Chartered bodies call for greater recognition of professional standard

1 Chartered bodies can help rebuild trust in public services
2 Chartered bodies call for greater recognition of professional standard (CIAT)
3 Chartered bodies urge government to champion professional standards (CIOB)
4 Related articles on Designing Buildings

[edit] Chartered bodies can help rebuild trust in public services

Chartered Week celebrates Chartered practice and the people, organisations and registrations that are raising standards of competence and ethics across society today. The 2026 year theme is Celebrating Trusted Professionals. It’s a great opportunity to recognise the Chartered heroes whose work and commitment help to strengthen public confidence in their sector. 

An open letter by the Chartered Week Alliance on behalf of over 40 signatories, representing Chartered and other professional bodies was sent to the government offering their support as key partners in building trust in the public and business services we all depend on. It asked the government to take a lead in expecting and promoting registration and Chartered status for all professionals in the vital sectors represented, including in the civil service.

The open letter is given in full below and a PDF is available for down load here:

“Dear Secretary of State (The Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP)

Chartered bodies can help rebuild trust in public services

Chartered and professional bodies should be key partners of government as it builds trust in the public and business services we all depend on.

Our Chartered Alliance of over 40 organisations represents a combined membership of over 1.5 million people. That makes us a powerful ally in growing confidence across professions that are crucial to national growth and renewal.

Partnering with us in areas as diverse as science, technology, engineering and maths, the environment, law, accountancy, leadership and management, projects, payroll, and procurement, will ensure public policy has long-term credibility.

We have unique strengths in our membership communities and in our responsibility to be the voice of our professions, often supported by Royal Charters.

We drive revenue into the economy, by ensuring we have highly skilled workforces across critical sectors, rooted in professional registration and practice.

We create broad and accessible routes to professional careers, while keeping standards high, providing competitive advantage for the UK around the world.

Our members make clear ethical commitments as part of our Codes of Conduct, and support professionals’ freedom and safety to raise concerns, regardless of discipline.

Active membership of a professional body is a pledge of public accountability, which is critical in the AI age.

That is why we are asking government to take a lead in expecting and promoting registration and Chartered status for all professionals in the vital sectors represented here, including in the civil service.

We would be delighted to explore this further with you and welcome your support for the second Chartered Week campaign taking place 23-27 February 2026.”

[edit] Chartered bodies call for greater recognition of professional standard (CIAT)

CIAT and other professional bodies representing more than 1.5 million individuals has written to the UK Government to encourage stronger recognition of Chartered and professionally registered status across key sectors, stating that this can contribute to public confidence and economic development.

In an open letter to Pat McFadden, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the Chartered Week Alliance, a coalition of over 40 Chartered and professional organisations, invites ministers to consider promoting professional registration and Chartered status more widely, including within the civil service.

The Alliance sets out its view that Chartered bodies can support national priorities by promoting professional standards, encouraging access to careers, supporting ethical practice and contributing to confidence in public and business services.

The open letter has been issued ahead of the second annual Chartered Week (23-27 February), which highlights the role of professional standards in accountability and economic performance.

It notes that closer collaboration between government and Chartered or professional bodies across disciplines, including science, technology, engineering, environment and procurement, could support the long-term credibility of public policy. The Alliance also states that membership of a professional body involves adherence to codes of conduct and ethical standards, which it considers increasingly relevant in the context of emerging technologies such as AI.

CIAT recognises the importance of professional standards, competence and ethical practice in supporting public confidence across the built environment.

Chartered bodies can help rebuild trust in public services

Over 40 Chartered and other professional bodies have signed an open letter to government offering their support as key partners in building trust in the public and business services we all depend on.

We are asking government to take a lead in expecting and promoting registration and Chartered status for all professionals in the vital sectors represented here, including in the civil service.

The letter was sent by the Chartered Week Alliance on behalf of over 40 signatories. Full letter here.

This section appears on the CIAT news and blog site as "Chartered bodies call for greater recognition of professional standards" dated 23 February, 2026.

[edit] Chartered bodies urge government to champion professional standards (CIOB)

CIOB has joined a group of chartered bodies in urging government to champion professional standards to rebuild trust in public services.

The professional bodies representing more than 1.5 million people have written to the Government calling for stronger backing of Chartered and professionally registered status across key sectors, arguing it is essential to rebuilding public trust and driving economic growth.

In an open letter to Pat McFadden, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the Chartered Week Alliance, a coalition of over 40 Chartered and professional organisations which includes CIOB, asks ministers to take a lead in expecting and promoting professional registration and Chartered status, including within the civil service.

The Alliance argues that Chartered bodies are uniquely placed to support national renewal: raising standards, widening access to professional careers, strengthening ethical practice and underpinning confidence in public and business services.

The call comes during the second annual Chartered Week (23–27 February 2026), a campaign highlighting the role of professional standards in public accountability and economic competitiveness.

The letter states that partnering more closely with Chartered and professional bodies across disciplines, from science, technology, engineering and maths to environment, law, accountancy, leadership, management and procurement, will help ensure public policy has long-term credibility.

It also highlights that active membership of a professional body represents a clear pledge of public accountability, underpinned by codes of conduct and ethical commitments - a safeguard the Alliance says is “critical in the AI age.”

Dr Victoria Hills, CIOB CEO, said: “Chartership represents the pinnacle of professional excellence, demonstrating a practitioner’s advanced knowledge, experience, and commitment to ethical standards within their field. Importantly for the construction sector it also demonstrates a specific level of skill or competence which has become increasingly important with the introduction of the Building Safety Act for example.

“The built environment encompasses a broad range of professions and different sectors, including many roles in the public sector, and to build and maintain the trust of the communities we build for, its important standards are set high and upheld. We see it as our role and that of other professional bodies to set those standards, help our members to meet them and develop pathways for a broader spectrum of people to gain chartered status.”