2025 Year in Review

As Chair and Chief Executive, we are pleased to jointly introduce the 2025 Annual Report and Financial Statements of the Architects Registration Board (ARB).

2025 was the final year of our Corporate Strategy 2022-26. We are proud to say that over the past four years we have made substantial progress across our regulatory responsibilities and laid strong foundations to support a confident, competent profession capable of delivering a built environment that meets the needs of modern society.

The Grenfell Tower tragedy remains a stark reminder of the importance of safety, ethics, and professional accountability across the built environment. A profession that earns and sustains public trust begins with robust education and training, underpinned by clear standards and oversight.

During this Strategy period, we have undertaken a fundamental reform of architectural education and training. We have overhauled the competency outcomes required as part of the initial education and training of architects, we have introduced a new flexible regulatory regime allowing learning providers to innovate with new models of delivery, better integrating academic theory and practice, as well as reducing the time taken to qualify as an architect. All UK qualified architects in future will still be required to have achieved a Master’s level qualification, supplemented with a Professional Practical Experience and Practice Qualification, but with new routes into the profession from related degrees, or relevant prior professional experience.

We’re delighted that, in 2025, three new-style Master’s-level degrees were approved and set for accreditation for the first time. This represented a significant milestone in delivering our vision for an education framework that equips future architects with the skills, knowledge and professional judgement required in a dynamic and evolving sector.

Last year also saw the introduction of our new Code of Conduct and Practice, which came into effect on 1 September. The Code provides a clear and accessible framework to support architects in making ethical and accountable professional decisions. The new Code strengthens the link between professional standards and public confidence and reinforces the values that underpin safe and competent practice.

Continuing professional development (CPD) remains central to maintaining competence throughout an architect’s career. It was therefore deeply encouraging to see the extremely high level of engagement with ARB’s CPD scheme in 2025. This strong participation reflects a profession committed to excellence and to prioritising public safety. As a regulator, we are equally committed to supporting architects in meeting their regulatory responsibilities. We will continue to review and streamline our processes, improve how we communicate CPD requirements, and ensure that our CPD scheme remains relevant and proportionate.

We are also clear that the Register of Architects should better reflect the diversity of the society it serves. In May, we published an Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Strategy for 2025-27, setting out our strategic goals to foster greater inclusivity within the architects’  profession and address barriers to entry and progression. In parallel with this work, we have committed to improving access to the UK Register for competent individuals with qualifications from outside the UK by simplifying the examination process and removing unintended barriers.

In October, we launched a public consultation on a proposed registration assurance process for individuals who hold partial qualifications but who do not have an undergraduate degree in architecture. This proposed route is designed to ensure that those who can demonstrate the required competence and knowledge are able to seek registration without undertaking unnecessary, lengthy or costly additional assessments, while maintaining our rigorous standards of public protection.

None of this progress would have been possible without constructive feedback and challenge from the profession and others within the sector. We would also not have achieved this positive change without the dedication and expertise of our Board members, staff and associates. We extend our sincere thanks for their dedication and support in delivering ARB’s mission.

As we look forward, we remain committed to ensuring ARB is a modern, effective regulator that upholds high standards and supports the evolving needs of both architects and the public.