Assessing the landscape for architectural technology in 2023

January 18, 2023

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Tara Page is the new chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists. Here, she looks ahead to the key challenges facing architectural technology in 2023, from implementing the Building Safety Act to addressing the sector’s skills shortages

Tara Page is the new chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) and has worked in the built environment sector for 20 years. Before being appointed as CEO, she was a key member of the senior management team for over 15 years as education and international director. In her time at CIAT, she has been instrumental in raising the profile of architectural technology and the chartered architectural technologist profession globally.

Recognising the importance of maintaining strong links and networks, Tara has secured solid relationships, partnerships and collaborative agreements with different organisations such as universities, research networks, industry bodies, professional organisations and governments both in the UK and internationally.

Here are just some of the challenges that face her in the coming year:

Ensuring compliance with the Building Safety Act 2022

In relation to the construction industry, the Building Safety Act is the biggest change to legislation in recent history and will have huge implications on the sector, transforming the way buildings are designed, constructed and managed. To ensure compliance with the Building Regulations, professionals such as chartered architectural technologists must be competent so that risk is minimised and building users and occupants are protected. This is not only an enormous legislative change but also a cultural change, because accountability will continue long after the design and construction phases are completed.

How this competence is defined, developed, measured and assessed will be critical in providing confidence in the safety of buildings. There needs to be cohesion and consistency in the sector from professionals and their professional bodies, who will be facilitating schemes or registers to assess the competence of their members.

One of my roles as CIAT chief executive will be to pick up the baton on this activity, to ensure CIAT is supporting its members in relation to ensuring competence relating to the act and giving guidance on the implications of changes to secondary legislation, which is yet to be agreed.

Solving ongoing skills shortages in the construction industry

The shortage of skilled professionals across many occupations in the construction industry has been an ongoing issue, not helped by an ageing population and the impact of Brexit and the movement of skilled workers. The gap is growing post-Covid lockdowns as the industry recovers.

From an educational perspective, the sector has work to do to attract new entrants and a more diverse workforce. While apprenticeships seek to broaden access, they need to be reviewed, streamlined and better promoted.

Employers and educators should be encouraged to work more closely to ensure industry needs are being met and to attract a healthy supply of motivated, educated aspiring and new professionals. Greater engagement and collaboration within the sector to promote the professions and facilitate collective value to stakeholders would help address the skills gap.

Finally, more needs to be done to educate policymakers and influencers so that built environment professionals are recognised for their competence. This would widen access to industry, helping to ensure there is a broad range of built environment professionals supporting the UK’s ability to deliver on targets and priorities.

Developing the position and status of architectural technology

On accepting the role of chief executive, Tara said: “I am thrilled to be taking on the role of chief executive and leading the institute into its seventh decade. There is much work to be done for architectural technology, the institute and our members and affiliates, and I am keen to tackle upcoming policies and issues to ensure architectural technology is recognised further, representing chartered architectural technologists at the highest levels. Having worked at CIAT for many years, I have a rich insight into the opportunities and challenges we face as a profession and the built environment sector, and how we can lead and influence change.

“I will be working with a dedicated team of members, staff, the board and stakeholders on pertinent issues to tackle the very real challenges, such as the skills shortages, the implementation of the Building Safety Act and much more. I will endeavour to further develop the position and status of architectural technology, its community and the Institute for the betterment of society.”

President Kevin Crawford PCIAT said: “On behalf of the executive board, we very much look forward to working with Tara. With her strong and vibrant personality, vision and ambition, we have every confidence that she will lead the institute to build further upon its success and reach for both the discipline and profession. She has already been an excellent asset to CIAT and has the experience and foresight to take us into the institute’s next phase.”