10 in 10 Chris Riley

Chris Riley, Director, at Leeds-based Edward Architecture is the latest regional professional in the hot seat as the p.ublished group of newspapers gives him just 10 minutes to answer our 10 burning questions.

What does a typical working day for you involve?

I like to get into the office relatively early as it’s a good opportunity to hit the to-do list before the phones start ringing and the emails begin to flood in. Every day is different and I am lucky to be able to work on a wide variety of exciting projects for some brilliant clients. I head up the residential sector so I could be working on site layouts, co-ordinating planning applications or overseeing projects at construction stage.

What makes your company special?

The people. We have a fantastic team at Edward Architecture who are passionate about delivering the best possible service to our clients. We place a great emphasis on encouraging and supporting their personal growth and career progression within the company. This culture is something that I benefited from greatly having joined Edward Architecture as a graduate, completing my qualifications with the practice and progressing to become a director.

Do you have any business rules that you swear by?

It’s so important to understand our clients. Even just within the housebuilding sector each of our clients has completely different needs and aspirations and it’s crucial that we take the time to understand these so that we can deliver a project that meets their objectives. Having a team that buys into this and shares the same values is something that has been fundamental to our success at Edward Architecture.

Do you dress up or down for work?

We’re quite relaxed about our dress code and feel that this helps to encourage a creative environment, but it’s still important to appear presentable and professional.

What piece of advice would you give to your 18-year old self?

When I was 18 a University tutor told me I should drop architecture and change my course, I’m glad I didn’t listen to that advice. So I would say don’t worry and believe in yourself.

What’s your favourite Yorkshire venue for an event or team away day?

York Races is a great day out, particularly when the sun is shining.

How do you prefer to travel for business?

The train can be a stress-free way to travel, particularly on longer trips to London for example. For day to day travel I like to use the car and unwind with a podcast, I’ve recently taken the leap to an electric car making this a more environmentally friendly way to get around.

What’s your favourite place in Yorkshire to relax?

With two young children there’s not much time to relax, but on weekends we like to have family days out to places like Ilkley, Knaresborough and Bolton Abbey. There are so many lovely places on our doorstep.

Where is your favourite place to eat in Yorkshire and what dish do you recommend?

Living in Leeds we’re spoilt for choice with many fantastic restaurants. I like most cuisines, but you can’t beat a good tapas restaurant. El Gato Negro is a particular favourite giving an opportunity to sample a range of different Spanish dishes, washed down with a nice bottle of Rioja Reserva of course.

What do you miss about Yorkshire when you are away?
I miss family, friends and my dog, but also just the home comforts such as sofa time and sleeping in my comfy bed.