From Sicily to Salford: Building a Career Through Determination

After moving to the UK in September 2023, Davide Salamone faced the challenge of adapting to a new country while studying in a language that was not his own. Although he had spent a year preparing for the move, understanding lectures delivered with different regional accents proved to be one of the biggest challenges during his first few months at university. 

Davide said: "The biggest challenge wasn't speaking English; it was understanding it. The English you study for language exams is very different from what you hear every day. Once I adapted, everything changed. I started enjoying every aspect of the course and realised I'd chosen exactly the right degree." 

Alongside his studies, he worked part-time while balancing the financial commitments of being an international student. At the same time, he was determined to gain experience within the architectural industry, building professional relationships and always looking for opportunities to showcase his work. 

One of those opportunities came unexpectedly during a shift at work, when a conversation with someone from the architectural profession led him to present his portfolio. That conversation eventually resulted in an interview and, later, a position as an Architectural Technologist while still completing his degree. 

Davide said: "One piece of advice I'd give to any student is to always keep your portfolio with you. I had mine saved on my phone through OneDrive, so I could access all of my work at any time. 

“You never know when you'll meet someone who asks to see what you can do, and being prepared can make all the difference." 

Balancing professional practice with the final year of his degree was demanding, but it also became one of the most valuable parts of his university experience. 

Davide said: "The final year was probably the most challenging because I was studying while working in practice. My priority was always university, but what I learned at work strengthened my assignments, and what I learned at university made me more effective professionally. The two complemented each other perfectly." 

His commitment throughout his studies was recognised with the CABE Best Final Year Student Award, alongside graduating with First-Class Honours. 

Davide said: "Using the same software and workflows that employers use every day meant the transition into practice felt natural. It was the moment I realised that everything we had been learning at university had a direct purpose." 

Now beginning his career as an Architectural Technologist, he plans to continue developing professionally while working towards Chartered status.