RIBA responses to government consultations on business and trade
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) represents the architecture profession at the highest level as the UK continues to navigate its relationship with the EU, establish new international trade deals and works to deliver growth up and down the country.
Our consultation responses urge government to ensure that we maintain a good relationship with the EU, that trade deals open up new markets and that architecture is valued and supported by government to help practices grow.
Department for Business and Trade consultation: Invest 2035: the UK’s modern industrial strategy
November 2024
This consultation sought input to shape the UK’s new 10-year industrial strategy, aimed at driving economic growth by supporting high-growth sectors, creating quality jobs, and fostering business investment.
Our response urges the government to support the architecture sector to help drive growth by ensuring new developments include quality housing and community infrastructure, pursuing mutual qualification recognition with the EU and reclassifying architecture courses for equitable funding alongside disciplines like engineering.
Read our full response to the consultation on the UK's modern industrial strategy. (PDF)
Architects Registration Board: Consultation on the UK Adaptation Assessment
September 2022
This consultation sought views on the Architects Registration Board’s proposed UK Adaptation Assessment Procedures. Our response highlighted that the proposed assessment criteria were too broad and do not focus on UK specific issues. Further clarity on who is required to take the Adaptation Assessment is also needed.
Read our full response to the consultation on the UK Adaptation Assessment. (PDF)
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Choice on Units of Measurement: Markings and Sales
August 2022
This consultation sought views on the government’s plans to provide a choice on weights and measures for consumer transactions. Our response recommend that the construction and real estate sectors should be excluded from a choice in units of measurement. There is a need for metric consistency in the construction and real estate sectors to ensure standard working within UK projects and internationally. This is important for health and safety, climate commitments, consistency, and the UK architecture sector’s international reputation.
Read our full response to the consultation on units of measurement. (PDF)
Cabinet Office: Green Paper - transforming public procurement
March 2021
The proposals in the Green Paper aim to speed up and simplify the procurement process and prioritise value for money. Our response highlights that there are many welcome reforms in the paper, but we hope that the government is more ambitious. Many issues relating to the delivery of construction projects and the skills of contracting authorities remain unanswered.
Read our full response to the Green Paper on transforming public procurement. (PDF)
House of Lords - EU Services Sub-Committee: Future UK-EU relations: trade in services
February 2021
This inquiry looked at the future of UK-EU relations on trade in services, including the impact of the provisions set out in the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA).
Our response highlighted that while it was positive to see short-term business visas in the TCA, the lack of mutual recognition of professional qualifications and the end of the Erasmus+ scheme will affect the architecture sector.
Read our response to the inquiry on future UK-EU relations: trades in services. (PDF)
Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government: proposed amendments to the Architects Act 1997
January 2021
This consultation considers amendments to the Architects Act 1997 to promote and maintain standards of competence amongst architects registered in the UK, relating to building safety. Part B of the consultation builds on the UK’s post-Brexit regulatory system around the recognition of international qualifications for the purposes of registration as an architect in the UK.
Our response was shaped by the views of our members and wider profession and supports the allocation of new ARB powers to negotiate international agreements that will enable UK architecture to thrive and uphold the highest professional standards globally.
Read our response to the consultation on proposed amendments to the Architects Act 1997. (PDF)
Migration Advisory Committee – Shortage Occupation List
January 2019
In June 2018, the government commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to carry out a full review of the composition of the Shortage Occupation List.
Our response included information on measures practices have been taking to recruit, but are still having some difficulties.
Read our response to the Migration Advisory Committee's Shortage Occupation List. (PDF)
House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee: the impact of Brexit on the creative industries, tourism and the digital single market
October 2016
The House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee held and inquiry to find out if, post-Brexit, the UK be able to attract and retain talent from across the world in order to maintain its high reputation in the creative industries.
We included the importance of mutual recognition of professional qualifications, a commitment from government for funding for research and development, and that the government should look to strengthen existing and build new relationships partnerships with emerging research and science nations.
Trade negotiations
Response to the Business and Trade Committee: export-led growth inquiry
July 2023
The Business and Trade Committee has launched an inquiry into Export-led growth. The Committee will examine how well equipped the UK is to achieve the ambitious target set by the Government for growth in UK exports by the end of the current decade. It will also consider how the UK can take advantage of export opportunities in emerging technologies and critical international supply chains.
To promote growth, our response recommends that Government prioritises signing Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs), facilitating the movement of people, ensuring business certainty through standards harmonisation, promoting sustainable design leadership and securing Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with reduced tariffs for construction products.
