Annual Review 2024-25

In September, the Institute launched a new report, titled Beyond the Warm Homes Plan: A National Retrofit Programme for people and planet, which set out a plan to deliver holistic, design-led retrofits to ensure that homes are healthy, sustainable and resilient to a changing climate.

Across 25 recommendations, the paper laid out a comprehensive, deliverable plan for Government, building on the Warm Homes Plan, utilising grants and low interest loans to expand access to retrofit measures. We see this as a vital report if we are to achieve net zero by 2050.

Our comprehensive review of the Code of Conduct and Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures continues, aligning with CIAT’s Charter, Bye-laws and Regulations. This work is scheduled for completion in 2027. 

This year, the Practice & Technical Department have been working hard to merge and digitise the Project Quality Plan and Project Execution Plan in line with the Building Regulations etc. (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2023 for member use to ensure quality and compliance. This is expected to be completed by mid 2026. 

In August, Vice-President Technical, Dan Rossiter FCIAT, was appointed to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) Approved Documents Review Panel and Construction Products Reform working group. The panel plays an integral role in delivering the review of Building Regulations statutory guidance for England (the Approved Documents). 

As Vice-President Technical for CIAT since 2022, Dan Rossiter leads the Institute's work on technical guidance and standards. He is an expert in building performance standards and digital transformation. 

The Institute sponsored the Retrofit 25 exhibition (in partnership with the National Retrofit Hub) held at the Building Centre between March and September. The exhibition explored the solutions that are helping us navigate the barriers and uncovering opportunities involved in retrofitting the built environment. Dr Barry McCarron FCIAT gave an online presentation as part of the programming.

In the past year, the Institute has remained committed to supporting the objective to attain statutory recognition of Architectural Technologists to undertake the roles of Assigned and/or Design Certifier in Ireland and continues to lobby and engage with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. 

The publication of the Procurement Survey findings this year highlighted the barriers to public sector procurement for Chartered Architectural Technologists, which informs national policy engagement. The survey received 379 responses, accounting for approximately 4% of the membership, telling us there is still much work to do to ensure ATs are being represented and promoted.

During the year, work progressed on the development and review of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements for CIAT Chartered Practices, aimed at strengthening professional competence and enhance the overall value of CIAT Chartered Practice status. 

The initiative aims to ensure that CIAT Chartered Practices not only maintain technical excellence but also demonstrate strong business management. By aligning CPD content with the Professional Standards Competency Framework (PSCF) and member feedback, the Institute continues to support practices in meeting the evolving demands of the built environment and reinforcing CIAT’s reputation for professionalism and quality. 

A Detailing working group was established to generate guidance that can be shared with educational establishments that offer Accredited Programmes so that students are supported in improving their detailing abilities and enhancing their employability after graduating. The guidance is also intended to assist lecturers plan how to deliver appropriate knowledge to students throughout their studies in line with the requirements outlined in the PSCF. 

Three new films were added to the Where It’s AT series: 

Retrofit

Join Dr Barry McCarron FCIAT as he talks about retrofit and how Chartered Architectural Technologists are specialists in this sector.

Chartered Environmentalist

Join Tom Kinver FCIAT as he talks about being a Chartered Environmentalist and their importance within the built environment sector.

 

Net Zero

Join Lalit Chauhan FCIAT as he talks about creating net zero projects and showcases his AT Award winning project, Hope Rise.

 

The project to implement a new CRM system and replace our existing outdated database was completed in March when the MS Dynamics system went live, with the new website going live in April. The CRM is a fit for purpose, intuitive and integrated system to optimise efficiencies such as financial, administrative, accreditation, events management, data analysis, and member and affiliate engagement. The CRM has introduced new processes which enable us to be more agile and efficient, and allow improved useability and functionality for members and affiliates. 

The Institute continued to work with relevant stakeholders across each of the four home nations in relation to apprenticeships and was represented at numerous meetings with educational establishments and employers. Click here for more information on apprenticeships. 

