Your architect must be registered with the Architects Registration Board (ARB) to be able to practice as an architect and call themselves such. The ARB is the regulatory body for architects in the UK and is responsible for maintaining the Register of Architects. A larger practice may also be a RIBA Chartered Practice. RIBA is a global professional membership body driving excellence in architecture. While RIBA membership is not actually a legal requirement for practising architecture, it does indicate that an architect has met certain standards of education and professional development, and has agreed to abide by the RIBA Code of Professional Conduct. To obtain the chartered practice status, practices need to prove that they can comply with the high quality standards required, which are over and above those imposed on individual members. You can see XUL Architecture’s RIBA Chartered Practice profile here. This ensures that the architect is not only registered but also holds a recognised professional status through RIBA, reinforcing their commitment to excellence and professional conduct.