Manchester entrepreneur launches architecture franchise for women

A Manchester entrepreneur has launched what she said is the first-ever franchise for female architects in the UK.

Architect Lisa Raynes is the mind behind Pride Rd, a new architectural practice franchise with the dual aim of offering homeowners a bespoke design service while empowering businesswomen.

The idea for a female-only franchise came to Lisa after she was twice made redundant while on maternity leave, despite studying at the same university as her male colleagues and having the same experience working in busy practices.

She commented: “There is a problem in our industry. At university there is a 50-50 split between men and women studying architecture, however, in the workplace only 25% of the architects registration board and only 17.5% of RIBA members are female.”

When she was made redundant for the second time Lisa founded Lisa Raynes Architecture to fit around her lifestyle.

Going on to manage the company while raising her three children, getting divorced and planning a wedding to her new partner, Lisa saw the business model could become a franchise for other women.

She continued: “I put two and two together, the problems in our industry and my successful business model, and realised it had franchise potential.”

On the back of its launch, Pride Rd has already secured its first two franchisees – ARB architect Magdalena Haener, owner of the Manchester south franchise, and RIBA-chartered architect Catherine Traynor, who runs the Liverpool south arm.

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