Architecture graduates collaborate - graduate jobs

Architecture graduates looking for jobs in a difficult market in the North East have decided to collaborate so they can gain experience.

The Newcastle-based Graduate Retention and Development (Grad) pilot project has been created with the help of Northern Architecture and the +3 Architecture practice, which are providing the graduates with free space in their offices.

Northumbria University and Newcastle University have helped the project get off the ground with funding for materials, furniture, printing and other small expenses.

The six graduates have completed their Part I or Part II Architecture degrees at Newcastle and Northumbria universities but have yet to find gainful employment in the recession-hit industry. The Grad project enables them to work together to gain experience and assist them with their job seeking.

An experimental design studio targeting speculative projects relative to the North East has been set up by Grad, in a co-operative called archiGRAD. It is currently working on a research project to potentially create a creative quarter in the Gateshead Bridges Conservation area.