The architecture practice playbook

An assistant answers this from practices whose pages, listings and awards say 'later living', 'housing association' and 'Manchester' about completed schemes. To be in that answer you need a later living sector page, project pages for each scheme with the client type and location, and the same wording on your RIBA directory entry and in trade press coverage.

For a practice that wants business clients, usually yes, because it is a public, checkable standard. RIBA requires at least one full-time director or partner to be a Chartered Member, at least one in eight staff to be Chartered Members, professional indemnity insurance and a set of policies. Chartered Practices appear in RIBA's directory, another independent record an assistant can use.

Agree what can be shared at appointment, not at completion. Many clients are happy with a written account once the building is complete, especially when it presents their project well. Where they are not, describe the sector, scale, location and constraints without naming the client or showing sensitive areas. A headquarters fit-out can be described without the tenant's name.

Often more easily than in a formal bid. A six-person practice that is clearly the specialist in listed commercial buildings in one city can be named ahead of a large practice whose relevant work is buried among hundreds of projects. Clear specialism, well-written project pages and checkable credentials matter more than size.