National Register of Access Consultants

What National Register of Access Consultants does

The National Register of Access Consultants (NRAC) is a UK-based, unincorporated professional accreditation body established in 1999 by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) to provide a single, government-backed source for organizations seeking competent access consultancy and access auditing advice in the built environment. NRAC accredits individuals as NRAC Consultants or NRAC Auditors after candidates meet competency standards verified through application review, training, and interview, and maintains a publicly searchable member directory on nrac.org.uk that serves as the first port-of-call for clients commissioning accessibility work.

The organization generates revenue through a recurring membership model — annual fees of £340 for commercially available Consultants, £300 for commercially available Auditors, £195 for unavailable practitioners, and £85 for non-accredited supporters — augmented by ticketed revenue streams from an annual in-person conference at the Coin Street Conference Centre in London (100-110+ delegates, £138-£180 per ticket), recurring online seminars priced at £45-£70, Towards Membership workshops at £204-£234, and inclusive design training courses funded partly through Happold Foundation grants. Distribution relies on the public member search directory, the CIC host network, an email newsletter, LinkedIn and Twitter presence, and event sponsorships from accessibility product suppliers (Quantum Flooring, HEWI, Contacta, Stannah, Innova Care Concepts).

Since 1 July 2017 NRAC has been hosted by the Construction Industry Council (CIC), a conglomerate of construction-industry professional bodies, having previously been hosted by the Centre for Accessible Environments (CAE). Operationally the organization is lean (1-10 employees), currently with approximately 150 registered consultants and auditors, governed by a Board Advisory Group chaired by Simon Turton and managed day-to-day by Chi Wong. NRAC is positioning for incremental expansion through repeated cohorts of a new inclusive design training course (launched 2024 with 2025 and 2026 iterations), a 25th-anniversary brand refresh, and a renewed accessibility-focused website build.

Name

National Register of Access Consultants

Legal name

National Register of Access Consultants

Website

https://nrac.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

NRAC is the UK's only specialist accreditation body for access consultants and access auditors in the built environment, established in 1999 with government backing and currently hosted by the Construction Industry Council. It accredits approximately 150 practitioners, supports them through conferences, online seminars, workshops, and inclusive design training, and operates a public member directory used by organizations seeking competent access advice.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Accreditation Services

NAICS

All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Continuing Education (CE/CPD) & Provider Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAF)

Keywords

• Accessibility accreditation
• Access consultancy services
• Inclusive design certification
• Built environment compliance
• Professional accreditation register

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees charged to NRAC Consultants (£340 commercially available) and Auditors (£300 commercially available, £195 unavailable). Supporters pay £85 annually. Revenue is recurring on annual basis from accredited professionals.
2. Conference and Event Tickets: Revenue generated from annual conference attendance (£138-£180 per delegate) and online seminar tickets (£45-£70). Events include networking, speakers, and exhibitor opportunities.
3. Training Course Fees: Inclusive design training courses offered at various price points. Towards Membership workshops at £234 per attendee. Training courses funded partially through Happold Foundation grants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

NRAC operates the UK's only specialist accreditation service for access consultants and access auditors, providing official recognition (NRAC Consultant or NRAC Auditor titles) to individuals working in inclusive environments. Accredited members are listed in a publicly searchable online directory and gain access to a members' portal, quarterly newsletter, discounted conferences and online seminars, and supporting training such as the Inclusive Design Training Course and Towards Membership Workshop.

