Architecture & Design Recruitment Agency

The UK route to architect qualification has three parts. Part 1 is an undergraduate architecture degree, typically three or four years, accredited by the ARB/RIBA. Part 2 is a postgraduate architecture qualification (typically a two-year Master of Architecture) also accredited. Between Parts 2 and 3, candidates complete at least 24 months of Practical Experience under a qualified mentor. Part 3 is the Professional Practice Examination, after which candidates can register with the ARB and use the title Architect. Alternative routes include the RIBA Studio route and the RIBA Apprenticeship route.

The RIBA Plan of Work 2020 is the UK's standard framework for building design and construction, published by the Royal Institute of British Architects and revised in 2020. It defines eight stages from Stage 0 (Strategic Definition) through Stage 7 (Use), with sustainability strategy embedded across each stage. Architects, consultants and contractors typically align their processes and deliverables to the Plan of Work stages on UK projects. Fluency with the 2020 revision, including the strategic sustainability outcomes, is expected on senior architect CVs.

CIAT is the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists, the UK chartered body for Architectural Technologists. MCIAT (Chartered) and FCIAT (Fellow) are its chartered grades. Architectural Technologists specialise in the technical design, detailing and construction documentation of buildings, working alongside RIBA-route architects rather than replacing them. Technologists typically lead RIBA Stage 4 technical design and production information in practices that combine the two routes. CIAT is distinct from RIBA/ARB and does not confer the protected title Architect.

Under Part 2A of the Building Safety Act 2022, a new Principal Designer role was created for Higher-Risk Building (HRB) projects in England, typically residential buildings at least 18 metres or seven storeys tall. This Principal Designer is distinct from the CDM 2015 Principal Designer. The BSA 2022 role carries bespoke competence requirements, duty to coordinate Gateway submissions and responsibility for safety case information. UK architects are frequently appointed to the BSA 2022 Part 2A role on HRB projects, and live Gateway 2 submission evidence is now a common senior-brief requirement. Our Fire Safety & Building Compliance page covers this role in detail on the fire-safety side.

The RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge is the RIBA's voluntary framework setting operational and embodied carbon and potable water targets for UK architecture practice, aligned to the climate science required to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. It sets reducing limits on operational energy use, embodied carbon (in kg CO2e/m2) and potable water use, benchmarked across building typologies. Public-sector and major commercial bids increasingly expect named alignment with the Challenge. Architects with live experience delivering to the Challenge's 2025 and 2030 targets are in strong demand.

The dominant UK authoring platform is Autodesk Revit, commonly used alongside Autodesk AutoCAD for legacy work. ArchiCAD and Vectorworks are used at smaller and medium-sized practices. Rhino (often with Grasshopper) is used for complex geometry and parametric work. SketchUp is widely used for concept and visualisation. Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator) is the universal presentation and bid stack. BIM delivery is increasingly aligned to ISO 19650 and the CIC BIM Protocol. We verify live software fluency, not just listed experience, on every relevant brief.

Yes. Landscape architects working under the Landscape Institute (CMLI, FLI) sit within our Architecture & Design desk, alongside heritage and conservation architects holding IHBC membership, AABC accreditation or SPAB Scholar status. UK landscape practices including LDA Design, Gillespies and the landscape teams within multi-disciplinary practices are all briefed regularly. Heritage specialism is increasingly a named requirement on listed-building, conservation-area and public-realm briefs.

Broad 2026 market ranges. Part 1 Architectural Assistant 26 to 34 thousand. Part 2 Architectural Assistant / Part 2 Designer 32 to 42. Newly-Qualified (ARB registered) Architect 38 to 48. Project Architect (mid-level) 45 to 60. Senior Architect 55 to 72. Associate 65 to 88. Associate Director 80 to 110. Director / Partner 100 to 180 plus (significant variance by practice scale and equity). Architectural Technician 28 to 40. Architectural Technologist (MCIAT) 38 to 58. Senior Technologist 55 to 72. Landscape Architect 30 to 45 mid-level, Senior / CMLI Landscape Architect 48 to 68. London practices typically sit at or above the upper end of these ranges; regional practices toward the middle.

Yes, across all three. Tier-one UK practices, housing-specialist studios, and boutique and mid-sized practices across every sector. Candidates move between these categories regularly, and we manage those moves without losing context fluency.

Yes. The CIAT route for Architectural Technologists (MCIAT, FCIAT) is a distinct and important strand of our Architecture & Design desk, alongside Architectural Technicians at the pre-chartered level. Many UK practices run combined architect and technologist teams, with technologists leading technical delivery packages at RIBA Stage 4. We brief both routes regularly, often jointly.

Yes, across all three. Permanent placements are the majority volume. Contract cover is common on Revit technical delivery peaks, BSA 2022 Gateway submission surges, competition bid windows, and on packages where practices need short-term specialist experience. Interim Associate and Director placements are used on post-acquisition studio integration, succession planning and short-term team-lead cover.