Model Making Apprenticeship

Are you curious about a career in architectural model making but looking for a path that’s a little different from the traditional university route?

We’re inviting expressions of interest for a Modelmaking Degree Apprenticeship with Heatherwick Studio, delivered in collaboration with Arts University Bournemouth. The programme combines studio experience with university learning, offering the opportunity to develop the skills of a professional modelmaker while working towards a degree-level qualification.

At Heatherwick Studio, physical prototypes are a core part of how ideas evolve. Building and testing objects helps to explore form, understand scale and evaluate possibilities in ways drawings and screens cannot. These pieces often shape conversations and influence design decisions as projects develop. As ideas progress, models also become a powerful way to share the final vision, crafted with care and detail so clients and collaborators can experience the design as something tangible, engaging and real.

Over the 3-year programme, you’ll build technical knowledge and practical capability while contributing to ongoing work under the guidance of experienced modelmakers. Apprenticeships are funded by government and employers, so there are no tuition fees to pay, and apprentices receive a salary while they learn, with dedicated time to balance study and studio practice.

If you’re someone who enjoys understanding how things are made, feels at home in a workshop environment and takes satisfaction in turning ideas into physical objects, this could be a great place to begin. Modelmaking is a craft that rewards patience, focus and a willingness to experiment, refine and learn through doing.