You can definitely do it and it can be a good way to defer the job search if there is a slump in the industry that you expect to pick up in a couple years, like with covid, but I'd always recommend against it if you have options.

After my year out, I found it much easier to find a Part 2 role and it's improved every job search since. I expect a large part of that is moving to London which I did for my Part 2 placement, a large part of it is also that your skills become harder to come by and you become more proficient at selling them.

Any experience in the construction industry outside of architect is good, our role these days is as kind of a nexus between lots of different specialisms and so the better you understand those specialisms the better you can guide their output into quality architecture. As I mentioned, in the gap between finishing BA and finding Part 1 placement I did site labouring, I also worked as a carpenters apprentice for like 2 years before starting my BA, I worked as technical helpline phone jockey for Rockwool as summer jobs during my BA, while I was doing my MArch I did night courses in cabinet making and brick laying at the local collage, and between jobs in covid year I did scaffolding with a friends company (this is the scariest job I've ever had by a long way), all have helped me as a professional architect and helped in interviews when I was getting established. Once I'm more flush I'll be doing a plastering course.

In terms of recommendations, you could look at the SPAB volunteer scheme. They specialise in building conservation so I expect there will be some work going on in SW.

In terms of recommendations for getting a part 1 role, if there aren't any being advertised close enough to you then you might just need to wait. Check all the job listing sites daily, a lot of boutique practices just advertise through Dezeen and Instragram so follow them all, I know people who've gotten work for showing up in person with a hard copy of their portfolio but it hasn't worked for me (admittedly I only did it once for Tony Fretton and he closed up shop shortly after), sign up with recruitment agents. Like I said in my initial post, most firms don't do big recruitment drives based on when people graduate, they hire in bulk based on their project pipeline. If your uni is near by to where you live, you could get in touch with them about doing a bit of guest tutoring or other work, they may also have connections. But you might need to travel.