NEWS
The ACA continuously looks for opportunities to provide updates on industry developments; our news articles cover a broad spectrum of topics; membership may be required for full access to some articles.
A Tragedy for the Profession: Architecture Apprenticeships Abolished
The abolition of apprenticeships is a tragedy for the architectural profession says the Association of Consultant Architects. The department for education has announced the abolition of level 7 apprenticeships for students over 21 years of age. It is a tragedy for ambitious and talented people in training and for architectural practices and for universities. The apprenticeship scheme was seen as a way of fundamentally changing the relationship between [...]
NEC acquires the ACA collaborative construction contracts
ACA transfers leading collaborative contracts to Thomas Telford, publisher of NEC4 The Association of Consultant Architects (ACA), renowned for pioneering collaborative construction contracts for over 25 years, has announced the transfer of its industry-leading Framework Alliance Contract (FAC-1) and the Term Alliance Contract (TAC-1), to Thomas Telford Ltd the commercial arm of the Institution of Civil Engineers and developer of the NEC Contract suite. This strategic move brings together [...]
Principal Designer: A New Opportunity for Architects
The Phase 2 report on the Grenfell tragedy was finally published in September more than 7 years after the disaster. While the report brought the enquiry to a close, the fall out from the severe systematic failings revealed by the investigation will continue to impact the construction industry for many years to come. In particular the enactment of the Building Safety Act is having a major effect on construction. [...]
Gold Standard Verification Scheme
‘Constructing the Gold Standard’ sets out an integrated and collaborative approach to framework procurement, contracting and management. It is endorsed by public sector clients and by 50 industry bodies in the September 2022 update of the ‘Construction Playbook’. In 2021, Professor David Mosey CBE was asked by the Cabinet Office to carry out an Independent Review of Public Sector Construction Frameworks. He consulted 120 organisations and ‘Constructing the Gold [...]
A new Government and another revised NPPF
With a new government come lots of aspirations for reform and improvement of the planning system - only time will tell whether these are effective. Apart from revision of the National Planning Policy Framework and the method of measuring housing need with associated reinstatement of mandatory housing supply numbers in local plans, etc (see NPPF report opposite), some changes In the pipeline include further attention to planning department resourcing [...]
Making strategy happen in architecture practice
Robert Peake of Management for Design identifies key considerations for the leadership In the dynamic and competitive landscape of architecture, the ability to effectively implement strategic plans is crucial for sustained success and growth. However, many firms struggle to turn their strategic visions into tangible outcomes. We'll explore the key considerations for practices looking to make strategy happen effectively. 1. Aligning Vision with Execution: It's essential for architecture firms [...]
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