RIBA Future Trends Survey reveals Architects’ confidence at all-time high

The Royal Institute for British Architects’ (RIBA) Future Trends Survey for June 2015 has revealed workload forecasts at a record high, with figures showing an increase from +37 in May 2015 to +44 in June.

Launched in January 2009, The RIBA Future Trends Survey is completed by a mixture of small, medium and large firms based on a geographically representative sample to monitor business and employment trends affecting the architects’ profession.

Positive balance figures were recorded in all nations and regions in the UK, with practices in the Midlands and East Anglia expressing the most confidence about their workloads over the next three months.

The private housing sector saw its workload forecast rise from May’s +34 to +39 in June, with the commercial sector forecast dropped slightly to 19+ from +21.

The public sector saw only a slight increase to +2, while the community sector continued its positive trend by moving to +5. Both these sectors enjoyed modest rises but neither expect to see any dramatic increase in activity over the coming three months.

The RIBA Future Trends Staffing Index also recorded an all time high in this period, rising from +16 in May to +20 in June. 98% of the companies polled expect staffing levels remain the same or increase over the next quarter. 9% felt that they had been under-employed – a record low since the first RIBA Future Trends Survey in 2009.

Small practices (+18) and medium sized practices (+26) remain confident about increasing their number of staff, with large practices seemingly expressing the most confidence about the levels of future staffing , with a balance figure of +43.

RIBA Executive Director Members Adrian Dobson said: “The overall picture is of a profession that is confident about its future workloads and is beginning to feel the invigorating effects of a sustained period of real growth. Commentary suggests that many practices have a rapidly filling order book, with private housing continuing to be the primary driver of growth in demand for architects’ services.”

“Of course, many macro-economic factors and uncertainties may impact upon the financial fortunes of the architectural profession, but with all our key indicators now standing at new peaks the overall mood is very optimistic.”

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