RIBA members are architects first and business owners second, and it’s this second element of the profession that often doesn’t come naturally to architects. Existing in such fluctuating socio-political and economic trading conditions makes running a business even more difficult.
However, help is available.
RIBA’s Practice In A Box section on architecture.com contains an array of free resources, management tools and essential guidance that has been brought together to help architects manage a successful practice.
The range of business support products and services, from technology advice to payroll services and vital benchmarking data is just one side of the resource. The portal also offers free tools for the management of projects that members may be surprised to find.
What’s in Practice In A Box for project management?
Free project management resources include:
Supplements for the RIBA Job Book
Ready-to-use templates and checklists that supplement this standard reference for running projects.
Support with briefing your client
The RIBA Briefing Template and Tracker supports the critical conversation between client and architect about project outcomes, starting from the first point of contact and running through the initial design stages.
Risk tracking tool and checklist
The Building in Quality Tracker will improve long term outcomes in construction by collaboratively tracking risks to quality, using a Memorandum of Understanding, a quality tracker and a quality checklist.
Pre-construction information on appointments
Templates and practical guides to help architects discharge their duties as Designers and Principal Designers under CDM 2015.
Meanwhile, The RIBA Fee Calculator is a powerful digital tool that allows all RIBA Chartered Practices to prepare resource-based fee calculations of the kind a large practice’s finance director might prepare.
Practice In A Box also links to RIBA Professional Services and Buildings Contracts (Chartered Members and RIBA Chartered Practices get a discount on all digital RIBA Contracts) and allows the downloading of complete sets of accompanying RIBA Contract administrations forms.
What resources reference sustainability?
Climate resources include:
Information and an invitation to join the RIBA’s 2030 Climate Challenge. Encouraging architects and project teams to design within a climate conscious trajectory toward reaching net zero (which will also be reviewed in the upcoming UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard)
Sustainable Outcomes Guide, which defines the eight sustainable outcomes that correspond to key UN Sustainable Development Goals;
The Plan for Use Guide, which offers advice on managing the delivery of high-performing, efficient and comfortable buildings through each stage of the RIBA Plan of Work.
Find out more about 2030 Climate Challenge resources
What Plan of Work overlays are available?
Plan of Work Overlays drafted by leading specialists are gathered together on the portal, each offering detailed guidance on specific design considerations that can be implemented through each RIBA Plan of Work stage.
The suite of overlays comprises of:
- Design for Manufacture and Assembly Overlay for the implementation of seven categories of Modern Methods of Construction
- Passivhaus Overlay setting out key actions and processes needed to deliver Passivhaus-certified projects
- Security Overlay for the safe and secure design, construction and operation of any building
- Inclusive Design Overlay for implementation of inclusive design through each work stage
- Engagement Overlay for successful and collaborative project outcomes
- Smart Building Overlay for aligning decision making with provision of smart building technology
All of these can be read alongside the RIBA Plan of Work Overview 2020 to the RIBA Plan of Work 2020 for complete guidance on the design and construction process of buildings.
What other free resources are there in Practice in a box?
Checking out the variety of tools and services available to help you run your business may also reveal some unexpected free resources.
Did you know that Chartered Practices can access unlimited telephone advice on HR and employment law, plus webinars and an exclusive business library, from RIBA partner Croner?
There are sample policies in the RIBA Chartered Practice Toolbox that have been developed to help practices meet the policy requirements of the RIBA Chartered Practice scheme, demonstrating your commitment to professional and ethical practice. These include a complete Quality Management System based on ISO 9001:2015
The portal explains how RIBA Chartered Members can access a Specialist Practice Consultant for a free 15-minute consultation on areas such as contracts, liability, intellectual property, disputes and planning.
It also describes the range of Business support products and services that have been developed by RIBA, all tailored to support architectural practices, such as financial guidance, technology advice, payroll services and more.
Practice in a box can also be your gateway to valuable Business Benchmarking data, RIBA Future Trends reports that monitor emerging employment and business trends, and RIBA’s extensive range of free and paid-for CPD seminars and courses designed to develop staff competence.
One of the latest free resources is a Guide to professional indemnity insurance, commissioned to give practitioners confidence when dealing with insurers and the PI renewal process – how to find quality insurance cover and stay risk aware.
Visit the Practice in a box portal.
Text by Neal Morris. This is a Professional Feature edited by the RIBA Practice team. Send us your feedback and ideas.
RIBA Core Curriculum topic: Business, clients and services.
As part of the flexible RIBA CPD programme, professional features count as microlearning. See further information on the updated RIBA CPD core curriculum and on fulfilling your CPD requirements as a RIBA Chartered Member.
