The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has launched a new initiative called Springboard to Chartered Practice, which is designed to help recently established practices to gain Chartered status, and so gain access to the associated benefits and services.
Practices will receive a comprehensive package including CPD seminar, a copy of the Good Practice Guide: Starting a Practice, and a dedicated telephone advice line for participants offered by the Practice Department, to assist practices in fulfilling the necessary requirements to become chartered.
The CPD seminars are planned for 31 March 2009 in London and 7 April 2009 in Manchester. Topics covered will include business planning, marketing, fee bidding, forms of practice and tax and insurance issues. Practices can send up to two delegates to the seminar, in the location of their choice. Attendees will also have the opportunity to network and share experiences with other practitioners.
It is hoped that most of the practices which sign up to the scheme will be able to achieve Chartered Practice status by June 2009, the beginning of the subscription year for Chartered Practices – any practices completing the Springboard scheme and qualifying in advance of the renewal deadline will be given immediate free entry for the remaining period. The scheme is also open to existing chartered practices, who would like to take advantage of the benefits offered by the programme.
Adrian Dobson, Director of Practice at the RIBA said:
"The aim of this scheme is to support members in their business development and help them to identify marketing strategies for this current challenging economic climate. The RIBA is committed to helping its membership during these uncertain times, and has a number of initiatives which can help you survive the recession and be better geared up for any economic up-turn. While recessions always lead to job losses in construction, recent history suggests they also generate many new architectural practices, because unemployed and under-employed architects often prefer to go it alone. We also want the scheme to be attractive to existing practices who wish to achieve accreditation, and for existing Chartered Practices who feel they would benefit from brushing up on their business skills."