taking my masters in the UK. Is there anyone who can give me any insight into the profession in the UK? What is the average pay range for level 1? How challenging is it to get a job? We (my husband and I) would like to be in Scotland but are really willing to be anywhere in England or Scotland, are there area better than others?

I am not worried about a visa as we have everything prepared to apply for an ancestry visa.

Any advice to do with the move or the profession would be appreciated!

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Steven
CanuckAbroad VIP



Joined: 28 Sep 2007
Posts: 1368
Location: Calgary

Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 9:28 am

 

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I used to work for a construction company in the UK, part of my job was assessing the IT skills of architects that we hired.

Pay level obviously varies on your skill level, where you live and what exactly it is you're designing and what part of it you're responsible for. Plus of course you can work independently as many architects do.

We did have one guy from New Zealand for awhile, he told me made more designing semi-detached houses and site plans in the Midlands than he did working on major projects in New Zealand.

The housing market is depressed at the moment because of the high interest rates, but they're starting to come down and given the rapid rise in the population and the shortage of land, there will doubtless be huge re-development going forward.

The question is are you interested in designing blocks of flats for infill? It's pretty dull.

The population of Scotland is dropping as people move south to make more money. I have no doubt you could make money in Scotland but it's not the best choice really.
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Steve.

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