This webinar is about what it takes to make change happen – starting with the decisions you make about the value of the work you do, applying that into your architecture practice, and then rippling out the benefits of having a solid business model to others in the profession. It all seems like small steps, but the result is disruption, literally tearing down the ways we do and make architecture.

Pride Road Franchise – with its innovative architecture practice-in-a-box concept – is disrupting the domestic market by making architecture accessible and affordable to homeowners. The result even during uncertain economic times, is sustainable and growing businesses.

Founder Lisa Raynes got started in business by necessity after being made redundant for the second time as her family grew. 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.

Simone de Gale takes entrepreneurship seriously. Starting her practice as soon as she completed Part 2’s, she now has a team of 7 people at her London office. Recently re-elected to the RIBA National Council, she’s passionate that architects maximise their full value and although this is something which can be learnt once qualified, feels strongly earlier training is vital to improving dynamics of power in the construction industry.

Simone is a Chartered Architect, qualifying at the Architectural Association in London, UK. Her grandfather was an Architect, and her family work in construction in London. At 10 years old, Simone knew she would become an architect and today, she is the driving force behind Simone de Gale Architects (SGA), continuing to shape an innovative path to advance architectural form and function throughout London and Internationally. Winner of ‘Architect of the Year’ 2017’s Women in Construction Awards UK, Simone was invited as one of the keynote speakers at 2017’s Stephen Lawrence Annual Memorial Lecture, for whom she is also a board advisor, and now continues to give Keynote speeches at highly regarded Architectural Forums in the UK and abroad. Simone was appointed RIBA Chairwoman Audit and Oversight Committee UK in 2018 and was in August 2020 re-elected to RIBA Council for an extended three-year tenure.

The session will be recorded on Zoom and is open to guests. To maintain best bandwidth, please can you stop your video when you enter the webinar.

Where possible, questions will be taken from guests during the session using the chat function.