Terms & Conditions

1. Background

These Terms & Conditions (T&Cs) and Code of Conduct apply to all paying members of the Regional Building Foundation (RBF), a Community Interest Company, including Individual Members, Company / Organisation Members (Company Members) and Corporate Sponsors.

When you join, you are asked to confirm that you support the vision and mission of the Regional Building Foundation and that you agree to these T&Cs and Code of Conduct. By making that declaration and paying your membership fee, you accept these terms. Corporate Sponsors will also sign a Corporate Sponsorship Agreement; where the two differ, the Corporate Sponsorship Agreement takes precedence. The Founding Patron relationship is governed by its own agreement and is not covered by these T&Cs.

The Code of Conduct in section 5 also applies to anyone taking part in RBF events, Regional Forums or RBF-managed online spaces, including the RBF LinkedIn Group and its regional sub-groups, whether or not they are a paying member.

These T&Cs and Code of Conduct ensure that the RBF operates as a collaborative, ethical network where all members benefit collectively.

2. Membership Categories and Fees

Regional Registration (free). Anyone can register their interest in one or more regions, join the RBF LinkedIn Group and suggest people, organisations and sites for the regional map. Registration is free and does not constitute membership.

Individual Membership – £1,000 per year. For individuals wishing to participate actively in the RBF network and contribute their knowledge and experience to better regional place building.

Company / Organisation Membership – £2,500 per year. For companies and organisations wishing to participate directly in the RBF network and access its regional, knowledge and project-related opportunities. Membership benefits extend to up to three named representatives from the organisation.

Corporate Sponsorship – £10,000 per year for a minimum term of three years (£30,000 in total). For organisations wishing to support the RBF programme and play an active role in its network, Knowledge Exchange and regional activity. Corporate Sponsorship is arranged directly with the RBF rather than online, and is subject to a Corporate Sponsorship Agreement.

All fees are exclusive of VAT, which will be charged where applicable.

Individual and Company / Organisation Memberships are annual subscriptions that renew automatically each year. We will email you before each renewal, and you can cancel before your renewal date (see section 10). Corporate Sponsorship runs for the term set out in the Corporate Sponsorship Agreement.

Pre-membership credit. Those who previously registered for RBF pre-membership will have their £250 registration fee credited in full against their first year of membership, using a discount code emailed to the address they registered with. The standard annual fee applies from the second year onwards.

3. Membership Benefits

Full details of the benefits for each category are set out on the RBF website at the time of joining. In summary:

Individual Members receive:

membership of the RBF national and regional network
invitations to participate in the Regional Forum relevant to their area
access to RBF Knowledge Exchange sessions and learning activities
access to the Knowledge Hub’s tools, guidance, case studies and resources
priority invitations to selected RBF events, workshops and discussions
opportunities to contribute knowledge and ideas, and to build relationships with landowners, SME housebuilders, professionals, suppliers and other members
eligibility, where relevant and subject to criteria, to engage with the Enabling Programme

Company / Organisation Members receive the benefits above for up to three named representatives, together with:

eligibility to bring forward suitable projects for consideration through the Enabling Programme, subject to criteria
access to RBF templates alongside the Knowledge Exchange and Knowledge Hub resources
inclusion within the RBF member network and relevant member communications

Corporate Sponsors receive the recognition and benefits set out in their Corporate Sponsorship Agreement, which may include:

acknowledgement across appropriate RBF communications, events and digital channels
early access to relevant RBF programmes, and opportunities to take part in pilot projects and enabling activity, subject to criteria
priority invitations to Regional Forums, selected RBF events, partner briefings and roundtables
full access to Knowledge Exchange sessions and the Knowledge Hub

opportunities to contribute relevant expertise, knowledge and solutions to RBF innovation and supply-chain activity

4. Commitment to the RBF Vision and Mission

Membership of the Regional Building Foundation is based on a shared commitment to its vision and mission.

