Architecture in the Den: Becoming an Entrepreneur with Grant Erskine

Lisa Raynes and Grant Erskine both started out in practice in 2010 and are going to reflect on how they became entrepreneurs

While architects inevitably have strong academics by the very nature of their training, the realities of the profession are quite different. This means that architects can do well to up their game, grow their practices quicker, making more money along the way.

This podcast is a chat about the business of architecture – perhaps the most important topic for architecture students entering the profession to be trained in. Definitely the most overlooked topic. Host Lisa Raynes was forced to become an entrepreneur after being made redundant for the second time in 2010. Around the same time her guest architect Grant Erskine also had to go into business for himself. Hear the things they wished they hadn’t had to learn by mistake, and find out what you need to know about running a successful architecture business.

 

Pride Road Franchise grew out of Founder Lisa Raynes’ refusal to accept that there was only one way for a woman to have an architecture career and a family life. She built her practice in the domestic sector, and then invested to turn her business into one that other ambitious architects wanting work/life balance can buy into. She’s had a seat on the RIBA Council (2015-18), been Chair of Women in Property NW and founded Manchester Curious, an urban architecture outreach festival. A franchise can be understood as a business-in-a-box – you are buying the experience, systems and processes of business success and enterprise.

 

https://www.prideroadfranchise.co.uk

 

Grant Erksine describes how he got started on becoming an entrepreneur: “Binman or Junior in Architects Office – It didn’t matter, in 1998 I was out of work and applied for both. A week later, I was making coffees and folding drawings. It was not the plan and certainly not the dream, but it was a job and I enjoyed it – it clicked.

Few years later (and a lot of night classes) I was designing housing schemes for 100s of houses and applying to one of the best schools of Architecture around. The irony – I didn’t know it was a good school. I’d picked Manchester mainly because I’d been a DJ for about 10 years and figured if I didn’t like Uni – I’d live it up in the clubs for a year.

I found University easy, (not because I was super talented, but because I maintained the relentless work ethic from the previous years) and did well. I’d also kept the hand in with work (and maybe a few foreigners…..)

Come end of Part1, I had a several “year out” offers, due to my work experience, one of which was Building Design Partnership (BDP) – I remember saying to my girlfriend (now wife) “you don’t say no to BDP”.

A year later I went back to Uni as normal, kept up 3 days a week at BDP and continued that for the next 2 years (did I mention the relentless work ethic). End of Part2, still with BDP, straight into Part3, sat first exam I could, 7 years and 1 month after starting out - in Autumn 2010, in the depth of the recession.

I qualified, was made redundant and launched my own practice all in Oct 2010 at the age of 30 and a few months. That was certainly not the plan. Nobody was hiring – It was a “do it or get out of the game” moment. And this is where the education really started…..”