Read our response to the inquiry on export-led growth (PDF)
House of Lords - International Trade Committee: UK-Australia trade negotiations and agreement
September 2021
The government has made a trade deal with Australia a priority. This inquiry focused on the government’s aims and objectives, the progress of negotiations, and the possible impacts of a final deal for people and businesses across the UK.
Our response highlighted that a trade deal with Australia must include mutual recognition of professional qualifications and enhanced business travel to help grow architectural exports between the two countries.
Read our response to the inquiry on UK-Australia trade negotiations. (PDF)
House of Commons - International Trade Committee: UK trade negotiations
December 2020
This inquiry focused on the government’s aims and objectives, the progress of negotiations, and the possible impacts of trade deals and negotiations being secured by the Department for International Trade.
Our response highlighted the importance of a trade deal with Australia and New Zealand, and the opportunities and risks that a trade deal presents.
Read our response to the International Trade Committee inquiry on UK trade negotiations. (PDF)
House of Lords - EU International Agreements Sub-Committee: UK-New Zealand trade negotiations
September 2020
This inquiry focused on the government’s aims and objectives, the progress of negotiations, and the possible impacts of a final trade deal with New Zealand for people and businesses across the UK.
Our response highlighted that it was good to see that mutual recognition of professional qualifications, and that enhancing business travel was included in the negotiating objectives with New Zealand.
Read our response to the UK-New Zealand trade negotiations inquiry. (PDF)
House of Lords - EU International Agreements Sub-Committee: UK-Australia trade negotiations
September 2020
This inquiry focused on the government’s aims and objectives, the progress of negotiations, and the possible impacts of a final trade deal with Australia for people and businesses across the UK.
Our response highlighted that it was good to see that mutual recognition of professional qualifications (MRPQs) was included in the negotiating objectives, and that it was welcome that the architecture sector was a priority area for MRPQs with Australia.
Read our response to the UK-Australia trade negotiations inquiry. (PDF)
Department for International Trade: the UK Global Tariff
March 2020
The UK Global Tariff will apply to goods imported into the UK on 1 January 2021. This consultation sought views on what goods should have tariffs and at what tariff levels should apply.
Our response welcomed the changes to remove nuisance tariffs and creating standardised tariff bands. We also highlighted the potential disruption if goods must be physically stopped and checked at the border.
Read our response to the UK Global Tariff consultation (PDF).
Department for International Trade: Trade with Japan
November 2019
As the UK leaves the EU, the government is looking to form new Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with countries around the world. The Department for International Trade consulted on what an FTA with Japan should include.
Our response highlighted that any trade deal with Japan must include an effective clause on mutual recognition of professional qualifications.
Read our response to the trade with Japan consultation. (PDF)
International Trade Committee inquiry: Department for International Trade’s support for exports
February 2019
The International Trade Committee launched an inquiry into the Department for International Trade’s support for exports. Promoting and supporting UK exports is a core task of the Department and this consultation examined whether the plans that were set out in the government’s strategy provided sufficient levels of support to UK businesses wishing to export.
We responded by highlighting the biggest challenges facing architectural practices seeking to start working internationally. These include getting the right information about potential markets, finding local partners to work with, securing the financial backing they need and a lack of on-the-ground support.
Read our response to the International Trade Committee regarding exports. (PDF)
Department for International Trade: Trade with Australia
October 2018
The Department for International Trade consulted on what an FTA with Australia should include.
Our response highlighted the need for mutual recognition of professional qualifications and the difficultly of working in Australia due to the time and costly nature of obtaining a visa.
Read our response to the trade with Australia consultation. (PDF)
Department for International Trade: Trade with New Zealand
October 2018
The Department for International Trade consulted on what an FTA with New Zealand should include.
We highlighted in our response that the UK is the second-largest provider of services imports into New Zealand. The UK also already has good cultural and social links with New Zealand, making it an attractive prospect for a trade deal.
Read our response to the trade with New Zealand consultation. (PDF)
Department for International Trade: Trade with the United States
October 2018
The Department for International Trade consulted on what an FTA with the United States should include.
Our response noted that the RIBA already has seven chapters in the US and that mutual recognition of professional qualifications is essential to strengthening architectural exports to the US.
Read our response to the trade with the United States consultation. (PDF)
House of Lords EU Internal Market Sub-Committee: Inquiry on UK-EU trade in non-financial services post-Brexit
October 2016
The EU Internal Market Sub-Committee launched a short inquiry on Brexit: Trade in services between the UK and the EU.
Our response included the importance of maintaining the UK’s world-class architectural sector, maintaining a skilled and innovative profession and retaining mutual recognition of professional qualifications.
Read our response to the House of Lords EU Internal Market Sub-Committee. (PDF)
