Inspiring the next generation of placemakers in Bristol

Shape My City with Design West

At Muse, we believe great places are shaped not only by the people designing and delivering them today, but by the people who will lead the built environment sector tomorrow.

That’s why we were delighted to partner once again with Shape My City, a Design West initiative, to deliver a hands-on masterplanning workshop for young people in Bristol. Following the success of a similar session last summer, we jumped at the opportunity to return and continue working with the next generation of placemakers, designers and development professionals.

The workshop brought together members of our team and local young people for an interactive introduction to the world of regeneration, development and masterplanning. Through practical activities and real-world insights, the session aimed to showcase the wide variety of careers available within the built environment sector, while helping participants understand how places are planned, designed and delivered.

Bringing masterplanning to life

The day began with an introduction to masterplanning – exploring what it is, why it matters and the important role it plays in guiding the long-term development of large and complex sites.

Masterplans provide the framework for how places will evolve over time, helping to balance the needs of communities, businesses, infrastructure, public spaces and the environment. While they are a fundamental part of development, they can often feel abstract to those outside the industry. The workshop was designed to break down that complexity and give young people a practical understanding of how strategic decisions help shape the places where people live, work and spend time.

Working alongside six members of the Muse team, participants were encouraged to think like developers and planners, considering how different elements of a place come together to create thriving, sustainable communities.

Showcasing career journeys

Alongside learning about masterplanning, the students also heard first-hand accounts of what it’s like to build a career in the built environment sector.

Rhea Stephenson, Project Manager, and William Collomosse, Development Manager, shared their personal journeys into the industry, talking through their education, qualifications and early work experience before explaining the routes that led them to their current roles at Muse.

Their presentations highlighted the breadth of opportunities available across the sector and demonstrated that there is no single pathway into a career in development. From project management and planning to sustainability, design, engineering and community engagement, the session helped illustrate the diverse range of roles that contribute to creating successful places.

By sharing their own experiences, Rhea and William were able to offer practical advice and insight to young people considering their future career options, while helping them understand how their interests and skills could translate into opportunities within the built environment.

Investing in future talent

Supporting future talent is a key part of how we create lasting social impact in the places where we work. Engaging with young people, providing access to industry professionals and helping broaden awareness of career opportunities is essential to ensuring the sector remains diverse, innovative and representative of the communities it serves.

Partnerships such as Shape My City play an important role in opening doors and creating meaningful experiences that help young people develop confidence, knowledge and aspirations for the future.

As a business committed to creating places that deliver long-term value, we recognise that investing in future generations is just as important as investing in the places themselves.

Tom Jackson, Development Director, Muse, said:

“Sessions like this are incredibly important in helping to demystify the built environment sector and showcase the huge range of opportunities available within it. We hope the workshop has given participants a greater understanding of how places are created and inspired some of them to consider a future career helping to shape the communities of tomorrow.”