Have you ever worked in London? If not, have you ever considered making the move?
If you are currently working in London we’re sure you know most of the best bits but are you maximising this location for your career?
In the realm of Architecture and Interior Design, working in London can open up a whole new world of opportunities. You could say that London is the main hub for all three of these industries. It’s a city where there is the most demand for candidates and a city where the biggest Architecture and Interior Design projects happen.
At FRAME Recruitment, a large percentage of our clients are based in London and are usually looking to hire candidates who either live in London or who can easily commute. Many people say that if you are someone with the aspirations to work on the most famous projects, London is where you will need to be. Of course, there are practices that are working on exciting and career-fulfilling projects all over the country, but it is clear that London is a great location for any Architect or Interior Designer to be.
The FRAME team are always working on placing candidates in and around the city of London and we have a huge network of both clients and candidates in the area. Many of the candidates we place into these roles love working in London, and for many of those that aren’t, we receive a lot of questions about what it’s like to work there.
If you are looking to explore your career options or have been thinking about making the move for a while, here are some key things to consider:
Job opportunities
As the capital of the UK, it is no secret that London attracts people from all over the world who head to London in search of their ‘dream job’. Most global companies are headquartered in London and this is no different for the industries FRAME specialise in.
For Architects and Designers, with many boutique and larger practices based in London, at FRAME Recruitment we know there are some fantastic job opportunities for candidates to apply to.
Career progression
From the FRAME Recruitment Architecture and Interior Design Salary Survey and we uncovered that career development was one of the most important factors for employees.
Employers can no longer entice candidates with just salary alone and more people would rather choose a role based on career progression over salary. Cleary individuals working in all three of these industries are highly ambitious, and if you consider yourself to align with this, would you move to London to progress in your career?
For many individuals, even if they are happy in their current roles, if there is no opportunity to progress or clear career path they will look elsewhere to find a new role.
If you want to climb the career ladder and focus on accelerating your career, London is one of the best places you can be. As home to some of the largest companies in the world, any aspiring and ambitious individual looking to make the next move in their career should definitely consider a move to London.
Training and Education
Students from all over the world head to London for its fantastic training and education opportunities. As previously mentioned it is where the main industry Institutes are based, many of which run courses that you can enrol on if you want to expand your industry knowledge outside of work. This is also a great way to meet new people and grow your network.
For architects, it is definitely worth checking out RIBA which offers creative workshops for professionals of all ages and abilities.
Alternatively, if you are an Interior Designer, places such as the British Institute of Interior Design and the British Academy of Interior Design, hold courses, workshops, masterclasses, speaking opportunities and professional guidance for people who want to upskill themselves, expand their knowledge or learn more about the latest industry trends.
Events
You only have to look online to find hundreds of events in and around London. In fact, there is so much going on, that you’ll find it hard to choose which events to attend.
Especially for Architects and Interior Designers, there are so many events on offer and working in London will provide you with numerous opportunities to visit exhibitions, open nights and industry festivals.
Don’t forget all the industry institutions and academies are in London and regularly hold events for industry professionals.
For instance, the London Festival of Architecture and the Interior Design Review Day.
Networking
Any industry professional will find the networking opportunities in London fantastic. There are always networking opportunities everywhere. Whether you meet someone in a bar or at an event, there is always an opportunity to meet new people.
Most of the networking opportunities are free and a great way to expand your network and meet up with people with the same interests. No matter what industry you are in it is crucial to keep in touch with people because you never know what you might need to reach out to them. Networking is also a good way to ensure you are keeping updated with the latest industry trends and staying relevant.
So, if you are looking to meet new people, build your career and learn from the key players in your industry you will love London.
Culture
The London culture is booming and it is said to be the ‘cultural capital of the world’. This is hardly surprising as everywhere you look there is something going on.
As an Architect or Interior Designer, you’ll find it hard not to appreciate the culture London has to offer. As a city that is home to some of the most famous buildings in the world, there is so much to see and do. Even on a budget, you will not get bored of the sights and attractions the city has to offer. Remember, London attracts millions of tourists to see its famous landmarks and immerse themselves in the city’s culture.
If you have a passion for art and design you will not be disappointed with the museums, art galleries and exhibitions (most of which are free) that run throughout the year. There is something for everyone and you’ll want to see it all.
London weighting on salaries
Many people are put off moving to London due to the expensive cost of living. However, working in London usually means you will receive a higher salary due to London weighting. So, if this is one of the factors that is putting you off relocating, remember you are likely to be paid more to balance out the more expensive living costs. Additionally, for Architects and Interior Designers, there is a huge demand for candidates and so the salaries tend to be higher compared to those out of London.
More travel options
Are you fed up with sitting in traffic every day, commuting long distances and paying for parking? Living in London means you have a lot more travel options, such as walking, cycling, taking the bus or getting the over-ground/tube. A great benefit of this is that most of London’s transport options operate from the early hours until late at night, making it easy to get around and ideal if you need to be somewhere early or stay later at work.
Additionally, many businesses offer cycle to work schemes and travel loans. Not to mention you’ll save yourself a fortune on fuel prices and you won’t have the added expense of a car.
