Built By Us – looking back at 2018
It’s been a fantastic year for Built By Us. We’ve spent 2018 building our three programmes, strengthening our networks and making a real impact on our industry. Here’s a look back at what we’ve been up to this year.
Developing our programmes
This year we launched the 6th annual FLUID mentoring programme, welcoming the biggest cohort of mentees since the programme began.
2018 has also seen two fantastic FLUID social events and a successful launch party, bringing together our inspiring cohorts to share advice and top tips, grow their networks and get to know each other. We’ve helped our mentors and mentees tell their stories and met some really inspirational people – all of whom are helping us to build a truly diverse workforce. As our 2018/19 cohort start their mentoring journeys, we’re planning a host of exciting events to make next year even better than before!
We also begun to develop our Shape programme, dedicated to helping entrepreneurs in built environment industries to create their own businesses.
Watch this space for more information on applying for the next cohort in the Summer of 2019.
Supporting industry events
2018 has been a busy year for BBU! Founder Danna Walker has represented BBU at a host of prestigious industry events, meeting some outstanding role models and sharing the BBU journey with our industry.
There was the first Women in Construction Summit in March, where Danna shared her personal story and joined leading women in the industry as they discussed how best to make the business case for gender diversity.
During Pride Month, BBU also spoke at Architecture LGBT+’s Pride Breakfast at the RIBA in London, chairing a discussion on LGBT+ issues in the industry. In October, the Ethnicity in Leadership Summit took place, exploring issues of diversity in leadership roles.
Danna also appeared on national radio, taking part in the BBC Radio 4 series Seriously…, exploring the architecture of jails and why we persist in using a 250-year-old design for these establishments.
Most recently, the National Association of Women in Construction celebrated it’s 15th year anniversary with its excellent Annual Conference. Danna took part in a panel discussion on ‘Women Shaping the Industry’, chaired by Construction News’ Lucy Alderson. She joined fellow panellists Annie Bowman (Hoydens) and Cheryl Pilliner-Reeves (Director of PR Architect and Founder of ArchiMake).
It’s been a non-stop year full of fascinating stories, important events and positive change. 2019 will see BBU participating in even more industry events to make sure our story reaches as many people as possible.
Inspirational people
BBU wouldn’t exist without the inspirational individuals that support its programmes. This year, we began to tell the stories of our mentors and mentees, to showcase the benefits of helping others to reach their potential. We met Yemi, Tara, Baldeep and Rob, who shared their stories with us and helped us understand what it means to be part of BBU.
We also heard from some unique people working in the sector to find out how they got to where they are today. We met Shade Abdul, an Architect with her own practice, Building Surveyor Emmanuel Owusu, and David Ogunmuyiwa, Architect at ArchitectureDoingPlace and London Mayor's Design Advocate.
We’d love to hear your story too – please get in touch if you’d like to share your journey with us.