The arc: identifying and engaging specialist historic environment professionals
The Arc: an historic built environment online resource (visit at https://the-arc.uk/) created by founding partners:
- CIAT - Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists
- CIfA - Chartered Institute for Archaeologists
- CIOB - Chartered Institute of Building
- Icon - Institute of Conservation
The Arc is an online resource for clients and stakeholders in the built and historic environment sectors. The Arc's purpose is to help clients find specialist historic environment professionals, including CIAT-Accredited Conservationists.
It does this by signposting clients and stakeholders to the registers of the founding participants that contain contact details for accredited or similarly qualified individuals and businesses.
The goal is to help clients and stakeholders make informed decisions when choosing historic environment professionals. It simplifies access to and clarifies the benefits of engaging appropriately qualified and experienced professionals. The founding participants agreed to work closely together in the interest of clients, stakeholder and wider industry to promote The Arc alongside their own registers.
Having launched 2024, The Arc will complete its first full year of operation in 2025 and is developing plans for 2026 and beyond. The focus will be on expanding its reach and strengthening collaboration.
Plans for the next phase include engaging with additional register holders to join The Arc and building wider support among organisations working in the historic environment, ensuring The Arc becomes a central hub for clients to find trusted professional expertise.
This article originally appeared on the CIAT news and blog site as 'CIAT collaborates with CIOB, CIfA, Icon to launch The Arc', dated 29 August, 2024 and was updated as 'The Arc participants reaffirm commitment with new MOU' dated 5 November 2025.
--CIAT
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Archaeology and construction.
- Building preservation notice.
- Certificate of immunity.
- CIAT articles.
- CIOB articles.
- Conservation areas.
- Conservation of the historic environment.
- English Heritage
- Heritage partnership agreement.
- Historic England.
- Historic environment good practice advice.
- Historic Environment Service Provider Recognition.
- Historic environment.
- IHBC articles.
- Listed buildings.
- Planning Policy Statement 5 Planning for the Historic Environment
- Scheduled monuments.
- Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
- Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings
- VAT - protected buildings.
Featured articles and news
We're expanding our collaborative mission by launching DB Intelligence, an exclusive market research advisory panel. Built environment professionals can now get paid to share their expertise on industry trends, products and services.
Panel members receive direct financial incentives for participating in research projects like short surveys, 1-2-1 interviews and focus groups. Register today to shape the future of the construction sector.
Planning condition discharge in England and Wales
A brief exoplanation from a building compliance expert, with further links.
Overheating guidance and tools for building designers
Guidance for dealing with element of building fabric control that have increasing importance.
Shading for housing, a design guide
From the Good Homes Alliance and British Blind and Shutter Association.
UK Standard Skills Classification (SSC)
A shared framework for describing skills needs.
Social media ban consultation comes to close
CIOB urges UK Government to consider social media’s role in careers guidance in ban debate.
The latest of eight Skills England apprenticeship units
The addition of battery manufacturing welcomed by ECA with a warning about the risks of fast-tracked apprenticeship units.
Building Control Independent Panel final report
A precis of a key report led by Dame Hackitt with full recommendations and link to the government response.
Building Safety recap April, 2026
A short and longer run-through of the month, with links to further information and sources.
CIAT May 2026 briefing.
From medieval scribes to modern word art.
ECA welcomes crackdown on late payment and push for clean energy, whilst CIOB seek fixed cladding removal timeframes.
Cyber Security in the Built Environment
Protecting projects, data, and digital assets: A CIOB Academy TIS.
Managing competence in the built environment
ITFG publishes new industry guide on how to meet the ICC principles.
The UK's campaign to reduce noise pollution: Mythbusting, articles and topic guides.