Architects Registration Board (ARB) - Chair
- Body
- Architects Registration Board
- Appointing Department
- Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities
- Sectors
- Charity & Public Sector, Regulation
- Location
- London
- Skills required
- Change Management, Communication / Media / Marketing, Regulation
- Number of Vacancies
- 1
- Remuneration
- This post will attract a remuneration of £400 per day.
- Time Requirements
- Approximately 20-30 days per year
Campaign Timeline
-
Competition Launched
10/09/2018
-
Closed for Applications
30th September 2018 at 23:59
-
Panel Sift
29/10/2018
-
Final Interview Date
27/11/2018
-
Announcement
07/03/2019 at 12:00
Announcement
An announcement has been made on the outcome of this appointment.
On 28 February 2019, following recommendations by the Housing Minster, Kit Malthouse MP, the Lords of Her Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council appointed Alison White as the Chair of the Architects Registration Board for a term of three years from 1 March 2019 to 28 February 2022.
Date: 07/03/2019
Assessment Panel
- Panel Member
- Jillian Kay
- Added
- 08/10/2018
- Panel Role
- Panel Chair
- Positions
- Director, Grenfell Recovery and Resilience, MHCLG Departmental Official
Show more information
| Political Activity | - |
|---|---|
| Notes | - |
- Panel Member
- Neil O'Connor
- Added
- 16/10/2018
- Positions
- Director General, Building Safety Programme, MHCLG Departmental Official
Show more information
| Political Activity | - |
|---|---|
| Notes | - |
- Panel Member
- Sandra Fryer
- Added
- 30/08/2018
- Positions
- Board Member, Ebbsfleet Development Corporation Independent Member
Show more information
| Political Activity | - |
|---|---|
| Notes | - |
Vacancy Description
Introduction
The Housing Minister on behalf of the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is seeking to appoint a non-executive Chair to the Architects Registration Board (ARB).
Those who serve on the boards of public bodies play a vital role in the life of this country, whether by improving the delivery of public services or providing independent advice to Government. Many people from a wide range of backgrounds across the whole of the UK participate in public life by being members of the boards of public bodies. They are involved in making decisions that develop, shape or deliver government policy and public services.
This information pack sets out the requirements for the Chair’s position along with information on the work of the Architects Registration Board and the appointment process.
About the Architects Registration Board (ARB)
ARB was established in 1997 by the Architects Act and regulates over 40,000 architects. The Act defines the ARB’s role, the primary features of which are:
- Prescribing – or ‘recognising’ – the qualifications needed to become an architect
- Keeping the UK Register of Architects
- Ensuring that architects meet our standards for conduct and practice
- Investigating complaints about an architect’s conduct or competence
- Making sure that only people on our Register offer their services as an architect.
- Acting as the UK’s Competent Authority for architects
The Board has developed a Purpose & Objectives document that informs its approach to ARB’s work and sets the strategy for ARB. It identifies ARB’s primary purpose as delivering the 1997 Architects Act, and from that Act, two key objectives have been formulated to underpin all of ARB’s work. These are:
- Protect the users and potential users of architects’ services
- Support architects through regulation
ARB employs 25 staff, led by a Registrar and Chief Executive, who is also ARB’s Accounting Officer, and has an annual budget of circa £4 million. ARB is based in London.
The ARB Board
In 2017, the MHCLG completed its Periodic Review of the regulation of architects and the role of the Architects Registration Board. Amongst other things, the Review concluded that the constitution of the Board should be changed, reduced in size and consist of an independent Chair and ten independent non-executive members appointed by the Secretary of State for the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government. The aim is to appoint the Chair of the Board and a new Board in its entirety by early January 2019.
The Board’s powers are derived from the 1997 Architects Act and its work is governed by the General Rules. As well as the powers to make rules and establish committees, the Board is responsible for:
- providing leadership and direction to ARB
- agreeing its strategy and setting cost-effective plans to implement that strategy
- ensuring that appropriate schemes for delegating and reporting procedures are in place
- reviewing its own performance and effectiveness
- accounting for its actions in appropriate ways, as required by law and good practice
Whilst ARB is an independent statutory regulator, the MHCLG is ARB’s sponsoring Government Department. ARB and the MHCLG have drawn up a Framework Agreement which sets out the relationship between the two organisations and responsibilities of each in this context.
