Find out more about our engagement with UK Parliamentarians, including meetings with government ministers, members of Parliament (MPs), and Peers from across the political spectrum. These meetings and engagement are one way we influence government built environment policy, and promote our key positions on building safety, delivering more high-quality, well designed homes and places, net zero, and international trade.
Meeting with Lord Watson of Invergowrie
March 2025
The Policy and Public Affairs team met with Lord Watson of Invergowrie to raise concerns about the impact of planned cuts to Level 7 funding on architecture apprenticeships. We stressed that these apprenticeships are crucial for improving access, diversity and fostering talent in the profession.
We shared the feedback from our members indicating that without Levy funding for Level 7 apprenticeships, many will be unable to employ architecture apprentices. We also reiterated our call for an exemption from the proposed cuts, emphasising the profession’s role in delivering 1.5 million homes and supporting the Government’s growth ambitions.
Housing roundtable at the Houses of Parliament
March 2025
Adrian Dobson, Executive Director of Professional Knowledge and Standards, attended a roundtable hosted by the New Statesman on how existing housing stock and densification can help the Government meet its housing targets.
Kevin Hollinrake MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Naushabah Khan MP, Member of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee, and representatives from the Centre for Cities, the British Property Federation and Resolution Foundation also joined and discussed how increasing density in urban areas is not only good for driving up housing numbers but for the environment as well.
New Towns Taskforce roundtable on housing design for the creation of new towns
March 2025
The Policy and Public Affairs team hosted a roundtable with the New Towns Taskforce—an independent advisory panel established to support the Government in delivering the next generation of new towns. The roundtable brought together architects and built environment professionals to discuss what is needed to ensure housing quality remains a key consideration in the creation and development of new towns and urban extensions.
Professional and Business Services Council (PBSC) roundtable
March 2025
Jennifer Dixon, Chair of the RIBA Practice and Policy Committee, attended a PBSC roundtable to discuss the challenges facing small and medium-sized businesses. The discussion focussed on barriers to finance, investment and delivering regulatory clarity.
Reception at the Houses of Parliament to showcase our delivery model for social housing
March 2025
The Policy and Public Affairs team hosted a reception at the Houses of Parliament to mark RIBA’s latest report, Foundations for the Future. The event provided a key opportunity to build support for our proposals from across the political spectrum by engaging directly with MPs, Peers, and civil servants.
The event included speeches by Mike Reader MP, event sponsor and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Infrastructure, Jack Pringle, RIBA Chair of the Board, Kevin Hollinrake MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, and, Florence Eshalomi MP, Chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Committee. Find out more about what was said at the event.
House of Commons Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Committee evidence session
March 2025
RIBA President, Muyiwa Oki, gave evidence at the House of Commons HCLG Committee, alongside representatives from across the construction industry, on the capacity of the sector to help deliver the government’s target of 1.5 million homes. Oki highlighted the need for funding for Level 7 architecture apprentices to help deliver this challenge - ensuring the homes are built sustainability and meet high design standards.
Meeting with Lord Lucas
February 2025
The Policy and Public Affairs team met with Lord Lucas to discuss the government’s proposed defunding Level 7 apprenticeships and it’s impact on architecture apprentices . Lord Lucas was receptive to our concerns and a number of solutions-focused approaches were worked through.
GREAT reception at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
January 2025
Valerie Vaughan-Dick, CEO, and Muyiwa Oki, President, attended the GREAT reception hosted at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The event celebrated the global success of British industries. During the reception, Valerie had the opportunity to speak with the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Rt Hon David Lammy MP, about how the Government can support the architecture sector’s international growth opportunities. The conversation highlighted the need for the Government to prioritise Mutual Recognition Agreements and improve market access to help grow the UK architecture sector abroad.
Meeting with Florence Eshalomi MP
January 2025
Muyiwa Oki, RIBA President, and Phoebe MacDonald, Head of Policy and Public Affairs, met with Florence Eshalomi, Chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Committee and Labour MP for Vauxhall and Camberwell Green.
They shared RIBA’s response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, emphasising key fire safety issues in high-risk buildings, such as fire-fighting staircases and sprinklers, and, presented our Foundations for the Future report which proposes a new financial model for social housing.
Department for Culture Media and Sport (DMCS) Creative Industries Growth Summit
January 2025
Muyiwa Oki, RIBA President, attended the Creative Industries Growth Summit in Gateshead, hosted by the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport. The summit, which brought together leaders and policymakers, focused on the UK’s creative industries and their role in driving economic growth.
Creative Industries Council (CIC) meeting
January 2025
Muyiwa Oki, RIBA President, attended a CIC meeting chaired by Rt Hon Lisa Nandy MP, Secretary of State of Culture, Media and Sport and Labour MP for Wigan, and, Sir Chris Bryant MP, Minister of State for Media, Tourism and Creative Industries and Labour MP for Rhondda and Ogmore, focusing on how, as a key sector identified in the Industrial Strategy, the creative industries can help the economy grow.
At the meeting, Muyiwa Oki highlighted that to help the architecture sector grow we need a broader talent pipeline and more inclusive pathways into architecture.
