ARB outlines four key goals as part of new EDI Strategy 

The Architects Registration Board (ARB) has announced its new Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Strategy for 2025-2027, setting out a bold vision to foster greater inclusivity within the architects’ profession and remove barriers to entry and progression. As part of its commitment to the new strategy, ARB has invited proposals for a major research project that will help ARB evaluate whether its education reforms and other changes are improving access to the architect’s profession. 

ARB’s new EDI strategy establishes four goals designed to create meaningful change both within ARB itself and across the profession it regulates. The first two of ARB’s goals are focused on its legal remit and powers; the remaining two go further to describe a future vision for the profession that would deliver better outcomes for the public, and can only be achieved through genuine collaboration across the profession. 

The four goals are: 

1. A more inclusive ARB 
2. Increased access to the Register for underrepresented groups 
3. More inclusive workplace cultures that remove barriers to progression
4. An end to discrimination and sexual harassment in the profession

Speaking on the new strategy, ARB Chair Alan Kershaw said: 

“This strategy is a bold step toward building a profession that truly reflects the diversity of our society, and a profession where talent and ability, not background or circumstance, determine success. We know the Register does not yet represent the society it serves, and that must change. This strategy is about more than promises – it outlines the actions we will take and are already taking to widen access to the Register.” 

 The goals are underpinned by activities ARB will undertake over the next three years and include: 

• Under Goal 1, the establishment of an internal working group in ARB to gather ideas from staff and set priorities for internal EDI improvements 
• Under Goal 2, research to help ARB evaluate whether its education reforms are improving access to the profession for underrepresented groups 
• Under Goal 3, a new registrant survey to gather data on demographics, career progression, and attrition among architects, to deepen understanding of diversity and trends in the profession 
• Under Goal 4, development of a resource hub for anyone experiencing discrimination, to help professionals to navigate difficult conversations and address unethical behaviour 

As part of its new EDI Strategy, in support of Goal 2, ARB has today invited tenders for a major research project to help ARB evaluate the effectiveness of its education reforms. ARB’s changes to education include introducing a new, flexible framework that is designed to create additional entry points and support a wider range of pathways to registration, with the ultimate aim of increasing access to the profession. To assess whether the reforms are improving access, ARB is currently inviting tenders from potential research partners to develop an evaluation framework. While broader societal and economic factors lie outside of its control, ARB has a clear responsibility for shaping routes into the profession. Researchers can review the research brief and submit a tender through Find a Tender. 

Developing the Strategy 

To develop the strategy, ARB commissioned Purpose Union, a consultancy specialising in social impact. The development process included a review of ARB’s legal remit, its procedures and policies, an analysis of best practices from other organisations, and in-depth consultations with key stakeholders, including RIBA and EDI-focused networks. Additionally, the strategy draws on ARB-commissioned research into culture and misconduct in architecture, conducted by Thinks Insight & Strategy. 

Delivering the Strategy 

Implementation of the strategy will begin in 2025 and will be embedded into ARB’s business plans over three years. While ARB acknowledges that not all of the goals will be achievable within three years, their inclusion reflects ARB’s commitment to driving long-term change and ensuring the architect’s profession is a profession that welcomes talent from all backgrounds. 

For further details on the strategy and the development process, please see the report from Purpose Union. 

 ENDS

Notes to editors 

Useful links 

• Download the Purpose Union report 
• See ARB’s Corporate Strategy 
• Research into workplace culture
• Purpose Union 

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’. 

Detail on the goals 

In the strategy ARB sets four goals, the first two of which are focused on ARB’s legal remit and powers, and the second two of which describe a future vision for the profession that ARB believes would deliver better outcomes for the public. The goals are described in more detail below: 

Goal 1: a more inclusive ARB. ARB will instil a positive culture of equality, diversity and inclusion that is demonstrated by how we recruit and treat our employees and associates and by ensuring that our services are inclusive and accessible for everyone who works with us.  

Goal 2: increased access to the register for underrepresented groups. ARB sets the competencies and recognises the qualifications required to join the Register of architects; whilst we cannot control societal and economic shifts, we do control the routes into the profession. In 2023 we announced reforms to the way future architects will be trained and educated, with a new flexible framework that will introduce new entry points and enable a range of pathways for qualification and registration. This goal aims to build upon those reforms by tracking entry to the profession, building on our data and evaluating the impact of our reforms on access. The activities continue work already started through our education reforms.  

Goal 3: more inclusive workplace cultures that remove barriers to progression. We believe that if the architects’ profession is drawn from and representative of different types of communities and lifestyles, it will be better equipped to design environments for different types of communities and lifestyles. We know from research with architects that an inclusive working environment in which all architects can thrive will have a positive impact on the quality of their work, on ethical behaviours, and on the wellbeing of architects. We therefore advocate for a culture that better supports architects to be the best professionals they can be, and removes barriers so that those in decision-making roles can also reflect the makeup of society.   

Goal 4: an end to discrimination and sexual harassment in the profession. The Equalities Act exists to protect people, and no one should experience discrimination or sexual harassment. We know from our research with architects that instances of discrimination and sexual harassment are concerningly high in their sector. As the regulator with a key responsibility to uphold standards within the profession, it is ARB’s role to not only investigate individual allegations of mistreatment, but to help foster an environment in which such behaviour is regarded as unacceptable. 

For further information please contact media@arb.org.uk