I don’t think anyone could have predicted the turbulent effect of the Covid-19 pandemic and the impact it would have on everything on a global and on a local scale.
In this country, the impact has been felt from top down and from bottom up with changes in legislation, patterns of working and patterns of living.
We hear a lot about the negative impacts of this and how it has impacted our town and our high street, but are there positives?
YAM Architects this month moved into offices on Angel Lane, Penrith, and are now in the heart of the town.
Covid was a gamechanger. I’d never considered seriously the idea of starting my own business before then.
But when I was told by my employer that the company was going to close its doors for the duration of the lockdown and there was no opportunity to work, I realised that that was not going to ‘work’ for me.
So I left my job, set up an office at home in what had been a DIY storage cupboard and set up YAM Architects.
I picked the name in the knowledge that I was likely to be homebound for some time and most of the work I’d be doing would be on other people’s homes in the local area so using a local term for ‘home’ seemed like an obvious choice.
Starting YAM gave me the opportunity, really for the first time in my working life, to develop new ways of working that suited me best.
Up until that point I’d worked for established practices that had their own ways of working with few opportunities to develop new techniques and processes. And even if you did manage to make changes it was another thing to try to implement these successfully across the company.
So the past four years have all been about adopting new technologies and trying different approaches.
In most cases, we develop 3D virtual models instead of drawing 2D plans and we use point cloud technologies for surveying. This can be done using high end iPhones and iPads for most domestic work.
On larger projects we use bespoke survey equipment to provide even greater detail.
Since starting, YAM has had over 200 inquiries ranging from internal alterations to extensions and new build homes to commercial projects which have included recent office refits for Penrith Building Society and Marsh Commercial (currently on site).
Last month we received planning permission for alterations to and extension of the former Starfruits unit on Angel Square to make the unit more attractive to potential tenants.
Outside of Penrith, we have been working at Newton Rigg, helping the owners realise the potential of some of their properties. We have heritage work with listed buildings and are seeing more and more clients looking to rearrange and upgrade their properties involving aspects of retrofit.
To support this we have completed intensive training courses to keep our knowledge up to date. In short, if you have a property that isn’t working for you, our job is to solve that problem.
Almost all of our work is within half an hour of Penrith and we don’t need to look for work outside of this area – although we will look further afield if asked.
In October 2023, there was a major reform in building regulations and, realising the impact that these changes would have on the business, I decided it was time to make the move from working from home to setting up offices which would allow me to expand the practice and take on staff.
I had originally considered purchasing commercial property in town but following a failed attempt to make this work I bumped into Rod Hughes, of 2030 Architects, who told me that he had decided to close his practice and his offices would soon be available for rent.
So that’s where we are now. In terms of staffing, recruitment is one of the most challenging parts of business growth and it is important to make the right choice for your business. I was lucky enough to bump into Lily Street at an event in town.
Lily is an RIBA chartered architect from the area who I’d worked with previously and knew she had the right attitude and skills to work with me on the business.
So she joined YAM on the day I got the keys for the office and we have had a busy month managing workload as well as managing the office move.
We’ve a lot to do before we are settled in but we have our sign up, broadband installed and will have an opening in a few months once we’ve completed the office fit out.
The offices are located at 13B Angel Lane (nestled between Moon on the Hill and Eclectic) and a short walk from home.
I’ve enjoyed the shift away from the home office. You meet people every day and it keeps your ear to the ground and makes you more aware of changes in the town.
There’s huge potential in Penrith and although we face lots of challenges we are part of a strong community.
As a practice we are growing to meet the demand and face the challenges of the future.