By becoming a member, members confirm that they support the RBF’s ambition to improve the quality of homes, neighbourhoods, villages, towns and cities, and to strengthen the regional skills, knowledge, networks and capacity needed to achieve this.

Members support the RBF’s mission to bring together landowners, regional builders, SME housebuilders, professionals, craftspeople, suppliers, communities and others to share knowledge, build capability, enable good projects and encourage innovation in better place building.

Membership is founded on the principles of:

Quality of place – seeking to create enduring, beautiful, sustainable and locally distinctive places.
Collaboration – working constructively across disciplines, organisations and sectors.
Mutual benefit – sharing knowledge, experience and opportunities in ways that strengthen the wider regional building ecosystem.
Integrity – acting openly, professionally and ethically.
Learning and improvement – sharing what works, learning from experience and helping to raise standards across the sector.

Members are not expected to agree on every matter of policy, design or professional practice. The RBF values constructive debate and different perspectives within this shared commitment to its overall vision and mission.

5. Code of Conduct

The RBF aims to operate through trust, professional judgement and mutual respect. The Code of Conduct is therefore intended to be proportionate and light-touch.

It applies to members and, as set out in section 1, to anyone taking part in RBF events, Regional Forums or RBF-managed online spaces, whether or not they are a paying member.

When participating in RBF activities, or working on projects specifically associated with or supported by the RBF, members agree to:

act professionally, honestly and respectfully towards other members, communities and participants;
work constructively and collaboratively in support of the RBF’s vision and mission;
treat everyone engaging with the RBF with dignity and respect, and not engage in bullying, harassment, discrimination or abusive behaviour in any form, including online; where a serious welfare concern arises during an RBF activity, raise it with the RBF so that it can be responded to appropriately;
respect confidential or commercially sensitive information shared through RBF activities;
declare material conflicts of interest where these could affect an RBF activity, decision or project;
respect the contributions, intellectual property, relationships and legitimate commercial interests of other members;
use RBF platforms and member information for RBF-related collaboration rather than unsolicited marketing or the promotion of their own services; Corporate Sponsors may offer services to members only in the ways set out in their Corporate Sponsorship Agreement;
comply with applicable law and appropriate professional standards;
represent RBF membership accurately: members may state that they are members of the RBF, but must not use RBF branding, or present membership as accreditation, approval or endorsement of themselves, their organisation, services, developments or projects, where no such endorsement has been given. The RBF Quality Mark is awarded separately, as set out in section 9;
where involved in an RBF-associated project, seek to uphold the RBF’s principles of good place building and engage constructively with the project team and relevant communities.

The RBF recognises that members are independent individuals and organisations with their own commercial and professional interests. Nothing in this Code prevents members from competing legitimately, forming commercial relationships or pursuing their normal business activities.

Serious or repeated breaches of this Code may result in a warning, suspension or termination of membership in accordance with section 11, where the RBF reasonably considers this appropriate, having regard to the nature and seriousness of the breach.

6. Member Obligations

Pay fees on time, via Stripe Payments UK Ltd or by invoice where agreed.
Provide accurate contact and organisation details, and keep them updated.
Company Members and Corporate Sponsors: keep your named representatives up to date and ensure they follow these T&Cs and the Code of Conduct.
Attend events and forums respectfully, and follow event-specific rules.
When referring publicly to their membership of the RBF, do so accurately, and do not imply RBF endorsement without permission.

7. Regional Building Foundation Obligations

Provide agreed access and benefits promptly (for example, forum invitations and Knowledge Hub access).
Maintain platforms securely and confidentially.
Communicate changes to T&Cs or fees with at least 30 days’ notice.
Take reasonable steps to provide a safe, respectful environment at RBF events and in RBF-managed online spaces, including responding appropriately to reports of bullying, harassment, discrimination or other serious welfare concerns within RBF activities.

