Beam Blog
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Drawing on Seville
By Stephen Dolman on 18th November 2011
The Leonardo Da Vinci funded programme in Seville is changing people’s lives. The feedback we have had from the first wave confirms this, and we now have 18 more recruits preparing for their placement that will start in January. There is Spanish to learn and just where do you buy summer clothes in November!
One of the architects currently in Seville has spent his free time sketching what he sees. Check out the website he has created.
Our partners Europarx are also running a second programme for Entrepreneurs, with Ars Emprendia (part of the Chamber of Commerce in Seville, Spain) and are looking for talented people for work-based training with one of the many progressive companies associated with the Chamber. Successful applicants will need to demonstrate entrepreneurial flare and value new challenges.
Training in an developing company is one of the best ways to explore business ownership and provides and invaluable insight into business management and leadership qualities. There is a very high probability of employment following the placement programme mainly due to the selection process and the quality of the relationship between the host companies and successful applicants.
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Seville Placements - Six Weeks In!
By Stephen Dolman on 4th November 2011
The first wave of work placements in Seville are going well – here are some of the thoughts of those involved.
Marcia Bindo
I am a Project Manager specialised in sustainable development, including urban planning and communication focused on environmental issues. For the programme, I am working for NATURALIA XXI, an environmental and cultural foundation. I am currently developing a sustainable urban planning project for Isla de La Cartuja, an area in Seville erected to host the Expo 92 that became partially abandoned after the exposition. The area is know world wide as a “urbanisation disaster”, that become not connected to the city.
The Scientific, Cultural and Environmental Complex project aims to reintegrate the area within the city, expanding, preserving and promoting the green spaces. I am not only writing the project, but also organising the team of stakeholders in order to recover deteriorated pavilions and create new areas: a Botanical Garden and a Museum of Biodiversity, which will be centres of environmental education. In order to disseminate the cultural and natural value of the area for the citizens, I am creating a plan of communication specifically for Isla de la Cartuja.
Catherine Duncalfe
My placement at Medio Mundo is going really well, its a really exciting practice to work for and all the staff have been so supportive. Myself and Phil have been working on a variety of projects that are ongoing in the office at the moment, as well as carrying out analysis on the environmental and social impact of previous projects. The practice is very forward thinking and has a wealth of experience so I feel I am learning a lot.
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Bishop Review
By Stephen Dolman on 26th October 2011
The Bishop Review that was commissioned following the merger of CABE with the Design Council was published on 18 October. The Review examines the support needed to ensure we still get great design in the light of proposed changes to the Planning System and the current economic situation
The Review re-affirms the importance of Design Review and suggests ways in which the Planning System might treat schemes that have been subject to independent review. It also favours a system of decentralised support, with regional and local review panels playing their role..
Beam’s Creative Director, Robert Powell, was one of those consulted by Peter Bishop. The Report makes a number of welcome observations about the support that organisations like ours make to local authorities, developers and importantly communities to help people make great places to live, work and play in. It was pleasing to see that one of the projects we worked on in 2010, the “Bradford Academy’, was cited as an example of good practice.