Let's talk about Build Studios with Helen Santer

Stephen Drew speaks with Helen Santer about Build Studios, the London built environment hub, co-working, collaboration, school outreach, business volunteers and helping the next generation understand careers in the built environment.

Show Notes

Build Studios is a built environment hub in London, but the more interesting question is how spaces like this can support collaboration, outreach and the next generation.

Stephen Drew speaks with Helen Santer about Build Studios, co-working, collaboration, school outreach, business volunteers and helping students and underrepresented groups understand careers in the built environment.

The conversation covers:

• What Build Studios is and who it supports
• How co-working can help built environment collaboration
• Why outreach to schools and students matters
• How business volunteers can share real career insight
• What the next generation can learn from industry contact

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▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9d6SRF4ROE

📝 Read the full write-up, with the key takeaways:
https://architecturesocial.com/podcast/lets-talk-about-build-studios-with-helen-santer/

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Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Build Studios
• 05:00 Helen Santer and the built environment hub
• 10:00 Co-working, collaboration and Architecture Social
• 15:00 Why Build Studios supports the built environment sector
• 20:00 School outreach and business volunteers
• 25:00 Helping students and underrepresented groups
• 30:00 Sharing enthusiasm for the built environment
• 35:00 Collaboration with schools and partner organisations
• 40:00 What the next generation needs from industry
• 45:00 Final reflections on Build Studios

Creators and Guests

Host

Stephen Drew

Hello! I’m Stephen Drew, Founder of the Architecture Social—an online community and resource hub dedicated to helping professionals in Architecture, Design, Development, and Real Estate advance their careers. I’m here to connect you with insights, tools, and opportunities that lead to meaningful growth, whether you’re just starting out or ready to take that next big step.

What is Architecture Social?

It is hard to get a job in architecture. We exist to help you get there. Hosted by Stephen Drew, Architecture Social is the unfiltered guide to the UK Built Environment. We decode the realities of the industry, provide actionable cheat codes for your career, and bridge the communication gap between the drafting board and the boardroom.

Whether you are a Part I assistant trying to survive your first role, a Part III architect managing complex procurement, or a Practice Director fighting tight margins and adapting to the Building Safety Act, this podcast is your central node of intelligence. We strip away the aesthetic gatekeeping and toxic positivity to talk about the actual mechanics of the business.

Expect honest conversations about salary realities, portfolio strategies, hiring economics, and the true experiences of the people actively shaping the profession.

No fluff, just the reality of practice.