ABSTRACT
The difficulty of taking a long holiday far away from the office is probably the worst thing about being a sole practitioner or running a very small office – but with good management and some flexibility, short holidays, time off and nice breaks are possible. Despite the term ‘sole practitioner’ the job is very much about working with people, as on every project the architect is part of a team that includes the client, the consultants and the contractor. The success of students practice depends on the people it employs, and their wellbeing and loyalty are critical. To comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act, every company must have a first-aider in the office. The one-day courses for first-aiders run by St John Ambulance at its premises are excellent practical courses, and good value.
