SPG Guide to Practice: Everything you always wanted to know about Practice (but were afraid to ask)

Ewen Miller MD CalderPeelFGP, Colin Fox MD Randfield Associates and Roger Burton MD nvirohaus

Chaired by Lisa Raynes MD Raynes Architecture talk about buying, selling and growing an architectural practice.

With an undisclosed amount of years in practice they will share their experience:

  • the highs and lows of recruiting
  • the biggest mistakes
  • the best investments
  • the Advantages and disadvantages of partnerships
  • setting up an office of an established brand
  • going it alone.
We'll start with a 6 minute talk by each and then we will open the floor for questions.

'When I started on my own Brian Randfield offered me two days a week and the use of the office space. He said “These two days means you can afford bread, you get some work for the Jam.” That was 1986 and there is not much “jam” about. You have to want to do it and you need back up. 80 hour a week and little thanks but the buzz of that finished job that the client loves makes it all worth while.'  Colin Fox MD Randfield Associates

Ewen Miller is managing director of CalderpeelFGP architectural practice in in Altrincham. He has steered the practice through three mergers, the last (Fallows Gowen Partnership) in September of this year, an administration process which took the business from 70 to 25 staff, the opening of new offices in Poole, Deeside and Surrey, the shutting of two offices in Poole and Deeside, two successful PFI equity bids,  three unsuccessful PFI equity bids, the creation of a construction company and the establishment of a small development firm. All this over the last three years during which time Ewen has also just completed two years as president of the Manchester Society of Architects.

Roger Burton is an architect and urban designer with over three decades experience directing large and small practices.  He has recently established a new business, nvirohaus, to focus low carbon design and sustainability.  He is the current Chair of Practice for RIBA North West.
Ewen Miller said

'Thanks for the invitation Lisa, it was an honour to be asked, especially with Roger and Colin as fellow panellists. It was a successfully run event and I thought surprisingly well attended. I have had a number of positive messages since and some direct questions about practice issues so we obviously touched on a subject that generates a lot of interest. '
Eventbrite - SPG guide to Practice