Funding from Foundation Scotland and Hugh Fraser Foundation has allowed us to continue to deliver mentoring in 2026. Joan and Adam share their experiences of the programme and discuss how mentoring has helped Adam gain insight into a career in architecture and prepare his applications to study the subject.

JOAN
I graduated from The Glasgow College of Building with a degree equivalent Diploma in Interior Design. I worked in Interior Design in Scotland for a few years before going overseas, on contract, to Zambia as an engineering draftswoman. After moving to Johannesburg, South Africa, I was employed as the in-house Interior Designer for Anglo American Properties, handling their retail portfolio in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. Subsequently, I started my own practice which undertook both commercial and residential design commissions for over 15 years. I chose to further my training and gained my certification as a Professional Senior Architectural Designer. That allowed me to expand the practice’s scope into architectural design and to work more broadly in the residential market for the next 10 years. We undertook the full project management of the majority of these contracts, including the construction programme.

I returned to Glasgow in 2018 and I was introduced to the Intergenerational Mentoring Network from a conversation with one of the founders of the programme, in 2023.

I was then introduced to Adam in 2024, who was planning to study Architecture at Strathclyde University.  It has been very rewarding with Adam, as he was so enthusiastic from the outset. A few hours a week to prepare and research, in addition to our weekly in person meetings, has been a pleasure particularly as it, hopefully, has assisted Adam to achieve his goals.
We meet in the school library or the local library during holidays and study leave periods.
We initially discussed why Adam had signed up for the programme and that helped me to identify in which areas I could be of help.
Sometimes, our weekly meetings are just a catchup, but I try to use them as a source of establishing what further help Adam might be needing. When Adam wanted to pursue an additional art course I was able to find the resource and options available for him and then he pursued enrolling in it. Assistance in his subject choices is largely provided by the school but I was available to offer support or further research if he needed it.

I was able to arrange several trips for Adam to see different types and styles of architecture in Glasgow and the surrounding area and I was lucky enough to arrange personal tours for us on some of them.
I arranged two separate work experience stints at Architectural practices of different sizes. Those were very worthwhile and let Adam see different work environments. Also, he gained useful hands-on experience of the different CAD programmes used in modern architectural practices. We used our weekly meetings afterwards to review what he had learned from the experience.
I see the mentorship role as not only to offer practical resources and help but also to be a source of encouragement and a good listener.

We haven’t really experienced any specific challenges as Adam is a highly motivated and clear-eyed young person. He has always had Architecture as his career ambition and has retained that
throughout our time together. My goal was to help him broaden his existing vision of what architecture is, to today’s version with energy efficient, sustainable buildings.
Adam sat his Highers in 2025 and achieved A-passes in 5 subjects. As he was still only 17, the decision was made that he should stay on at school for S6 and take Advanced Highers in 2 subjects with an additional Higher. I wasn’t sure if he would wish to continue the mentorship but he opted to carry on throughout 2026.
He received an unconditional offer from Strathclyde to study Architecture and will start there in September this year.

ADAM
I was introduced to the mentoring programme back in S4. At first, I wasn’t entirely sure what it was about or what value it would hold for me.
However, after meeting Joan, I soon realised how important this programme has been to me. Joan has met with me every week to discuss my schoolwork, upcoming goals, and architectural visits. She has given me a much better insight into the field by helping to set up multiple work experience placements, where I have learned a lot from both small and large architecture firms.
Joan has also taken me on many site visits, including the Maggie’s Centre, Cala Homes, The Hill House, The Garment Factory, City of Glasgow College and The Briggait. This has been a fantastic opportunity to learn more about architecture and has helped me make a strong university application, which ultimately helped me secure a place at University of Strathclyde.