Oliver Lowrie’s Top 10 LESSONS LEARNED made while setting up an Architecture Practice

Setting up an architecture practice is rarely the clean founder story people imagine. It is fees, cash flow, recruitment, content, client education, mistakes and learning where the pressure really sits.Stephen Drew speaks with Oliver Lowrie, co-founder of Ackroyd Lowrie, about the top lessons learned from building an architecture practice and what others should understand before trying to do the same.The conversation covers: Why content, relationships and a wider business ecosystem matter How fee pressure and unpaid overtime damage practice culture Why client education is part of running a healthier studio How apprenticeships and long-term talent routes can support practice growth Why founders need advisers, perspective and better business discipline ____▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faLusqZ3BcA📝 Read the full write-up, with the key takeaways:https://architecturesocial.com/podcast/oliver-lowrie-setting-up-architecture-practice/Architecture Social is where architects and designers find honest career advice, insight from practice, and live roles worth applying for:https://architecturesocial.com/The fastest way to get hired is to be better at the things practices actually ask for. Revit, Rhino, rendering, BIM, portfolio work. Our learning partner ArchAdemia is built by architects, for architects:https://archademia.com/architecture-social/Use code ARCHSOCIAL10 for a discount on monthly or annual membership.____Chapters 00:00 Introduction to lessons from practice ownership 05:00 The first lessons from setting up a studio 10:00 Creating a business ecosystem and content 15:00 Building momentum before the work arrives 20:00 Fees, overtime and protecting the team 25:00 Educating clients and professional value 30:00 Apprenticeships and long-term talent routes 35:00 Cash flow, invoices and competitive pressure 40:00 Audience questions on mobilisation and affordability 45:00 Non-executive advice and not being alone 50:00 Recruitment, candidate behaviour and market shifts 55:00 Regulation, politics and the wider profession