Environmental Social Governance – Social Value - HPA

Environmental Social Governance - Social Value

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Overview

We value the importance of listening and working with people to create remarkable places that have a positive, lasting impact.

 The consideration for individuals and the environment is at the forefront of our practice.

Acting Responsibly

At HPA, we have a strong responsibility of care towards our team. As a leading practice in a favourable location, HPA offers a positive work/life balance, with the opportunity to work on dynamic projects across Lancashire and Cumbria and participate in local events such as the Lancaster Rewind Festival.

We value ambition and strive to make a difference for both our clients and team. To build our internal creative community; we encourage practical specialist training and host annual away days to polish our design skills and further develop our understanding of the worlds of architecture.

We aspire to make architecture approachable, affordable and a benefit to all.

Giving Back

HPA support several charities that promote equality and education such as The Architects Benevolent Society, where we also work with this organisation to aid fundraising. We specialise in designing for charity groups, supporting funding applications, and have recently become active members of Learning Disability England.

HPA gives back to the community through voluntary design and youth outreach work, including assisting local youth charity Escape2Make (E2M). Having supported the creation of E2M’s Youth Architecture Group, we hold regular sessions with them and provide inclusive, interactive activities for people of all ages.

Connecting Communities

The way in which we engage with the wider world shapes our strategy and design. Working with local authorities and communities, we take into consideration the needs of all stakeholders to find new ways to use buildings and create a positive impact that resonates.

We place great emphasis on bringing communities together, sharing the practice’s love of architecture. Alongside volunteers, HPA have previously organised two youth architecture days in conjunction with the Museum of Architecture in London.

Providing Education

For us learning is continual, and we provide weekly Continuing Professional Development (CPD) sessions to our staff; led by our team and collaborations with specialists. We advocate self-progression and encourage staff to attend seminars, lectures, and practical training events to help enrich our understanding to the benefit of our clients.

With a national reputation for training young architects, we are one of the first in the North West to run the new RIBA apprenticeship scheme for postgraduate level. Several members of staff are engaged in apprenticeships and education in architecture and/or architectural technology.

We take pride in growing our own; having supported many through the RIBA Part 3 exam and supporting those entering their associate training through the IHBC (Institute of Historic Building Conservation).

Proud to be an official RIBA mentoring practice, we have a longstanding history of supporting architecture students across a variety of placements through our own in-house mentoring scheme. We are also RIBA Professional Study Advisors and Examiners.

Each year, we allocate time to provide work experience to a range of local students, offering the opportunity to acquire knowledge, develop professional skills, and gain practical insight.

We have collaborated with various universities in the North West including University of Central Lancashire, Manchester School of Architecture, Lancaster University, and the University of Liverpool, offering placements to aspiring students.

We aim to provide invaluable experience for the next generation of architects.

Caring for the planet

We are passionate about creating spaces that have longevity and benefit the natural environment, actively pursuing improvements to the performance, sustainability, and material considerations of our designs. We operate BS EN14001 Environmental Management System accredited by UKAS, demonstrating our commitment to continually improving environmental performance. We are also Planet Mark certified ensuring that we are embedding sustainability into our business practices.

HPA pledge our commitment to reducing emissions in buildings and were the first Architectural Practice in Lancaster to sign up to the RIBA 2023 Climate Challenge.

HPA has the ambition to deliver practical, sustainable buildings and become a thought leader in retrofit and sustainable practices in the North West.

Quality Assurance

As a RIBA Chartered Practice, we go beyond the legal requirements of an Architect, to ensure we have exceptional levels of management, quality assurances and systems in place. HPA operate a BS EN ISO 9001:2015 Quality Assurance System, accredited by UKAS, demonstrating our commitment to continually improving quality standards.

We are Members of Learning Disability England, Planet Mark certified and also adopt the Working Families Best Practice Guidance.

As regulated professionals, we undertake Continuing Professional Development (CPD) covering the profession’s core curriculum.

Members of our Team have attended the specialist RIBA Principal Designers CPD Course and have vast experience of this role, working from small up to £10m+ projects.

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