Meet The Expert: Mark Flackett - Senior Architectural Technologist

Describe your role at Wyvern.

As a company Wyvern are often asked to assess potential properties that Clients are looking at purchasing / renting to ascertain their suitability for adaptation. As a Senior Architectural Technologist, once the property is purchased or the let is agreed, my role is to meet with disabled clients and their carers or parents along with Occupational Therapists to discuss their needs, and agree a design. Once this has been established, I then prepare drawings to gain statutory approvals such as Planning and Building Regulation approvals, we then prepare further detailed drawings and specification which are sent out to tender and appoint the chosen contractor, we then prepare and administer the contract during the construction phase and attend site meetings to deal with any queries, to ensure compliance, right up until completion of the project and beyond, we are always on hand.

Can you tell us a little about your professional background?

I started my career straight from college through a local training provider with a placement in 1998 at a large Architectural Practice in Stoke-on-Trent called Hulme Upright, where I had the benefit of being mentored by some incredibly talented and technically minded people, I attended 5 years of college during my placement and qualified in 2003, while drawing has always been my passion I started to realise that I had a desire to run projects on site, meeting new people and working with them is my favourite part of the job, so I actively pursued that and they gave me a chance to run some nice projects which gave me the experience I needed to gain my Chartered status with CIAT which I achieved in 2010. Since then I have worked at multiple practices as well as in Local Authority, working on a wide variety of projects including small extensions, new build houses, conversions of buildings into multiple dwelling, schools, industrial units, offices and multi storey student accommodation schemes.

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What led you to pursuing that career?

I have always been interested in Architecture from a young age but also had a fascination about how things work and how they are put together, enjoying science as well as a passion for drawing. Following my work experience during school, technical drawing at a local engineering firm, I decided that I enjoyed the drawing side more than the engineering side. I had initially been put off qualifying as an Architect due to the long education involved but at a local careers event I discovered the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) which seemed like a great way of combining science and engineering with Architecture. I found a local training provider who placed students within Architectural practices and paid their tuition fees. This was a great way of learning the job as all costs were covered and the hands on experience of working while training was invaluable.

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How long have you been doing it for?

I started this career on 22nd June 1998 so 2025 will be my 27th year.

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What is your favourite part of the job?

My favourite aspect of the job has always been meeting new people but since joining Wyvern I think it has to be the knowledge that I am helping people with very significant needs to achieve something that will help change their lives for the better.

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What is the most challenging aspect of your job?

Keeping up to date with the constantly changing rules and regulations as well juggling multiple projects at once that are generally all at various stages has always been a big challenge but since joining Wyvern I have been pleasantly surprised with the amount of professionals that are involved in projects and it is a testament to the level of service that our clients require, so having those extra boxes to tick is an extra challenge.

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What do you like to do outside of work?

I am married with two sons so love to spend time with family, particularly doing outdoor activities, I am a fan of running and also enjoy reading, particularly sci fi and fantasy. As well as being a big film buff and knowing a bizarre amount of random movie trivia, I am a huge heavy metal fan so try to get to as many festivals and gigs as I can.

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If you weren’t in your current role, what would you be doing?

Can I say lead singer of Iron Maiden? If not then definitely something practical and technical.

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Tell us an interesting fact /? something we don’t know about you.

Though my training has waned over the years since having children, I hold a 2nd degree black belt in Tae Kwon-do, I am also a qualified Tae Kwon-do referee and have officiated multiple competitions over the years, including world championships. It is something I would love to (and will at some point) throw myself back into.

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If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be & why?

My love of Architecture started with the Mayan and Incan Civilizations, so somewhere like Peru or Mexico would certainly be top of the list.

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