Ipswich architect recognised in top 100 in her industry

Pippa Jacob, an architect at Nicholas Jacob in Wherry Quay, was named one of the top 100 Influential Women in Construction in the National Federation of Builders programme.

Ms Jacob has petitioned the Royal Institute of British Architects for greater support for new parents in the industry.

She has also written a series of articles for the Architects Journal and spoke at a Women in Architecture (WIA) event for parents hosted by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

Ms Jacob said she was "truly honoured" to be included in the list of prestigious women.

The mother-of-two has spoken about how the architecture and construction industries are still heavily male-dominated and can be "a toxic environment to work in" for women.

"Just don’t go on site," was something she was told by a company director, after asking for advice with dealing with a sexist comment that was made towards her.

Currently on maternity leave with her second child, she said: “After the birth of my first child in 2021, I experienced financial struggles and started to speak with colleagues throughout the architectural industry to find out if my experience was unique. What I found was an industry-wide lack of support for new architect parents.

Pippa Jacob was also shortlisted for the Top 100 Influential Women in Construction award in the Influential Designer category, Supplied (Image: Supplied)

“Given the time it takes to qualify, many architects spend their early years in the profession studying and choose to start a family once they are established. At this point in life, there are can be significant financial commitments, meaning the drop in income to maternity and shared parental pay, which is below the National Living Wage, is not financially viable.

“At an emotionally charged, sleep deprived time, the pressure of financial stress can be very challenging, and, in many cases, the lack of maternity and shared parental leave policies and the ingrained ethos of long working hours can force people out of the profession altogether.

“During a national skills shortage, the industry should be retaining and supporting highly trained architects as well as educating the next generation of architects.

“To be recognised as one of the top 100 women in the construction industry really feels like the icing on the cake of my ongoing campaign to provide support for new parents in the profession."