The outcomes of the recent Periodic Review, the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety (the Hackitt Review) and the changing policy environment provide a candidate with passion and commitment with a challenging but exciting opportunity to lead the Architects Registration Board through a significant period of change including:
– delivering any changes which result from the UK leaving the European Union – responding to the Hackitt Report’s recommendations regarding the competence of architects – supporting the newly constituted Board; and – setting the future strategy for the organisation.’
ARB Chair – Job Description
The Chair has a responsibility to: • lead the Board; establishing its overall strategic direction in line with its statutory objectives and functions; • establish and build a strong, effective and constructive working relationship with the Registrar and Chief Executive, as s/he is held to account for achieving agreed strategic objectives; • support the Registrar and Chief Executive, whilst respecting the boundaries which exist between the two roles; • ensure that the Board, in reaching decisions, takes proper account of the Architects Act 1997, ARB’s governance requirements, as well as any relevant guidance provided by the responsible government department; • ensure that the Board operates and exercises its functions in accordance with the highest standards of conduct and probity, and established good practice in decision making and that this is appropriately and effectively reviewed deliver high standards of regularity and propriety; • model the values and inclusive culture of the ARB; • represent the views of the Board to the architects’ profession and to the general public and liaise with stakeholders; • maintain regular contact with both the Board members and the Registrar and Chief Executive and develop and maintain open and supportive relationships with them; • ensure that the work of the Board and its members is reviewed and is working effectively; • act as an advocate for the organisation, both internally and externally; • advise the responsible Minister in terms of the Board’s needs in relation to any Board vacancies or reappointments which arise; • ensure that Board members are fully briefed on terms of appointment, duties, declarations and conflicts of interest and responsibilities; • ensure that there is a Code of Practice for Board members in place consistent with the Cabinet Office Model Code; • ensure that each Board member has objectives and is able to demonstrate that s/he has met those objectives; and • ensure that s/he, together with the other Board members, receives appropriate reviews of their performance as well as relevant training and development.
Person Specification
Essential Criteria:
- Experience of chairing Boards or Committees and leading Boards or Committees through periods of change
- Experience of responding to fast moving events/changes of direction/policy developments
- Experience of providing strong, dynamic leadership at board level, ensuring that Board members fulfil their responsibilities and duties, and of building a cohesive Board
- An ability to facilitate the development of a clear strategic direction for the organisation within its statutory remit and an ability to demonstrate sound judgement in strategic decision making
- Experience of enforcing robust governance arrangements, ensuring the development, sustainability and high performance of the Board
- An ability to build cohesive teams, find consensus and facilitate robust, evidence-based decision-making
- An ability to ensure that the Board has effective oversight of the organisation and is delivering its statutory functions, providing constructive challenge where appropriate
- Excellent influencing, networking and communication skills, including the ability to inspire confidence and build strong relationships with the Board, staff and stakeholders
Desirable Criteria:
- Experience of working in a regulatory environment.
Additional Information
More information about ARB and its role can be found at www.arb.org.uk. ARB will be running information sessions for prospective candidates on the evenings of 26 and 27 September 2018. For more information about the information evenings or for additional queries about the ARB and its role, please contact Emma Matthews at emmam@arb.org.uk
How to Apply
Application Process
All candidates are required to complete and submit the following:
-
- Curriculum Vitae– (incl. education and professional qualifications and full employment history. Max. 3 pages).
- Covering letter– explaining how you meet both the essential and desirable criteria for the role (max. 3 pages).
- It is vital that you provide evidence through worked examples to demonstrate that you meet each required criteria.
- Diversity (Equal Opportunities) Monitoring Questionnaire – Annex A
- Guaranteed interview scheme form – Annex B (if applicable)
- Conflict of Interest form – Annex C
- Other Relevant Information Declaration Form – Annex D
- List of referees – Annex E (The referees will be approached only if you are shortlisted for interview)
- Publicity survey – Annex F (Please indicate how you heard about this post).
Please note that the above information and completed forms are required for each application. We cannot accept information and forms submitted with previous applications because your circumstances may have changed in the meantime and some of this information will be specific to the post being applied for – see the ‘Further Information’ section below for further details. Please also note that the initial assessment of your suitability against the role criteria will be made only from the evidence you set out in your covering letter and CV.
Your completed application should be returned to the MHCLG Public Appointments Team, preferably in Microsoft Word, by email to publicappointments@communities.gsi.gov.uk by 11.59pm on Sunday 30 September 2018. Please include the reference ‘ARB Chair’ in the title of your email. We would prefer electronic applications but will accept hard copies by post to the Public Appointments Team, Finance, Performance and ALB Governance, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, 1st Floor NE, Fry Building, 2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DF.