Architects play a crucial role in creating a built environment that is safe and sustainable, and where everyone can live well.
The Architects Registration Board (ARB) is the independent professional regulator of the architects’ profession. Established by Parliament as a statutory body through the Architects Act in 1997, we are accountable to government. We work to ensure that good standards within the profession are consistently maintained for the benefit of the public.
It is an important and exciting time for ARB. In 2022, we started work to deliver a new five-year corporate strategy;the strategy sets our vision and programme of work to modernise and improve the regulation of architects. Our Board is committed to approaching regulation in a positive and purposeful way so that we play the fullest part we can in responding to key challenges including climate change, sustainability and fire and life safety design.
Our strategy commits us to modernising the way that architects are educated and trained which, if approved following engagement and consultation, could be the most significant changes to architectural education and training in 50 years. We are also developing a new mandatory model for continuing professional development of architects, underpinned by legislation in the Building Safety Bill. This was a key recommendation emerging from Dame Judith Hackitt’s report, Building a safer future.
We are also undertaking an organisational transformation to modernise outdated systems, processes and information technology so that we can deliver our statutory functions in a more effective and efficient way and make our organisation more accessible to the public and to architects.
Our Board members play a vital role in helping to shape and approve ARB’s strategy and policies and hold the executive team to account for the delivering of its statutory functions. Our Board members find that their roles provide them with the opportunity to shape the future of the architects’ profession and enable the profession to maximise its impact in shaping the built environment. The Boardroom Apprentice Programme would provide opportunities to observe our Board and Committee meetings as we work towards achieving our ambitious strategy. By being involved in the Apprentice Programme, we hope that we will be helping to support a wide and diverse range of future candidates who would like to participate in public life by being board members of public bodies such as ARB, and who would like to be involved in making decisions that shape and deliver government policy and public services.
Why the Architects Registration Board is supporting Boardroom Apprentice
ARB considers the Boardroom Apprentice programme to be an important and valuable initiative to help grow a more diverse board community in an organic way, supporting efforts to create a new generation of diverse senior leaders and ‘board ready’ candidates.
We are currently a host board (for 2023) and based on our experience to date we can see that being a part of the scheme is providing a valuable learning experience for our apprentice and our Board.
We aim to provide practical boardroom experience for aspiring board members.
Along with the transfer of knowledge, skills and experience to apprentices, the programme is also an opportunity for our Board members to get a new perspective on various subject matters dealt by the ARB Board. Apprentices are also encouraged to share their experience at ARB on social media. This will encourage future applicants and provides an insight into the boardroom of public sectors.
We are excited about and want to continue to be a part of this positive movement towards creating equal opportunities to candidates from all ages, ability and ethnicity. ARB is committed to fostering a culture of equality, diversity and inclusion in our organisation and taking part in the Boardroom Apprentice Programme helps to ensure change occurs in terms of boardroom diversity.
Location of Board and Committee Meetings
The ARB’s offices are based in London at 8 Weymouth Street, London, W1W 5BU, however, meetings may take place in other locations around the UK or via video conferencing.
Frequency and timing of board/committee meetings
We are yet to set our Board/Committee dates for 2024, but it is likely that we will hold at least 5 Board business meetings (typically held between 10am/10.30am and 4pm/4.30pm);at least 5 Board workshop meetings (typically held between 10am/10.30am and 4pm/4.30pm).
It is also likely that we will hold up to 4 Audit and Risk Assurance Committee meetings;up to 4 People Committee meetings and at least 6 Accreditation Committee meetings. Timings will vary but each committee meeting is likely to last 2-3 hours.
Date of Board Meetings (January 2024 – December 2024)
We are yet to set our Board/Committee dates for 2024, but should be in a position to confirm the 2024 dates during the late summer 2023.
Committee of the Boards and meeting dates (January 2024 – December 2024)
We are yet to set our Board/Committee dates for 2024, but should be in a position to confirm the 2024 dates during the late summer 2023.
