I started work with Norwich City Council’s Architects Department, working principally on community projects. I subsequently joined a large architectural practice, working on large education projects, housing association schemes, etc. This was followed by five years with a small practice to gain experience of smaller scale, mainly residential projects.

I then chose to become self-employed and worked in a freelance capacity for a large Norwich practice. This provided me with experience of working in a very commercial environment and on projects ranging from private hospitals to small scale high profile buildings and refurbishments.

In 1988, I started my own practice and shortly after entered into partnership, forming Gibbs Bonner Minns Partnership. We have recently incorporated and changed our trading name to GBM Architecture Ltd. I have found running my own business extremely enjoyable but not without challenge. The rewards have been many, but in particular feeling that I have been in control of my own destiny.  Whilst my practice has not grown significantly since its formation, we have attracted a vast array of projects, ranging from small domestic to very large industrial and commercial.

I believe that it is important not to specialise when running a small practice but to hone one’s skills to allow one to take on a wide range of project types. This approach has enabled us to work through the recession of the late eighties and early nineties virtually unscathed and has ensured a regular flow of work ever since.