ARB to probe stakeholder opinions

ARB to probe stakeholder opinions (30/01/2001)

The Architects Registration Board (ARB), the statutory regulator for the architects' profession, is to conduct an in-depth research programme amongst its key stakeholders. The aim of the exercise is to gain a full understanding of the views of architects, consumers and others about the role and operation of the Board. The research will canvass opinions on a range of issues, including:

Regulation and registration;

Education;

Complaints handling;

The provision of information to the public and the profession;

Retention fees;

Perceptions of ARB

The Board has retained Perry Nicholls to conduct and manage the research process and, following usual procedures, it will first be conducting a series of informal focus groups around the UK and face to face/telephone interviews. The research exercise itself will comprise around 7,000 mailshot questionnaires.

ARB will use the findings of the research programme to underpin its five year operational strategy and to improve delivery of its dual mandate - to protect the consumer and to safeguard the reputation of architects. In doing this, ARB will also seek to optimise the value which it offers to the profession and the public. This is firmly in line with the Government's stated aim of achieving ever more effective regulation across all business sectors.

Robin Vaughan, Chief Executive & Registrar of ARB, commented:

"We have worked hard to make ARB a more transparent and user-friendly oganisation and to carry out our statutory duties in a manner which best serves all of our stakeholder groups. I am, however, a believer in the principle of continuous improvement and I know that there is much more that we could be doing on behalf of these groups.

A programme of research such as this will provide us with valuable feedback which will be used to shape our operations as we go forward."

Notes:

Perry Nicholls is a management and marketing consultancy and has carried out similar research programmes for the British Medical Association (BMA), the Medical Protection Society (MPS), the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT), the Institute of legal Executives (ILEX), Bayer Pharmaceuticals, and the TSSA.