"Accessibility Advocate Intern shares insights on inclusive design and transport"

I didn’t just learn about transport accessibility this summer - I learned how values become action. Through the Purpose Lab (by the Purpose Coalition), I joined Southeastern Railway as an Accessibility Advocate Intern. It was a role that gave me far more than a behind-the-scenes look at the rail industry - it gave me insight into how purpose-led companies operate. One of the standout experiences was visiting stations along the Hayes and Hastings Lines to explore accessibility challenges: 🚉 Engaging with staff on the ground ♿️ Proposing clearer markings for mobility users 🪑 Suggesting more inclusive seating layouts 🧭 Building a case for “trial zoning” to reduce crowding and support neurodivergent passengers I realised that accessibility is both a design and communication issue - and that even small improvements can have a huge human impact. What left a lasting impression was Southeastern’s genuine commitment to embedding accessibility at every level. Not as an add-on, but as a core value. Thanks to Purpose Lab, I’ve come away with a sharper understanding of what inclusive design looks like - and a stronger belief in aligning purpose with policy. Because accessibility isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s a must-have. This post was adapted from a guest blog by Rutuja Patil, a student at the University of West London and a Purpose Lab ambassador. Read in full: https://lnkd.in/df_8z9tA #InclusiveTransport #AccessibilityMatters #PurposeLab #CareerGrowth #SocialImpact

We're so excited and so proud to announce Project Daisy's very first Work Experience Week, taking place from 3-7 November. The inaugural industry? Real estate. Curated by Charlie Green (co-founder of The Office Group, now Fora), this week will give students a 360-degree view of the real estate sector. Instead of spending five days inside one organisation, participants will meet leading professionals, visit projects, and explore every stage of the industry, from buying and financing, through design and construction, to marketing, operations, tech, and hospitality. And you'll get access to some of the biggest names in the industry: Blackstone, Derwent London, GPE, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, Fora, Compton, Waugh Thistleton Architects, Universal Design Studio, Cushman & Wakefield, Eastdil Secured and Brockton Everlast. This is what makes this unique: one week, an entire sector, and connections that students will carry with them into their future careers. And like all Project Daisy programmes, it's fully funded. Applications are now open to undergrad students in built environment related degrees. Applications close 10 October, and spaces are limited to 25 students. Apply here: https://shorturl.at/cDqoQ. #ProjectDaisy

🌿 Designing for Everyday Mobility Within Campuses When we think of mobility planning, we often focus on large-scale connectivity — but the most frequent, meaningful trips often happen within the campus itself. This visual explores how different kinds of trips — from a dorm-to-class walk to an off-campus commute — sit along two axes: • X-axis: from the closest point within campus → to the farthest point outside • Y-axis: from pedestrian & NMT (non-motorized transport) infrastructure → to reliable motorized mobility options What emerges is a clear insight: Most daily movements cluster around short distances within the campus — spaces where pedestrian comfort, shaded walkways, and active paths play a bigger role than vehicles. Yet, as we move outward, shuttle-based NMT systems become essential to connect remote parking, research labs, or nearby transit hubs safely and efficiently. A well-designed campus mobility plan needs both — 👣 Pedestrian-first environments that invite walking and social interaction, and 🚐 Shuttle/NMT networks that extend accessibility without increasing congestion. Together, they create campuses that are not just connected, but walkable, inclusive, and sustainable. #CampusPlanning #UrbanMobility #Walkability #SustainableDesign #NMT #UrbanDesign #ShuttlePlanning #ActiveMobility

Public space works best when it belongs to everyone. 🤝 Common spaces are the city’s shared living rooms, the streets, small parks, waterfront edges, and in-between places where daily life happens. They are bottom-up places, shaped by everyday users through co-creation, self-organization, and local stewardship. When design and governance enable this energy, common spaces foster co-presence, informal care, collective efficacy, and a grounded sense of safety. That is why we bring students into these places. Future city makers need clear, evidence-based methods to read spaces, test light-touch interventions, and evaluate what improves liveability, inclusion, and safety. Today, students from Norway, Portugal, and Italy – participating in the Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme Urban Transformation and Public Safety (BIP) - explored Rotterdam’s Hefpark. In mixed international teams, they carried out place-reading walks, mapped uses, edges, and sightlines, and shared a structured on-site lunch to exchange perspectives. The result was mutual understanding and a sense of shared ownership, the very conditions that sustain bottom-up CPTED outcomes such as natural surveillance, positive territoriality, and everyday stewardship. #UrbanTransformation #PublicSafety #SpatialAnalysis #ErasmusPlus #Rotterdam  Inholland University of Applied Sciences Universidade do Porto Università di Pisa Western Norway University of Applied Sciences Gemeente Rotterdam

What happened when TEDI-London’s summer school students tackled sustainable transport?🚲 The students spent three weeks immersing themselves in the topic and worked closely with transport consultants, property developers and transport planners. Here are the winning teams and their innovations: 🏆First Place (£2,000): Microhubbies – a smart cargo bike delivery system for implementation in the Canada water masterplan area. 👨🔬Team: Mohammed Nadeem, Tess Rickard, Aaron Kyazze, Gabriela Grabowska, Jordan Li. 🏆Second Place (£1,000): Light Lane – An integration of pedestrian and cycling infrastructure in pathways to prevent accidents using sensors and lights. 👨🔬Team: Arianne Teo Soucy, Guo Siang Huang, Elizabeth Felton, Sergio Kolling, Ethan Gaytan. Here’s what assistant Professor, Dr Matthew Thompson, CEng, PhD had to say about the experience: “𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘴. 𝘎𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘴, 𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦.” 📣 Find out more information about the students and their winning ideas here: https://lnkd.in/e62eYneg The Engineering & Design Institute London (TEDI-London) #Enterprise #Competition #University

