An Interview with April Marsden
This year we are featuring blogs about our people and giving them a platform to share their stories.
We spotlight our Associate Director, April Marsden, in our new ‘Inspire Interview’ feature, where we hear from our team – what their professional journey has been like so far and their advice and inspirations.
Tells us about your career journey to date
After completing my architectural degree in Leeds, I was captivated by the vibrant architectural scene in London. I spent nearly a decade working there, predominantly in the specialised areas of housing and healthcare. From my early days working as a part 1 student at a large international practice to a one-man band during the holidays, I quickly learned the type of work environment that resonated with me. Eventually, I found my place at a well-established medium-sized firm that fully supported me in completing my professional training and offered good, all-round experience. My time there saw several of my care projects winning awards and my promotion to associate.
Life happens. My then-partner was offered a place on a masters course at university in Plymouth. This two-year stint in Plymouth, working on healthcare projects, brought the joy of beach life and the precious gift of motherhood. As I returned to Yorkshire, I faced a new chapter as a single working mother, juggling my architectural work with the demands of raising my daughter. It was during this time that met my husband and had another child along the way, eventually landing opportunities for career progression, before embracing my current role at Bowman Riley.
As a working mother, I faced the delicate balancing act of pursuing my architectural career while nurturing my children. From expressing milk in the workplace after returning to work to having to be more selective about attending school events, to even being treated differently at times to my male colleagues. I developed invaluable skills like negotiation, team leadership, and management. While it wasn’t always easy, I found a way to provide for my family, excel in my profession, and be present for my children. I firmly believe that being a working mother has enriched my career and made me a better architect.
What’s your favourite thing about Bowman Riley?
Bowman Riley has a wonderful nurturing attitude towards all colleagues and has a culture that shows continuous appreciation to all. Everyone is given a high level of Trust and Autonomy in their day-to-day roles, allowing people to take personal responsibility for their own success and to grow from their mistakes.
We fully accept and support people when they are going through a difficult period; from family bereavement to serious personal problems. Empathy lies at the core of what we do; from how we approach design, to the heart of our leadership and management behaviours, and really ties in with my own core values.
What was your first job?
Just before my 15th birthday, I started my Saturday job in the children’s department at Clarks Shoe Shop in Harrogate, a job I continued until I left school after my A-Levels. I earned £2.43 per hour, but we had such good fun, I even got to sell an Emmerdale celebrities real-life son some slippers! The worst thing about the job was measuring toddlers feet… the amount of times I got kicked in the face!
What attracted you to a career in the built environment?
My best friend at primary school always lived in such amazing homes. Upside down houses, houses built in to the hillside, exposed structure, they all just seemed so unusual but so perfect – they seemed to flow and worked so well. Her dad was an architect, and all their homes had been designed and built by him. I also loved art and maths, they had always been my 2 favourite subjects throughout school, so architecture was a natural fit. However, I did have a moment when I considered becoming an artist after A-Levels, so I attended a foundation course in art and design just to experiment and see what other arts based careers there were… needless to say here I am!
What’s been your career highlight to date?
A young lady in architectural training saying that she wanted to be like me!
What piece of advice would you give someone entering the industry?
Don’t worry if things don’t always work out the way you planned. You will find your place and your thing, persevere, but not at the detriment of your own wellbeing. Life is too short.
What’s your claim to fame?
Over 20 years ago, I was on the Graham Norton Show. It was on Channel 4 then and they used to have a game show type set up that was related to the main guest… Our guest was Diana Ross, and we had to sing one of her songs on-stage backwards!! I was dressed in an exceptionally flouncy dress and I think my nerves (and the wine they served us beforehand) got the better of me!
Tell us something people might not know about you
Difficult one because I’m always telling people about my adventures, Everest base camp, fire walks etc…
I have PADI advance diver certificate which required me dive to the depths of the Gulf of Thailand in the middle of the night – it was dark and I had no idea which way was up or down .
Final thing… I also have a personal licence to sell alcohol!