Applications open to mentees for 2021 SHAPE mentoring

SHAPE, the innovative built environment mentoring programme which connects business founders with volunteer mentors, is now open to applicants seeking support in 2021.

With mentors drawn from a wide range of backgrounds, experience and expertise the SHAPE programme is designed for those wishing to found businesses and business owners looking for guidance in developing an idea or enterprise. From painting and decorating to design consultancy this programme has been created to support budding and new founders in construction and the built environment.

The programme provides six months of mentoring along with practical bi-monthly workshops to nurture diverse founders and to assist a wide range of business types.  SHAPE is for individuals who are in the process of starting up or within 2 years of start-up and engaged in craft, consultancy or the development of buildings, spaces and places.

Everyone is encouraged to participate as mentors or mentees in the SHAPE programme and particularly women, people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people (LGBT +), and people who face socioeconomic disadvantage, across all ages. The aim in the long-term is to support the development of a more inclusive and representative built environment.

SHAPE mentor Christopher Bradley RIBA applied for the 2020 SHAPE programme after mentoring a student at his practice, CTMB Works. “He was having great difficulty transitioning from undergraduate studies to Part II. The time that we spent together was very rewarding and I got a lot out of it. It made me very happy when he was accepted on to the Part II course and it made me realise just how much information I had that I wasn’t using!”

Before becoming an architect, Christopher had run a number of micro-enterprises which included marketing theatres and a record shop, so when he heard about SHAPE it got him thinking that maybe he could help people who were starting out in business as he himself “had experienced any number of ways in which things could go wrong!”

He says of his mentee Stephanie Edwards (Architect & Urban Designer) who, with business partner James (product designer) founded Urban Symbiotics in 2018, that it was “super interesting and exciting to be invited to chip in and especially so because Stephanie has enjoyed a number of successes in the last year as the business has really taken off.”

He goes on “I can honestly say that I’ve absorbed lots of business books about how to start, run and grow a business, and I’ve lots of thoughts about running an architecture practice and I believe that all human to human business interaction brings out an underlying layer of intuition. It’s about gut feeling.”

This is something that Stephanie picked up on with Chris’s help. “One of the great things about working with Chris is that it’s been more like a collaboration.  I’ve been able to talk to him about things that haven’t sat right with me and a few months down the line he has reminded me of those gut feelings that I expressed and I’ve realised how important it is to trust your intuition. That kind of reassurance and encouragement is so valuable when you’re in the moment.  It gives you time to step away and get a different perspective. It’s the difference between what keeps you up at night and what lets you sleep.

Chris has been a great sounding board and his experience has allowed me to learn from him. When I applied to be on the SHAPE programme and was asked to describe my ideal mentor, I essentially described Danna Walker! Six months down the line I can honestly say that my experience of the SHAPE programme has been fantastic and having a mentor in Chris who is non-judgemental, non-hierarchical, with a wonderful demeanour, has given me time to breathe when business has been hectic. It’s allowed me to grow the business and it’s allowed me to grow professionally. I also want to mention the workshops, which have continued, despite Covid, and have given me insights into other businesses where I’ve picked up tips. All that’s left for me to say is a massive thank you!”

 To apply to be part of the SHAPE Programme 2021 please visit the SHAPE page.