Future Skills Think Tank

This project is a partnership led by the London School of Architecture (LSA) in close collaboration with the London Borough of Hackney and University College of Estate Management.

Photo: Elias Mallo Tardiveau

Since launching in July 2024, the Future Skills Think Tank (FSTT) has been exploring what a radical change in foundational built environment skills training could look like, finding ways to create more equitable routes through industry for global majority folks and those traditionally excluded from the industry on the basis of class and gender. We are challenging current silo issues and lack of sustainability capabilities across professions, trades and design.

We know that building 1.5 million homes in the next 5 years is a promise that has been made with only limited consideration of the pressing skills issues within the sector. With this in mind, we are questioning:

What skills do we need to develop, considering the well-documented skills gaps in the built environment, in order to achieve this target?

How can we deliver education that reimagines our systems, and that truly engages with retrofit?

The Future Skills Think Tank programme aims to provide routes into industry for school leavers and career changers, providing them with a wide breadth of knowledge across vital built environment skills. This programme will enable participants to move forward into career paths that are economically attractive and contribute to a just transition.

When building this programme, we started by completing an audit; a mapping of the current state of built environment education across the UK. Where is best practice? What is siloed? What are the issues we need to avoid reproducing? This process has enabled us to better understand what a foundational programme intervention at the London School of Architecture could look like, using a framework and pedagogy that best suits the needs of our area, Hackney, within the national context.

We would like to thank the advisory board for their support on this project, as listed below.

LSA Project Team

Rachael Milliner, Research Lead and Coordinator

Tia Duong, Research Associate 

Advisory Board

Summer Islam (Chair)

Material Cultures Director

Dujon Harvey

London Borough of Hackney

Assistant Director, Employment, Skills, and Adult Learning

Calvin Po

Dark Matter Laboratories 

Strategic Designer

Catirona Rawesthorne

CIVIC SQUARE 

Doughnut Economics Researcher

Devorah Block

Place Literacy Project 

Founder

Charlie Edmonds

Future Architects Front

CIVIC SQUARE Mission Co-lead for Neighbourhood Transitions

Dian Small

The London School of Architecture 

Good Growth in Practice Programme Lead

Emma Barnes

Construction Youth Trust 

Senior Programmer Manager

Matthew Springett and Fiona MacDonald

Directors of Matt + Fiona

Grace Simmonds

NLA 

Head of Learning and Engagement

Katie Lloyd Thomas

University of Newcastle 

Professor of Architectural Theory and History

Paul Bussey

AHMM 

Senior Technical Consultant

Peter Barker

Ryder Architecture

Partner

Sarah Robinson

The King’s Foundation 

Associate Director

Stuart Grice

Unite 

Executive Council Member

Wendy Finlay

University College of Estate Management 

Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) 

Thomas Glover

Places for London 

Construction Skills Manager

Photo: Elias Mallo Tardiveau