Even though many of our graduates will have progressed in their careers since completing a case study, they are still of interest to students who wish to gain an understanding of the world of work.

My main responsibilities include producing landscape plans and associated documents to support planning applications, working individually on projects and within the wider teams both internally at Pegasus and external. The project management side of my responsibilities include attending meetings and dealing with clients (in terms of fees, getting work approved and making changes to meet their needs) and working with other consultants on projects (to come up with design solutions). Other responsibilities include delegating work to junior members of the team, checking work prior to issue and helping to manage the landscape design team. Often we receive queries from other disciplines within Pegasus so sometimes we need to research solutions to their problems and offer advice from a landscape perspective. For my own projects I am also responsible for invoicing as well as other general administration.

A typical day can include a number of tasks. When in the office, these include responding to emails from other consultants or the local authority, to designing a park, play space or on-plot planting for new homes. Part of the day could also be spent checking plans for colleagues and discussing a way to solve the design problem. In addition, some of the day may be spent in meetings, completing admin such as timesheets, and undertaking training or CPD. Other days may be spent driving (across the UK) to a site, surveying it or checking the construction works and/or meeting with the client and other consultants and being outside all day! There doesn't seem to be a typical day which is one of the advantages of being a landscape architect!

The most enjoyable aspect of my job is that no day or week is the same. We are constantly juggling a number of different projects and reacting to developments in the design process, comments from clients, or local authorities or other stakeholders so a project doesn't 'sit still' for long. In this way I enjoy the variety of a week being in the office, on site or attending meetings, in doing so it's great to be outside working (come rain or shine!). It's even better to see you're design on site and people enjoying the spaces you've created.

There are a number of challenging aspects when you're a landscape architect. Whether it's working to tight deadlines, managing client expectations, working with other (and sometimes difficult) consultants, working with a tight landscape budget for a scheme or having to come up with a solution to a challenging problem. In this way we often have to consider a number of constraints from other consultants in our design which can be tricky! However, this also means we are able to consider a number of themes (ecology, SuDs, urban design & planning etc.) which other disciplines do not, this makes our work valuable as problem solvers!

I originally wanted to be an architect, but soon realised being a landscape architect was more suited to my likes and skills. The enjoyment of designing spaces and shaping places for users is what appeals most and what makes being a Landscape Architect so rewarding. Having a personal interest in planting, play space design and nature is what makes this job even more rewarding as some days designing doesn't feel like a job!

I generally use all the skills I learnt during my time at Sheffield, and on my year out - they have just been developed and shaped in my role and the projects I have been exposed to. My experience and knowledge has grown with each and every project, from preparing plans using computer software such as CAD and Vectorworks to word processing and being able to explain my design to colleagues and clients at meetings and being able to communicate the reasons ie. opportunities or constraints the site may have.
In short I use all the drawing, landscape and planning theory and the communication skills skills in my everyday work. Passing my Pathway to Chartership has also given me more knowledge to help in my everyday work, and the confidence in carrying out my role.

Senior Landscape Architect, Pegasus Group (July 2017 - present) .
Pathway to Chartership (Jan 2015 - Nov 2016).
Landscape Architect, Pegasus Group, (Sep 2013 - June 2017).
MLA Masters of Landscape Architecture (Sep 2012 - June 2013) .
Year In Practice (Sep 2011-Sep 2012), Hankinson Duckett Associates.
BA Landscape Architecture with Planning (2008-2011).

In the future I hope to progress further, gaining more experience and knowledge in different areas of landscape architecture and the types of places we design. As part of CPD requirements set by the Landscape Institute I shall continue to learn and develop professionally, keeping up to date with the latest guidance etc, and in turn develop personally. In this way, I hope to continue to be a P2C mentor.

Being a landscape architect is varied, it means juggling a number of tasks and having skills and knowledge in a number of areas. Don't feel you have to find your specialism from the word 'go'. Take time to gain experience across the whole feed as this will help you to find your niche and give you practical experience to develop.

Lucy  MLA Landscape Architecture (2014)
Urban Designer  (Construction, property and built environment)

Accepts questions from students about their career