8. Advice and Guidance Disclaimer

The RBF holds professional indemnity insurance covering the organisation’s activities. However, all advice, guidance, insights or information shared by the RBF or its members, whether through forums, Knowledge Exchange sessions, the Knowledge Hub, events or direct interactions, is provided as a goodwill gesture only.

It does not constitute professional advice, a guarantee, warranty or endorsement. This includes any services offered to members by Corporate Sponsors.

Members must conduct their own due diligence, seek independent professional advice (for example, legal, financial or planning) and bear full responsibility for decisions and actions taken.

Where welfare concerns are raised, the RBF’s role is limited to managing behaviour within its own activities and, where appropriate, signposting to relevant agencies or emergency services; responsibility for seeking such support rests with the individual member or their organisation.

The RBF disclaims all liability for any losses arising from reliance on such information.

9. Branding, Intellectual Property and Data

Member-contributed content (for example, forum posts and Knowledge Hub inputs) grants the RBF a non-exclusive licence to use it for its mission.
The RBF owns its name, logos, Quality Mark, resources, Knowledge Exchange and Knowledge Hub materials and event content. Use of any of these is subject to the branding provisions below.
Personal data is handled in line with our Data Protection Policy (available on request).

Membership, branding and the RBF Quality Mark

Membership and the RBF Quality Mark are separate. Membership allows an individual or organisation to describe themselves accurately, in words, as a member of the Regional Building Foundation, but it does not confer accreditation, endorsement or approval by the RBF of the member, their organisation, services, developments or projects.

Membership does not give members the right to use the RBF logo, Quality Mark or other RBF branding to brand or promote their organisation, practice, services, developments or projects.

The RBF Quality Mark may only be used in relation to an eligible project that has successfully completed the RBF Enabling Programme and has subsequently entered into the RBF Quality Mark scheme. Use of the Quality Mark and any associated RBF branding is subject to the separate terms and requirements of that scheme.

Members must not use the RBF name, logo, Quality Mark or other branding in any way that suggests that an organisation, service or project has been approved, accredited or endorsed by the RBF, unless the RBF has expressly authorised that use.

10. Refunds and Cancellation

14-day satisfaction guarantee: if you are unsatisfied within the first 14 calendar days of joining the RBF (counted from the date of your first payment), you may email info@regionalbuilding.org setting out your reasons. The RBF will refund your membership fee less a reasonable administration charge (currently £40).

After 14 calendar days, there will normally be no refund of annual membership fees, except in genuinely exceptional circumstances at the Board’s discretion.

You may cancel your membership at any time by emailing info@regionalbuilding.org. To avoid renewal, please cancel before your renewal date. No refunds are given for partial membership years, but you will normally retain access to membership benefits until the end of the paid-for membership year.

Corporate Sponsorship fees, cancellation and refunds are governed by the Corporate Sponsorship Agreement, and the 14-day satisfaction guarantee does not apply to them.

These contractual rights are in addition to, and do not affect, any statutory cooling-off or cancellation rights you may have under UK consumer law.

11. Termination and Enforcement

By member: cancel as set out in section 10.
By the RBF: suspension or termination for breaches (for example, unethical conduct, undisclosed conflicts of interest, or misuse of forums or schemes) where the RBF reasonably considers this appropriate, having regard to the nature and seriousness of the breach. No refunds will be given, and the RBF may decline a future application to rejoin.
Warnings or suspensions for minor issues, with a right of appeal to the Board.
Decisions are final but made fairly, with an opportunity to respond.

12. Liability and Governing Law

The RBF’s liability is limited to the membership or sponsorship fees paid by the relevant individual or organisation in the 12 months before the claim. No liability is accepted for consequential damages.
Members indemnify the RBF against claims arising from their actions.
These T&Cs are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes will first go through mediation; if unresolved, the courts of England and Wales will have exclusive jurisdiction.

13. Changes

The RBF may update these T&Cs with at least 30 days’ notice. Continued membership implies acceptance, and payment confirms agreement.

Questions? Contact: info@regionalbuilding.org