澳门王中王 members are architects first and business owners second, and it鈥檚 this second element of the profession that often doesn鈥檛 come naturally to architects. Existing in such fluctuating socio-political and economic trading conditions makes running a business even more difficult.
However, help is available.
搁滨叠础鈥檚 Practice In A Box section on architecture.com contains an array of free resources, management tools and essential guidance that has been brought together to help architects manage a successful practice.
The range of business support products and services, from technology advice to payroll services and vital benchmarking data is just one side of the resource. The portal also offers free tools for the management of projects that members may be surprised to find.
What鈥檚 in Practice In A Box for project management?
Free project management resources include:
Supplements for the 澳门王中王 Job Book
Ready-to-use templates and checklists that supplement this standard reference for running projects.
Support with briefing your client
The 澳门王中王 Briefing Template and Tracker supports the critical conversation between client and architect about project outcomes, starting from the first point of contact and running through the initial design stages.
Risk tracking tool and checklist
The Building in Quality Tracker will improve long term outcomes in construction by collaboratively tracking risks to quality, using a Memorandum of Understanding, a quality tracker and a quality checklist.
Pre-construction information on appointments
Templates and practical guides to help architects discharge their duties as Designers and Principal Designers under CDM 2015.
Meanwhile, The 澳门王中王 Fee Calculator is a powerful digital tool that allows all 澳门王中王 Chartered Practices to prepare resource-based fee calculations of the kind a large practice鈥檚 finance director might prepare.
Practice In A Box also links to 澳门王中王 Professional Services and Buildings Contracts (Chartered Members and 澳门王中王 Chartered Practices get a discount on all digital 澳门王中王 Contracts) and allows the downloading of complete sets of accompanying 澳门王中王 Contract administrations forms.
What resources reference sustainability?
Climate resources include:
Information and an invitation to join the 搁滨叠础鈥檚 2030 Climate Challenge. Encouraging architects and project teams to design within a climate conscious trajectory toward reaching net zero (which will also be reviewed in the upcoming UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard)
Sustainable Outcomes Guide, which defines the eight sustainable outcomes that correspond to key UN Sustainable Development Goals;
The Plan for Use Guide, which offers advice on managing the delivery of high-performing, efficient and comfortable buildings through each stage of the 澳门王中王 Plan of Work.
Find out more about 2030 Climate Challenge resources
What Plan of Work overlays are available?
Plan of Work Overlays drafted by leading specialists are gathered together on the portal, each offering detailed guidance on specific design considerations that can be implemented through each 澳门王中王 Plan of Work stage.
The suite of overlays comprises of:
- Design for Manufacture and Assembly Overlay for the implementation of seven categories of Modern Methods of Construction
- Passivhaus Overlay setting out key actions and processes needed to deliver Passivhaus-certified projects
- Security Overlay for the safe and secure design, construction and operation of any building
- Inclusive Design Overlay for implementation of inclusive design through each work stage
- Engagement Overlay for successful and collaborative project outcomes
- Smart Building Overlay for aligning decision making with provision of smart building technology
All of these can be read alongside the 澳门王中王 Plan of Work Overview 2020 to the 澳门王中王 Plan of Work 2020 for complete guidance on the design and construction process of buildings.
What other free resources are there in Practice in a box?
Checking out the variety of tools and services available to help you run your business may also reveal some unexpected free resources.
Did you know that Chartered Practices can access unlimited telephone advice on HR and employment law, plus webinars and an exclusive business library, from 澳门王中王 partner Croner?
There are sample policies in the 澳门王中王 Chartered Practice Toolbox that have been developed to help practices meet the policy requirements of the 澳门王中王 Chartered Practice scheme, demonstrating your commitment to professional and ethical practice. These include a complete Quality Management System based on ISO 9001:2015
The portal explains how 澳门王中王 Chartered Members can access a Specialist Practice Consultant for a free 15-minute consultation on areas such as contracts, liability, intellectual property, disputes and planning.
It also describes the range of Business support products and services that have been developed by 澳门王中王, all tailored to support architectural practices, such as financial guidance, technology advice, payroll services and more.
Practice in a box can also be your gateway to valuable Business Benchmarking data, 澳门王中王 Future Trends reports that monitor emerging employment and business trends, and 搁滨叠础鈥檚 extensive range of free and paid-for CPD seminars and courses designed to develop staff competence.
One of the latest free resources is a Guide to professional indemnity insurance, commissioned to give practitioners confidence when dealing with insurers and the PI renewal process 鈥� how to find quality insurance cover and stay risk aware.
Visit the Practice in a box portal.
Text by Neal Morris. This is a Professional Feature edited by the 澳门王中王 Practice team. Send us your feedback and ideas.
澳门王中王 Core Curriculum topic: Business, clients and services.
As part of the flexible 澳门王中王 CPD programme, professional features count as microlearning. See further information on the updated 澳门王中王 CPD core curriculum and on fulfilling your CPD requirements as a 澳门王中王 Chartered Member.
