"The team I was placed within has been incredibly supportive of my learning and is a great group socially. I have had the opportunity to be the link between the architecture team and interiors team on a large project, helping me to realise my potential in interior architecture."

"The wide variety of skills I have put to practice, including much design, rendering and drawing has given me a great selection of work for my portfolio. With the addition of two competition entries I have had an all round experience and the chance to challenge my views on architecture and improve my understanding of team work within a practice."

"The most important thing I have learned from my experience with RHWL is how to work well with others and gain knowledge from people I am working with."

"It is a practice with outstanding professionals and has an extremely friendly environment that allows everyone to fully explore their skills and exchange ideas in equal opportunity. Even though I am a student, I feel encouraged by everyone to voice my opinions, get involved in design and develop my architectural thinking."

"RHWL is multicultural and everybody openly shares their thoughts. I have gained different things from the strengths of all the individuals in the practice. As students, we were given the chance to come up with our own ideas for competitions and at the same time we were given full support to strengthen our weaker points. The experiences I take with me from here will help to consolidate my studies and give me a push into the direction of my future goals and challenges."

Russell was studying at Cardiff University when a lecturer recommended our well-structured student training package to the class. Russell had some experience of working in smaller studios and was keen to broaden his knowledge of the business overall.

"For me, diversity of the experience has been the best thing about it. From the first day, they had me working on design. My mentor within the practice is quite senior and he's very clued up about the business. They're really good on IT training, too. They have a very good graphics department and the resources to teach you — and they'll do it."

Rachel chose RHWL after reading about the placement scheme on the website. She wasn't sure what direction she wanted to take in architecture and so was after a well-rounded experience on a variety of projects. Having completed her year with us, she will be taking up the Part 2 sponsorship we have offered her.

"People are friendly here, it's a nice place to work. And you're closely mentored. I found it easy to get the experience I was looking for. I worked on some new buildings and some conversion projects. And then there's the competition work. You end up with a really good portfolio."

Donald came from Belfast to study in London. He was attracted to our performing arts specialists, Arts Team, because of the work they have been doing at Belfast's Grand Opera House. He knew the practice was quite commercial but chose RHWL for its size, location and the arts projects on offer. And he wanted something more than CAD work.

"They really treat you like an equal and I'm grateful for being thrown in at the deep end — attending design team meetings and making site visits. My friends at other firms work on segments of buildings but here you follow a project through all its stages. The thing I've really learned is how to manage my time."