CIAT, alongside academics and industry practitioners, have been active in the development of an Architectural Technology apprenticeship in Wales, with assistance from CITB Wales. The consultation for this closed on 31 October and it is anticipated to be launched in September 2027, provided it receives funding from Medr, the Commission for Tertiary Education and Research. 

This year, CIAT’s portfolio of Accredited and Approved Programmes reached 59 in total (just one off 60 for our 60th year!). These include 40 Accredited Honours degree level, with London Metropolitan University’s BSc (Hons) Architectural Technology gaining accreditation in June 2025, 9 Accredited Masters degree level, and 10 Approved programmes.

During the year, the AT CPD Register expanded to 18 providers, offering 76 courses on topics ranging from BIM, CDM 2015, fire, conservation, timber technology, materials, asbestos management, insulation, contract awareness, leadership and professional development, off-site construction, and zero carbon. 

This year, the Institute awarded a record number of Fellow Memberships since its launch to those who have demonstrated significant contribution to and/or excellence in Architectural Technology. The total number of Fellow Members reached 146. 

The Institute bestowed four Honorary Fellow statuses to:

• Diane Dale, former Head of Practice & Technical, who demonstrated excellence in Architectural Technology, and whose work has made a significant contribution to, and positive impact on the discipline and profession. 

• Danny Kearney, Principal, DMK Communications whose work has had a positive impact on Architectural Technology. 

• Fergal Walsh, Principal, Gensler who demonstrated excellence in Architectural Technology and whose work has also had a positive impact. 

• Alison Watson MBE, Founder & Chief Executive of Class of Your Own Ltd, whose work likewise had a positive impact on AT. 

In February, the Institute published the Architectural Technology document, which defines the discipline and the profession in a manner suitable for the general public, in clear, easy to understand language. 

The document grants a universal answer to the question, ‘What is Architectural Technology?’, standardising the definition of AT and helping define it in the eyes of the public, which further promotes and legitimises the discipline and profession to a wider audience.

David Comiskey FCIAT from Ulster University and Dr Suha Jaradat FCIAT from Edinburgh Napier University became Professors in Architectural Technology, demonstrating the evolution and maturity of the discipline within academia. 

aspiration, CIAT’s global community of members and affiliates that comprises students, graduates, Associates, affiliates and recently qualified Chartered Architectural Technologists, had another great year of community and events, culminating in the group’s Educational Trip in Bristol in September. 

Organised by Joe Hyett MCIAT and Adam Green ACIAT, the aim of the Bristol trip was simple: to connect, inspire, and give people the chance to explore a new city while learning more about the profession and each other. Across the weekend, they packed in a great mix of learning, networking and activities, such as a site visit to the Brabazon development (hosted by YTL Developments Ltd), a welcome evening at Harbour House, and a visit to architectural practice Ridge and Partners LLP. And that’s not even getting to the group dinner, museum visit, or city-wide treasure hunt! 

Also, in May, aspiration Chairs all met in Leeds for their annual meeting and enjoyed a successful site visit and networking organised by aspiration Yorkshire.

In May, CIAT and seven other parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the purpose of creating a built environment sector as diverse as the communities it represents; that acts inclusively, treats everyone fairly and provides a culture that delivers the best outcomes for the diverse societies in which and for whom our collective memberships work. The parties are the Chartered Institute of Building, the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors, the Institution of Civil Engineers, the Landscape Institute, the Royal Institute of British Architects, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, and the Royal Town Planning Institute. This partnership will be known as B.E. Inclusive. The signatories “recognise the potential of our combined membership to affect a meaningful and tangible improvement in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) standards across the built environment.”

Earlier, in January, the Institute relaunched its AT EDI Society and Chaired by Tom Gray MCIAT. The Society’s aims are to:

• Guide CIAT on its commitment statement. 

• Update the current Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy. 

• Create and develop an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy. 

• Set aims and how they can be achieved such as equality monitoring and learning and development for the membership. 

• Prioritise collecting and using good quality people data to identify barriers and solutions. 