Product overview

The National Register of Access Consultants (NRAC) operates as an independent UK-wide accreditation service for individuals providing access consultancy and access auditor services. The organization offers a single unified accreditation service with multiple product offerings: NRAC Practising Membership (accreditation for Consultants and Auditors), NRAC Supporters Membership (non-accredited supporter tier), Annual Conference events, Online Seminars, Towards Membership Workshop, and an Inclusive Design Training Course. Members gain access to a directory listing, Members Area portal with forum and newsletter, and discounted event access. NRAC was set up with government backing in 1999 and is now hosted by the Construction Industry Council (CIC).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NRAC Practising Membership Accreditation service for Access Consultants and Auditors providing official recognition of members' access-related skills. Members may use the titles NRAC Consultant or NRAC Auditor as proof of recognition. Annual fees: £340 commercially available Consultants, £300 commercially available Auditors, £195 for unavailable Auditors and Consultants.
• NRAC Supporters Membership Non-accredited supporter tier for individuals or organisations interested in the access field, providing the NRAC newsletter and invitations to conferences and events. Annual fee: £85 (international £92.50, reduced rate £40 for access/disability groups and unwaged individuals).
• NRAC Annual Conference Annual in-person conference held at Coin Street Conference Centre, London, focusing on accessibility and inclusive design in the built environment, featuring expert speakers, exhibitors and networking opportunities. Tickets £138–£180 including tea/coffee and hot buffet lunch, with discounted rates for members and supporters.
• NRAC Online Seminars Online webinar events held multiple times per year (typically 9:30am–12:45pm UK time), covering topics such as Approved Document M, the Equality Act, the Building Safety Act, inclusive design and sign design. Tickets: £60 for NRAC members, £70 for non-members.
• NRAC Towards Membership Workshop Workshop guiding candidates through NRAC membership requirements, application process, legislation and guidance, access audit report formatting and interview preparation. Cost: £234 including refreshments and sandwich lunch (two half-day sessions offered at £204 inclusive of VAT).
• NRAC Inclusive Design Training Course Accessibility and inclusive design training course tailored for built environment professionals seeking NRAC accreditation. Delivered by NRAC's training partners over six weeks using bite-sized online sessions, self-study tasks and a face-to-face session in London, with content mapped against NRAC competencies. Created with funding support from the Happold Foundation.
• NRAC Members Area Online members-only portal providing access to exclusive content, the on-line forum for exchanging views and sharing information, and quarterly newsletters with the latest information on legislation, products, seminars, technical matters and training opportunities.
• NRAC Members Register / Search Publicly searchable directory of NRAC accredited members allowing clients to find and contact NRAC registered Access Consultants and Auditors for competent advice on inclusive environments and accessibility.

Quantifiable outcome

• UK's only specialist accreditation for access consultants

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Construction Industry Council (CIC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2017CIC has hosted NRAC since July 2017, providing organizational infrastructure and professional body network access. NRAC registrants are members of professional bodies that constitute CIC. The partnership provides synergy with CIC's Register for Approved Inspectors and supports CIC's Inclusive Environments focus from the Built Environment Professional Education (BEPE) Project.
• Design CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNRAC supported the Design Council's free Inclusive Environment CPD programme with both funding and time as part of working groups for the project. The NRAC Manager promoted this initiative to help the wider construction industry engage with inclusive environment issues.
• Quantum Flooring AccessoriesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerQuantum Flooring Accessories provides continued sponsorship support for NRAC events, including online seminars.
• HEWIminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHEWI provides continued sponsorship support for NRAC events.
• ContactaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerContacta provides continued sponsorship support for NRAC conferences and events.
• StannahminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStannah provides continued sponsorship support for NRAC conferences and events.
• Innova Care ConceptsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInnova provides continued sponsorship support for NRAC events.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Construction Industry Council (CIC): CIC is NRAC's host organisation and a representative body for UK built-environment professional institutions. Comparable as a UK-wide umbrella body coordinating chartered professions in the construction sector.
• Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE): ICE is a UK chartered body accrediting civil engineers, a profession whose members also work on accessibility-relevant infrastructure projects. Comparable as a UK chartered accreditation body in the broader construction/built environment space.
• Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE): CABE accredits building engineers and inspectors via chartered membership and runs CPD in accessibility-related building standards. Comparable as a UK built-environment professional accreditation body overlapping with the NRAC member base.
• Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB): CIOB accredits construction managers and related professionals through chartered membership and CPD programmes. Comparable as a UK professional accreditation body in the built environment sector served by NRAC registrants.
• Centre for Accessible Environments (CAE): CAE was the previous host organisation for NRAC before the 2017 CIC transfer. It operates in the same UK inclusive-design/accessibility advisory space and serves overlapping professional and client audiences.
• Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA): RIBA accredits UK architects and runs CPD/inclusion-related programmes and competitions aligned with accessibility. Comparable as a UK chartered professional accreditation body covering built-environment practice.
• Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS): RICS accredits UK surveyors via a globally recognised chartered credential, with CPD pathways covering inclusive design and building safety. Closely comparable as a UK chartered built-environment accreditation body.
• Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE): CIBSE accredits building-services engineers, including in areas such as inclusive environmental design and Approved Document M compliance. Comparable as a UK professional accreditation body in the built environment.

Broad incumbents

• United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS): UKAS is the UK's national accreditation body, recognising organisations that perform certification, testing, and inspection across sectors. Related as a higher-tier accreditation authority operating in the same UK 'accreditation ecosystem' as NRAC.
• British Standards Institution (BSI): BSI is the UK's national standards body, producing British Standards on accessibility and inclusive environments that NRAC-trained consultants apply. Comparable as a UK-level standards-setting and certification authority in the same regulatory and standards space.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nrac_info
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-register-of-access-consultants

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Register of Access Consultants