By Alan Vallance, RIBA Chief Executive / Jane Duncan, RIBA President
No job can be done well without the right tools – regardless of profession.
Give a professional photographer a cheap, dated and faulty camera and you can guarantee the images won’t be up to scratch.
Architects are no different. People at all levels of practice need a top-of-the-range toolbox to do the best job they can. If you want to be industry leading or industry changing, you’ve got to have to have a good and ever growing toolbox.
Knowledge is power
Architects with up to date knowledge and skills can get ahead of the game and fast track their career.
Whether newly qualified or more experienced, we all have gaps in our knowledge, whether that be concerning the ongoing digitisation of design and construction, the latest techniques or a lack of time in practice.
In a fast changing, challenging and technologically driven industry, it’s more important than ever to build your knowledge and skills to get the job done better and faster.
RIBA offers a range of practical tools which allow architects and practice managers to increase their toolbox and face challenges with confidence.
Equip yourself with the right tools
Knowledge is the key to progression and development, and newly qualified architects can gain a career advantage by updating and broadening their skills with RIBA Chartered Membership.
CPD is obligatory for Chartered Members and you’ll be expected to undertake 35 hours, with 20 of those hours coming from 10 core curriculum topics:
- Being safe - health and safety
- Climate - sustainable architecture
- External management - client, users and delivery of services
- Internal management - professionalism, practice, business and management
- Compliance - legal, regulatory and statutory framework and processes
- Procurement and contracts
- Designing and building it - structural design, construction, technology and engineering
- Where people live - communities, urban and rural design and the planning process
- Context - the historic environment and its setting
- Access for all - universal or inclusive design.
Some of core curriculum should be structured, but some can be informal, self-directed, reading or microlearning, and CPD doesn’t need to have to be accredited by the RIBA to count.
With more than 1,200 free in-house CPD materials, opportunities and low-cost seminars held around the UK, RIBA offers a wider range of CPD seminars across all learning levels.
You can fast track your career with our Future Leaders programme, CPD 2017, Principal Designer course and Guerilla Tactics conference. Using learning levels as a guide, search for the right RIBA-accredited course for you.
Online mentoring allows you to learn the latest tools, tips and techniques, and there are more than 400 regional and national networking opportunities open to RIBA members every year.
People make practices perfect
Architecture is a knowledge business. People are a practice’s best asset and giving them additional tools and skills will boost their knowledge and give your business the edge.
Our CPD materials and programmes cover from everything from BIM, digital design business management, regulations and legal issues. There’s thousands of free advisory documents and educational articles, guidance on CDM 2015 or Principal Designer role and a range of free, paid for, traditional and online CPD seminars. You can find out more on our CPD Programme page.
Since the Health and Safety Executive’s CDM 2015 Regulations came into force, we have been offering a range of half-day to two-day courses on the Principal Designer role. As well as providing the skills, knowledge and experience at professional standards, this Principal Designer Course 2017 offers real business benefits.