• Regularly audit, review and evaluate progress, using quantitative and qualitative data on both diversity and inclusion, to highlight where barriers exist and show the impact of initiatives, making appropriate changes to activities if needed. 

• Benchmark progress against other organisations and explore what others are doing to adopt and adapt ideas where appropriate. 

• Network with others from inside and outside the organisation to keep up to date and to share learning. 

March saw the Institute publish its Social Media Guidelines and Strategy, providing a clear framework for members, affiliates and staff to engage professionally and effectively across digital platforms. The guidelines outline best practices for online communication, ensuring that content shared aligns with CIAT’s values and enhances engagement within the Architectural Technology community. The Social Media Strategy provides a framework to guide the Institute’s social media activities across its various platforms. It can be found here.

This year we collaborated with APS on PD Registration processes, with the view to raising the bar of competency for all wishing to undertake the newly defined role of Principal Designer HRBs and Non-HRBs under the Building Regulations. 

Discover! Creative Careers Month is an industry-led initiative designed to provide young people from England with encounters and experiences of the creative industries through in-school, workplace and online opportunities. This year’s event was the first time Architectural Technology was being promoted as a career option for school-aged children. Through this support, CIAT is also now working with Speakers for Schools, where Sam Lambert MCIAT and Spacy Bondarenko MCIAT will hold an online session to state schools around England sharing how they became Chartered Architectural Technologists and the kinds of projects that they work on. 

CIAT sponsored Open City’s Accelerate Programme, which is a 10-week syllabus of workshops for 16–18-year-olds from underrepresented groups in London to raise their awareness of career avenues available within the built environment. From October to April, 120 students spend their Saturdays in workshops with teachers who are built environment professionals. Sessions included model making and walking tours of London, as well as visits to educational establishments. 

The Programme has been running for 14 years and approximately 75% of the students that take part end up studying a built environment subject at undergraduate level. 

As this is the first year that AT was promoted, we also approached London-based CIAT Chartered Practices and/or companies where Chartered Architectural Technologists work in to get involved to offer mentoring to those taking part in the Programme. 

In September, Members presented to students at the Federation of Master Builders’ Build Academy in London as part of its Masterclass series. The Build Academy is a pilot skills project created in partnership between the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), and London-based Shooters Hill Sixth-Form College. 

This was an opportunity to give to learners on a course created by the FMB site ready skills and work placements with its members, and who may not have had any prior knowledge of AT or the Institute. We look forward to collaborating with the FMB in the future. 

The Institute hosted promotional visits to Denmark (Copenhagen, Aarhus and Horsens) to nurture and develop relationships with VIA University College (the first Accredited Programme outside UK and Ireland), as well as to review our Collaborative Arrangement with Konstruktørforeningen (KF). 

We also hosted aspiration Europe social events and architectural site visits in these Danish cities, in tandem with carrying out research for our upcoming aspiration educational trip to Copenhagen in September 2026.

National Construction Summit and WorldSkills in Dublin were two key industry and stakeholder events promoting the discipline and profession, attended by thousands of current and future professionals supported by the Institute and the Centre Committee. 

A CIAT delegation visited Dubai in October 2025 to raise the profile of the Institute, explore collaborative opportunities, engage with academic and professional partners, and support membership development across the region. 

This trip consisted of holding Professional Assessment interviews in which we welcomed five new Chartered Members from Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) and 2025 AT Awards Project of the Year winning practice BSBG. 

An accreditation visit took place at MAHE and discussions regarding potential accreditation were held with Amity and Heriot-Watt Universities. Practice visits were arranged with Foster + Partners, Jacobs, Gensler and BSBG to discuss membership and collaboration. Discussions with RICS were held to explore collaborative opportunities in the Middle East and Africa, and CIOB hosted a dual badged evening CPD event and a networking breakfast, which brought together more educational establishments, practitioners and stakeholders for future collaborative opportunities.

Following the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) that was signed in September 2024 between CIAT and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Egypt (MoHESR), the Head of Education, Chair of the Education Board and the Vice President Education have had meetings with relevant stakeholders to progress the tenets within the MoA through possible events in 2026.