Many paths lead to the city. Ever heard this saying? Every year, thousands of Built Environment graduates (including Architecture and Architectural Technology) enter the job market, yet there are far fewer roles available. Time and time again, Architecture and Architectural Technology graduates find themselves applying for the same positions, often in the same cities. But here’s the truth – there isn’t just one way into the industry. When I started my journey, I moved from London to Reading, Berkshire, to work for an engineering firm delivering residential projects across the South East. That’s right – I moved cities. My decision to take a path that wasn’t entirely conventional opened doors I could never have imagined. As I always say during the sessions, everyone’s journey is unique. If one route feels saturated (like London often does), why not explore another? Opportunities often grow where competition is lower or in unexpected places. Why not start creating yours now? 🚀 I’m so excited to announce: The next topic in the LAU:ARCH Series is “Navigating Career Paths in Architecture.” We’ll explore: - Alternative routes into the industry - Transferable skills that open unexpected doors - Emerging roles worth paying attention to - How to create your own opportunities ✨ Plus a live Q&A If you’re a student, graduate, or early career professional curious about what’s possible in Architecture, the Built Environment, and beyond, this session is for you. 📅 Thursday, 23rd October | 🕖 7:00 PM BST | 💻 Zoom 🎟 Reserve your spot: https://lnkd.in/ebT5rfpD (Only 30 spaces available) 👀 Guest speakers will be announced soon! #Architecture #ArchitecturalTechnology #BuiltEnvironment #ArchitectureCareers #EarlyCareerProfessionals #Graduates #CareerPaths #ProfessionalDevelopment

When a group of Year 9 students from Baimbridge College in Hamilton, VIC, visited Melbourne for an Urban Quest experience, many were facing something completely new: • Their first time on a train • Navigating a large city without direct teacher supervision • Relying on maps, problem-solving, and each other to get around Their teacher described how valuable it was to watch students build independence and teamwork in real time. “It gave them a chance to get lost in Melbourne, find their way around, and use problem-solving skills… They proved they can be trusted and work together outside a classroom.” This story reflects a common challenge for regional schools: How do you give students safe but genuine independence - the kind that develops confidence, decision-making, and collaboration - when many have never experienced a busy urban environment? Urban Quest offers a structured way to meet that challenge. By combining team-based challenges with city navigation, students explore Melbourne while practising the very skills they’ll need beyond school: communication, resilience, and real-world problem-solving. For teachers, it’s a chance to see students step up in ways that traditional excursions rarely reveal - future leaders emerging in unexpected places. Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/geFxP9Ze #RegionalSchools #SchoolExcursions #StudentEngagement #TeamBuilding #FutureSkills

Canary Wharf is now evolving into one of the capital’s leading life sciences hubs. At LS Estates, we’re proud to be part of this transformation through 17 Columbus Courtyard (17CC), a pioneering office-to-lab retrofit delivering sustainable, flexible laboratory and workspace to support innovation and collaboration. Beyond creating cutting-edge facilities, 17CC is also opening new pathways into construction, engineering and technology through The Knowledge Quad, an initiative by Morgan Sindall Construction that helps local people and young Londoners gain the skills to build future-ready careers. Good to see the project featured in Next Steps in London, a great resource that will be shared with hundreds of students across the Capital, helping school leavers discover opportunities and career pathways. Learn more and get involved: https://lnkd.in/eKDDSvMy

🧓🌍 FREE COURSE RECOMMENDATION FOR URBANISTS: #AgeFriendlyCities: Urban Mobility for an Ageing Population – a #Free Online Course by UMX by EIT Urban Mobility! What if your city worked for everyone – no matter their age? Designing cities that support older adults means creating safer, more inclusive, and healthier urban environments for all generations. This free, self-paced online course by EIT Urban Mobility - Urban Mobility Explained (UMX) explores how cities can adapt their streets, transit, and public spaces to meet the needs of an ageing population – with lessons relevant worldwide. 🔍 Why Take This Course? ✔️ Understand the global demographic shifts reshaping urban mobility. ✔️ Learn practical strategies to remove barriers for older adults. ✔️ Explore age-friendly design principles that benefit everyone. ✔️ Get inspired to make your city more accessible and future-ready. 🎓 Who Should Enrol: Urban planners, mobility professionals, architects, policymakers, students, and anyone passionate about creating cities that work for all ages. No prior experience needed! 📍 Location: Online 💬 Language: English 💸 Price: Free 👉 Find out more on All Things Urban:  https://lnkd.in/d-t8v8uW 🔗 Want more? Explore UMX’s full catalogue of free courses on urban innovation, mobility, and sustainability:  https://lnkd.in/dK6Uryur Let’s build cities where everyone can move, connect, and thrive – at every age. 🏙️ ——— If you think this course could inspire urbanists worldwide, give it a reshare ♻ and follow All Things Urban and EIT Urban Mobility - Urban Mobility Explained (UMX) for more learning opportunities like this. #UrbanMobility #AgeingPopulation #FreeCourse #OnlineCourse #EITUrbanMobility #UMX #InclusiveCities #UrbanPlanning #PublicSpace #AccessibleCities #FutureCities #UrbanInnovation #Sustainability #AllThingsUrban RMIT University EIT - European Institute of Innovation and Technology RMIT Europe

DUSP Open Learning is excited to announce the launch of a new course Introduction to Pedestrian Mobility in Cities, led by Andres Sevtsuk and Rounaq Basu. This course will help learners understand the principles of pedestrian mobility and how to plan high quality and inclusive pedestrian urban environments. The course is free to take with completion certificates available for a small fee. Enrollment is open. Please circulate widely in your networks! https://lnkd.in/ejNdgWPR