Case study: A Cube
A Cube Architects Ltd is a medium-sized architectural practice based in Manchester. It was established in June 2002 by Faheem Aftab. Initially, there were three people involved; currently, it has 12 members of staff. Its turnover has risen from £100,000 to nearly £1,000,000 in 2008. The company is primarily involved in public sector work, such as designing colleges and housing projects. Client satisfaction, innovation and quality are the backbone to its business
Interviews
The case study below is based on a telephone interview with Faheem Aftab, founder of A Cube and a face-to-face interview with Laura Sanderson, architect. The views expressed are those of the interviewees, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department.
Approach to recruitment
A Cube's approach to recruitment has been "a little bit different". It receives a lot of CVs, and sometimes recruits from these, but largely tends to work with the universities in Manchester. Often, it takes students on a part-time basis while they are studying. The students may do a day or half a day's work per week during term time and work full-time during the holidays. The firm doesn’t generally use agencies.
Architects’ education involves a sandwich programme; working for a year between two degrees, followed by one year of professional training practice after the final degree. When students work with A Cube during their degrees, they tend to continue to have some kind of relationship with the company when they return to their postgraduate training. When students come to the end of their postgraduate course, and move on to get their RIBA qualification, A Cube may offer a package to them whereby:
"we'll pay their fees for the course, we'll offer them an extra 10 days of holiday in addition to the 20 days that we give them anyway and we put them on things like a health package. So, that would provide a big incentive for people."
Work/life balance
Faheem thinks it is very important to get the work/life balance right:
"we like to run a 9:00 – 5:30 business and try and stay to those timescales… From the experience I had working for other organisations where I'd quite often work until 8 or 9 in the evening, starting at 6:30 or 7:30, kind of being a slave to my position really... in a managerial role I realised that it's just not necessary. I'd rather have happy people with happy lives to work for me than people who just sit here and don't really experience anything."
Laura notes that A Cube is very flexible about hours, enabling students to fit their work around their studies.
Diversity
In terms of diversity, Faheem notes:
"it's interesting as much as, obviously I come from a background that's not particularly normal. I'm not white and middle class… With the practice I think there's been a natural inflection to look at the people we are recruiting with an open mind."
At A Cube about 40 per cent of the staff are women:
"we've got a real spread of ethnicity, which, given the fact that only less than 10 per cent of qualifying architectural students are women, we're obviously doing well in that respect. In terms of the one or two per cent that are black or minority ethnic, we're obviously kind of flying the flag in that respect as well."
Faheem does not think it was a conscious thing; they have always employed people for their talents. However, they are aware "that they need diversity to get a workload that's diverse,
and in order to produce projects for a diverse population."
Overcoming barriers to the profession
Both Laura and Faheem mention a number of possible barriers to the profession, which A Cube has attempted to address through its work culture for students and for those taking their professional examinations.
Student debt is an issue for a seven-year study period, and many students need to work while studying. Faheem also believes:
"if you're about to make that leap [to study architecture] and that commitment to something then you probably want something that guarantees more rewards. Probably like becoming a doctor or a solicitor or something like that, becomes far more appealing."
Outreach
A Cube works closely not only with universities, but has also been involved in a number of outreach initiatives into the community.
It offers a couple of work experience places a year to local schools. Faheem has also taught some courses on Saturday afternoons at the Lowry, an arts and community centre, which offers a programme for around 30 children aged 11 to 16.
He holds group sessions, to give young people an idea of what it is like working in the creative industries, with the emphasis on architecture.
Conclusion
A Cube's approach to diversity is very much based on Faheem's personal ethos as well as the recognition that diversity in the workforce can lead to diversity in projects and work undertaken. On top of this, close links with the local university and community has helped to ensure that A Cube is an inclusive and diverse organisation.
