The inaugural RIBA 'Working with Architects' client survey was completed by nearly 1,000 clients. The results will help benchmark client attitudes, inform future RIBA policy, and for the first time gather a body of evidence demonstrating the value of working with architects. They also give valuable insights into what clients want, information that architects can use to improve how they win and deliver work.
The 'Working with Architects' client survey is the latest project under phase two of the RIBA for Clients initiative, overseen by the RIBA Client Liaison Group. Chaired by Nigel Ostime of Hawkins\Brown, it was set up to understand clients' experiences of working with architects and the value they bring to the project team.
We are engaging with clients to develop architectural knowledge by listening and learning and feeding back to the profession. The objective is to provide architects with researched insights into the changing needs of major categories of clients so that together we can shape our services to better support their outcomes.
In the first phase of the initiative (2013 - 2015), we engaged with some 500 clients, gathering evidence through roundtable discussions and one-to-one interviews by sector. We covered contractor-led procurement, housing, retrofit, local authorities, schools, workplace, commercial developers, healthcare, heritage, transport & infrastructure and sport & leisure sectors. The findings are summarised in the influential report Client & Architect - developing the essential relationship.
Phase two also includes the work to pilot the Clients into Schools of Architecture programme where the RIBA sets up opportunities for students at various stages of their education to hear directly from clients.
