CASE STUDY: ZEKE

We caught up with Zeke to hear more about his experience of PLACED Academy Studio, what he learned and where he hopes it will take him next.

Zeke, PLACED Academy Studio Participant.

How did you first find out about PLACED Academy, and what motivated you to join the programme?
I first heard about PLACED Academy from a careers teacher. Initially, the school sent out letters asking about careers, and I showed an interest in architecture. My teacher then sent me an email, and after doing a little bit of reading on the PLACED Academy, I thought, “What’s the harm?” and decided to apply.

In your own words, can you explain what PLACED Academy is?
If I had to give a definition, I would say PLACED Academy is a space that provides a taste of the built environment to young people. It basically introduces them to what the industry is about and how to get into it.

What is the biggest takeaway that you have from your experience at PLACED Academy?
My biggest takeaway would probably be that it’s never too early or too late to start a career in the built environment.

PLACED Academy focuses on developing a range of skills. Which skills do you feel that you've improved the most during the programme and how?
I feel I've improved loads of skills, but the main ones are communication, teamwork and model making. I also think my confidence has improved a lot as well.

Can you give a specific example of a time when you've applied a skill that you had learned during your time at PLACED Academy in a real-world situation?
In the real world, I've done presentations in school. Learning to be a lot more confident with speeches and presenting has been a huge help for me. I even did a speech at school with another student, Jacob, about PLACED Academy.

Were there any skills that you were surprised to develop or discover that you had?
The most surprising was probably learning how to work under pressure and developing time management skills to meet all the goals and tasks we were given.

What were some of the challenges you faced during PLACED Academy and how did you overcome them?
The biggest challenge was the variety of people because there is a four-year age gap between the youngest and oldest students. It required a bit of compromise and trying to understand each other, but through perseverance, we all got to know each other better. It was also nice to learn about the field from the older students who were already doing BTECs and A-levels.

What did you learn about yourself through this experience?
I learned how to interact with new people and improved at making new friends. I also challenged myself quite a bit by doing something brand new that I had never experienced before.

How has PLACED Academy helped you grow?
I’ve gained so many new skills and met amazing people who have opened doors for me and opened my eyes to the great big world out there.

What advice would you give to young people considering joining PLACED Academy?
Don't be afraid to ask questions and put as much into it as possible. The more you put in, the more you get out. Go and ask the professionals who have been doing this for years about their jobs; don't waste the opportunity.

How do you plan to use the skills and experiences you've gained in the future?
PLACED Academy will look amazing on my CV and will really help with university and job applications. The skills themselves, like communication and meeting new people, are applicable to everyday life. Currently, I’m sitting my GCSEs, but I hope to do A-levels and then either go to university or get a degree apprenticeship in civil engineering or architecture.

How has your involvement with PLACED Academy influenced your career aspirations?
It has opened my eyes to what the built environment is and strengthened my conviction to join the industry. Meeting people from careers like project management, quantity surveying and architecture has been phenomenal.

Would you recommend PLACED Academy to other young people?
Absolutely. I’ve already told friends at school about it, and they are definitely going to do it because they’re really excited.