I’ll be honest, I am not the best writer. Back when I was a Part II student at Manchester School of Architecture, my dissertation was my lowest mark in the final year. If I remember correctly, the feedback was that I wrote passionately but meandered around the point. Well, there is no time for time for the scenic route here, so I’ll get straight to the point with my clunky words: the world around the architecture profession has changed rapidly, yet the RIBA is not moving fast enough to keep up.

And before you say, “Hey Steve! Why should I listen to you?” You don’t have to, of course. But I speak to professionals and students on a daily basis at the Architecture Social and also joined the RIBA Council to try and make a difference – and in my experience, it was really hard to get any cogs turning at all.

The RIBA is often held in high regard by the public as leading the charge in our industry, as the pinnacle of British architecture. Yet so many within the industry have become frustrated, bitter or apathetic with the RIBA – and for good reason. Most people I’ve spoken to don’t feel that it represents them anymore.

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