The financial crisis over the last 4-5 years has been a trying time across the world for the landscape architecture profession with many landscape architects loosing their jobs due to slow downs, firm mergers & consolidations and government budget cuts. Many landscape architects have taken various actions to keep earning an income, but there are many that have few alternatives due to commitments in their towns and cities. The Landscape Institute has realised this after taking a recent survey and found that many Licentiate members are feeling isolated and in need of support.

Sue Illman, President of the Landscape Institute (UK) has called on Registered Practices to offer two-week placements which will include the chance for Licentiates to discuss portfolios, CVs and professional presentation with practitioners, and opportunities to get directly involved in projects or work shadow. Illman hopes that non-registered practices, local authorities and other agencies that employ landscape architects will also step forward. The President’s firm Illman Young is one of the first practices to advertise an opportunity under the scheme.

I find this an inspired scheme by the Landscape Institute to help out new and experienced professionals who need to stay practising to keep their skills sharp. The Landscape Institute is thinking ahead by keeping experienced professionals in the industry. We all hope that the world economies will soon turn and if there is a large loss of new and experienced professionals to other professions, there will be long term ramifications. A loss of professionals will cause a shortage, placing the profession on the back foot as other professions fill the void. I call on other landscape architecture professional organisations (country-wide and regional) to undertake similar schemes to keep landscape architects employed.

For those in the UK you can read more about the scheme at the Landscape Institute.