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2021

Year in Review

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ARB occupies a small but vitally important place in the built environment. Architects have a central role in creating a world in which the built environment inspires and allows people to feel safe. Our job is to deliver effective regulation so that architects and other professionals are empowered to build that world.

– Alan Kershaw, ARB Chair

Read the Chair's foreword to the Annual Report

We passionately believe that if regulation is to be effective, by enabling architects to be the best they can be and ensuring the continued confidence of those who use the services of architects, we need to listen and engage well.

– Hugh Simpson, Registrar and Chief Executive

Read the Chief Executive's foreword to the Annual Report
Hugh Simpson

Our work in 2021

1 Jan

ARB’s memorandum of understanding with the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI), our first MoU, comes into effect.

25 Feb

ARB launches a consultation on on new safety and sustainability guidance for education providers.

1 Mar

Cindy Leslie and Dr Teri Okoro are appointed to the Board.

25 Mar

ARB publishes new safety and sustainability guidelines for architects.

12 May

The Professional Qualifications Bill is introduced to Parliament.

5 Jul

The Building Safety Bill is introduced to Parliament.

3 Aug

ARB publishes new safety and sustainability guidance for institutions.

16 Aug

Government begins its review of architects regulation.

18 Aug

ARB publishes a policy paper outlining our principles for a new scheme for continuing professional development, and launch a major public engagement exercise to seek feedback on those principles.

7 Oct

ARB announces fundamental reforms to architectural education in a discussion document, and launches a survey to seek feedback on those principles.

14 Oct

ARB publishes a bold five-year Corporate Strategy, announcing ambitions to modernise the regulation of architecture.

28 Oct

ARB sets out and seeks views on a new approach to international routes to registration.

22 Nov

Governance and International is set up as a new directorate.

Facts and figures

Qualifications

Qualifications monitored across 53 institutions

(124 in 2020)

Qualifications renewed across 12 institutions

(14 in 2020)

Qualifications prescribed across nine institutions

(25 in 2020)

In 2021, we notified RIAI of:
  • Four new qualifications
  • Two new and additional qualification titles
  • Changes to two existing award titles
  • One institution as a new awarding body

Governance and International

MRAs under development

MoUs under development

Active MoU

Professional Standards

Total complaints received

(154 in 2020)

Complaints resolved without the need for formal action

(106 in 2020)

Complaints referred to the Professional Conduct Committee

(26 in 2020)

Incidents of title misuse investigated

(502 in 2020)

Complaints referred for investigation

(48 in 2020)

Suspensions

Erasure

Registration

Architects on the Register

(42,340 in 2020)

New admissions from the UK route

(1,355 in 2020)

New admissions from EU routes

(477 in 2020)

Architects removed from the Register

(1,643 in 2020)

Corporate

Financials

Expenditure 47% | Income 53%

We ended 2021 in a financially secure position, with income outweighing expenditure.

%

of suppliers paid within 30 days

(82% in 2020)

Total permanent staff at year end

(37 at the end of 2020)

New hires

Including 6 new roles

Policy and Communications

Average audience

For 6 eBulletins

Post views on social media

Members of the Architects Engagement Group

Visits to www.arb.org.uk

(791,848 individual pages viewed)

Attendees for 8 online events

Responses across four separate surveys and consultations

Followers on social media

Get in touch

Web: www.arb.org.uk

Email: info@arb.org.uk

Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7580 5861

Download the 2021 Annual Report and Financial Statements