INTERNATIONAL DEMAND FOR UK
ARCHITECTURE EXPERTISE SOARS:
RIBA PUBLISHES 2019 BUSINESS TRENDS REPORT
: The Royal Institute of British Architects
(RIBA) published its annual summary
of business trends in architecture and
construction sectors on 3 December 2019.
The RIBA’s annual Business Benchmarking
report tracks UK architects’ turnover and
salaries, and identifies global growth areas
for the export of UK architecture expertise.
Drawn from data provided by RIBA’s
Chartered Practices, the Business
Benchmarking Survey has been conducted
since 2012, providing a record of trends
over time.
This year’s report shows a resilient
architectural profession directly
contributing £3.6 billion to the UK
economy and flourishing overseas.
Key trends revealed in the 2019 RIBA
Business Benchmarking report include:
revenues are up by 13% in the last 12
months, and have more than doubled
cumulatively since 2012
the overall value of international (non-UK)
work has increased since 2018 by 22% to
£625m
3 years after the UK’s referendum on
leaving the EU, the value of revenue from
work in the EU is now the highest it has
ever been, growing by 73% since 2015.
The EU is the most important source of
international work for small and medium-
sized architecture practices
3 out of every 4 pounds earned from
outside the UK goes to larger practices
(100+ staff)
Asia is the most valuable source of work
outside of the UK for Chartered Practices
overall, accounting for 28%, and is the
fastest growing source of international
revenue, growing from £77 million to £177
million worth of work since 2015
work from projects in the Middle East has
risen to £131 million, from £104 million
last year
Since the survey in 2012, the number of
RIBA Chartered Practices has increased
from approximately 3000 to 3600, and
revenue has more than doubled to £3.6
billion (from £1.6 billion).
RIBA CEO, Alan Vallance, said:
“The 2019 RIBA Business Benchmarking
report illustrates unabated demand for
UK architects internationally. Significant
increases in work in Asia, the Middle East
and Europe clearly indicate the value of
British expertise, and the importance of
further developing relationships in these
growing markets. For practices relying
solely on UK income, political uncertainty is
a continuing worry. Whoever forms the next
government must set out a comprehensive
vision that enables the architecture
profession to continue to thrive in the EU
and beyond.
“As a global professional body, the RIBA
sets standards and drives excellence in
architecture all over the world. We assist
architects, wherever they live or work, and
are expanding our international network
to be able to provide even more tailored
support in important markets, including
China and the Middle East.”
RIBA HONORARY FELLOWSHIPS
2020 ANNOUNCED
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has announced
the 2020 RIBA Honorary Fellowships, which will be awarded
to individuals from diverse backgrounds, including property,
infrastructure, arts and architectural design.
Clockwise from top left: Pam Alexander OBE, Professor Yolande
Barnes, Jude Kelly CBE, Sadie Morgan, Morag Myerscough
RIBA Honorary Fellowships are awarded annually to people who
are not architects but have made a significant contribution to
architecture. This includes individuals who have advanced its role
in creating more sustainable communities; those involved in its
promotion and management, and those who nurture the interests
of future generations.
Professor Yolande Barnes - Professor of Real Estate and Chair at the
Bartlett Real Estate Institute at UCL
Jude Kelly CBE – In 2018 Jude established The WOW Foundation,
an independent charity dedicated to building the WOW movement
as a force for positive change
Sadie Morgan – A founding director of the RIBA Stirling Prize
winning architecture practice dRMM, Board Member at Homes
England and Commissioner at the National Infrastructure
Commission
Morag Myerscough – Founder of Studio Myerscough and of
collective Supergrouplondon
The 2020 RIBA Honorary Fellowships will be awarded to: The lifetime honour allows recipients to use the initials Hon FRIBA
after their name.
Pam Alexander OBE – Chair of Commonplace Digital Ltd,
Ambassador on the London Mayor’s Cultural Leadership Group and
Board Member of the London Legacy Development Corporation
and Connected Places Catapult The 2020 RIBA Honorary Fellowships will be presented at a special
event at the RIBA in London in February 2020.