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ARB Annual Report highlights significant progress made in 2025 towards strategic goals

July 7, 2026 | News Release

The 2025 Annual Report and Financial Statements of the Architects Registration Board (ARB) have today been laid in parliament, highlighting significant progress in modernising the regulation of architects and strengthening public protection during the final year of its 2022–2026 Corporate Strategy.

The report outlines a year of substantial reform across architectural education, professional standards and regulatory services, alongside continued investment in digital transformation and organisational capability.

Among the year’s key achievements was the approval of the first three Master’s-level qualifications under ARB’s new education and training framework. The reforms are designed to provide more flexible routes into the profession while maintaining rigorous standards of competence and public protection. ARB welcomed the final report of the Professional Practical Experience (PPE) Commission, and responded to its recommendations with the publication of a comprehensive action plan to reform how trainees engage in PPE.

The annual report also marks the introduction of ARB’s new Architects Code of Conduct and Practice, which came into effect in September 2025. The Code sets out a modern framework for professional behaviour and ethics, reinforcing the standards expected of architects and strengthening public confidence in the profession.

Continuing professional development (CPD) remained a major focus throughout the year. ARB completed the second full cycle of its mandatory CPD scheme, with high levels of engagement from architects across the UK. The regulator also introduced new technology to improve the efficiency of reviewing CPD submissions while confirming that all regulatory decisions continue to be subject to human assessment.

The report highlights continued progress in improving access to the profession, including publication of a new Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, consultation on new registration routes, and measures to reduce unnecessary barriers for individuals with international and non-traditional qualifications.

Internationally, ARB signed a new Mutual Recognition Agreement with its Canadian counterpart, supporting professional mobility while maintaining regulatory standards.

For more facts and figures about ARB’s role and work, and to read the full report, please visit the Year in Review webpage on the ARB website.

 

ENDS

Notes for editors

 

About ARB

ARB is an independent professional regulator, established by Parliament as a statutory body, through the Architects Act, in 1997. We are accountable to government.

The law gives ARB a number of core functions:

  • To ensure only those who are suitably competent are allowed to practise as architects. We do this by approving the architecture qualifications required to join the Register of Architects.
  • To maintain a publicly available Register of architects so anyone using the services of an architect can be confident that they are suitably qualified and are fit to practise.
  • To set the standards of conduct and practice the profession must meet and take action when any architect falls below the required standards of conduct or competence.
  • To set requirements for and monitor the continuous professional development that architects must undertake, to provide assurance to the public about the continuing competence of the profession.
  • To protect the legally restricted title ‘architect’.

 

For more information, please contact media@arb.org.uk