Interview with Michael Grimshaw, Senior Landscape Architect

We interview Michael Grimshaw, who we recently promoted to Senior Landscape Architect at EDLA. Michael, who began his relationship with EDLA through some university work experience, then continued working part-time for the business whilst studying for his degree in Garden Design believes hard work, determination, in-depth plant knowledge and being in the right place, at the right time all helped get him there. We discuss.

Congratulations on being promoted to Senior Landscape Architect so quickly, what do you attribute to your success?

Hard work and stress! No, only joking. I think being in a smaller practice means there are more opportunities to work on projects early on that you wouldn’t get to touch in a bigger firm. Fewer staff means there is more opportunities you get to be involved in and therefore gives you a great chance to raise your profile. I also feel my IT and Design skills and my background as a Tree Surgeon gave me a good foundation, for instance hearing plants identified by their Latin names, was very familiar to me and not a skill I had to learn. Working for a smaller company means that there are also lots more chances to learn by doing, sometimes it can feel like you are thrown in the deep end, but I find this the strongest way to learn and gain experience. I’ve grown so much confidence since I started, simply from the experience of doing things.

Ambition is also key. You have to want to see a plan submitted with your name on it and for it to be exactly as you want it to be. This was a driving force for me and inspired me to continue pushing forward. I learn from every scheme and challenge myself to push the design even harder on the next scheme. Which Donald and Eleanor encourage. There is definitely a feeling that you can experiment and there is an openness to new ideas. Probably a lot more than in a bigger company.

“I’ve grown so much confidence since I started, simply from the experience of doing things.”

What is it that you love about the profession and your job?

I love the process of taking an idea to a finished product. I like the journey from the first initial discussion and working it through to a detailed design. Seeing it at the end, with the combined efforts of everyone working on it, is very satisfying. But you have to be invested, a project from start to finish can take years. There is no quick glory in Landscape Architecture. I also feel that in the last few years as climate change awareness grows, the profession is equally becoming more important and understood. Although there is still work to be done! Even now about 50 percent of people will still think I am a ‘Landscape Gardener’ when I tell them what I do.

Do you enjoy working for EDLA

Yes, it is really good. But you have to get used to the feeling early on that you are coming into a young and active business and you can’t sit back. This probably sounds strange, but in a younger company, you need to care, have a voice and be willing to be proactive about your career and needs. For instance, I asked about a bike-to-work scheme and it was sorted. We requested additional health support, and the dental plan was added to our list of benefits. EDLA is really invested in the team’s well-being and job satisfaction, but you have to be too. I would say that the culture at EDLA would suit entrepreneurial and ambitious spirits. If you have the drive to work hard, be open-minded to explore all the different areas of Landscape Architect, and want to make your mark, you will succeed. As a newer business, there is energy and agility that allows us to try new things. Which is great for experience.

What is next for you?

Learning to delegate and manage people, plus gaining a better understanding of the financial side of the business better. Plus continuing to develop my own skills and experience, I love what I do and want to be the best.

Are you ambitious and hungry to make your mark? We are recruiting, join our team now and work with us on some extraordinary projects. We create spaces that connect people to nature. Find out more here