A career in Rural Chartered Surveying can offer a huge range of tasks and excitement each day. Check out these video stories and hear what some industry professionals, graduates and students have been getting up to. We have a huge collection of video clips, so make sure you keep re-visiting this page to see what other qualified and trainee surveyors have to say!
83% of respondents in a recent industry survey are fairly or very satisfied with their current role
On average, a RICS qualification leads to a 21% higher base salary
62% of farms in 2017 reported some form of diversification thanks to Chartered Surveyors
54% of respondents in a recent industry survey believe their organisation will increase headcount
My work placement from University was spent working on a rural estate on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park in the Scottish Highlands. Working as a 'trainee estate manager' I was involved in all aspects of the day to day management of the estate including but not limited to its sporting beats, castle tourism and camping, residential and commercial property and farming enterprises. My main projects whilst on placement were negotiating the transition of succession of an AHA '86 tenancy and undertaking photographic record of condition of the 150+ bridge structures spread out across the near 145,000 acre estate. Alongside this I negotiated new lease agreements and rent reviews for commercial units, let residential properties, assisted with livestock movements (getting dirty in the pen with the animals when required), beat on the estates in hand shoot, worked as a Gillie on the deer stalking beats and assisted with the management of an international sporting event. During my year I gained an invaluable insight into the management of an estate and also gained skills I use today in my career as a Surveyor in the utilities sector.
I acted as the lead agent for the sale of a country cottage with 5 acres of land. I drew up the particulars, launched the property, took all enquiries, completed 27 viewings in 3 weeks and dealt with all offers. I liaised with the solicitors and concluded a sale which was above the guide price. Being involved in rural agency is great fun as you are constantly out and about and dealing with a huge range of people on a daily basis.
We were approached by the local accountant to provide a valuation of a property. The valuation was to aid with the calculation of the Inheritance Tax owed by a deceased estate, the accountant was one of the executors. The property was a period property with a number of structural issues which reduced the value substantially.
I was appointed to sell a small holding to the west of Chester. The marketing went well and we were delighted with the amount of interest and the variety of ideas for the future use of the property. It sold above guide at auction which pleased our client and the process highlighted just what diverse business ideas are being considered on a local and national scale, but also how broad the market is for well located rural property.
During my placement year from University, I acted for a Spanish company who own a network of high pressure aviation fuel pipelines, which are located all across Britain. These pipelines supply some of the major airports in Britain with fuel, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. My role included the organisation of excavation works to expose these pipes to repair defects on the line, installation of cathodic protection (which helps to reduce corrosion and general day-to-day matters with the network). Despite not knowing anything about this niche form of work before, i thoroughly enjoyed it and would now always encourage people to embrace all opportunities offered.
As part of increased efforts to improve the biodiversity of the Chatsworth Estate moorland, I worked with Natural England, Historic England and the Peak District National Park Authority to devise a cutting plan. The long heather offers little biodiversity, poses a significant wildfire risk and increases the risk of ewes grazing the moor losing their lambs. I designed cutting routes to buffer the ancient monuments and areas of ecological risk. By cutting the heather it will allow fresh shoots to grow, which leads to increased biodiversity and reduced fire risk by creating breaks wide enough to stop the fire spreading.
During my placement year I worked for one of the UK's largest plant and machinery auctions. Holding monthly auctions of new and used Plant from numerous clients, including Govermnent organisations and finance companies. It gave me the opportunity to drive a wide range of machinery. Being part of a small team in a rapidly expanding sector was extremely interesting. During my time at the company new records were set for both turnover of the company and highest price attained for an individual lot.
We were asked to review an Asbestos Management Plan for an Estate. An initial inspection showed that it was a Type 1 survey from 2005 (these were commonly commissioned but due to change in legislation they are not considered sufficient) . A new inspection of all farms was undertaken, including taking samples for analysis, an Asbestos Register produced and an Asbestos Management Plan created and adopted by the estate. Interestingly we identified a number of materials not identified on the 2005 report and found all three types (White, Blue and Brown) of Asbestos.
Simplified Dispute Resolution
Working with RICS and other stakeholders to develop a simplified method of resolving disputes in a number of forums to enable landowners and farmers cost effective access to justice where current models are either to expensive, too risky or too complicated.
The models have been loosely based on the Small Claims Court model such that costs and bureaucracy do not get in the way of the parties getting a fair resolution of disputes that are often important in principle but not significant in terms of value.
The review, consultation, assessment, design, planning and construction of the visitor facilities at Alice Holt Forest on the Hampshire Surrey border. The existing facilities were inadequate and dated for a modern and very popular forest site. we conducted surveys of staff, visitors and local people before exploring various locations and options. Once the best option was settled on we obtained planning permission, went out to tender for contractors and constructed the first phase of development.
During placement I assisted in preparing a tender application for an area for farmland on an Agricultural Tenancy Act 1995 for 10 years. This had to include a proposal for a farming system, maintenance plan, consideration towards environmental implementation such as hedges as well as an cashflow forecast and rent tender for the land. The application was shortlisted and was successful in winning the tender which was very satisfying.
Working for a membership organisation as a Chartered Surveyor offers a range of different opportunities to get involved with work at the cutting edge of land management. I worked with a client based in Hertfordshire to secure a change of use from agricultural to residential under Permitted Development Rights (just at the time when the law had changed, which was of benefit to my client). The application proved to be extremely complex and was far from plain sailing with the local authority, however we were eventually successful on appeal. It was a real buzz to see two very ordinary barns transform into three residential dwellings. Since then the client has secured consent for three further conversions from commercial to residential and has created a thriving rural community.
The Exmouth tidal defence scheme is a £12 million scheme to improve flood defences in Exmouth. The scheme will reduce the risk of tidal flooding to over 1,400 residential and 400 commercial properties. As an Assistant Estates Surveyor for the Environment Agency during my placement year, I used GIS and Terrier Systems to identify land and property affected by the project and created plans to effectively communicate the work being undertaken by the Environment Agency. I assisted in securing access to land under statutory powers and liaised with residents affected by the scheme
On my sandwich year in between University years, I was involved in an exciting moorland regeneration scheme in south Scotland. Heather beetle killed hundreds of acres of heather moorland and reseeding the moorland area was the only way to regenerate the upland landscape. Using up to date technology such as GPS and modern agricultural equipment, we were able to reseed the area using a broadcast technique. From the start of the project through to the end, we worked with government organisations to ensure best practice and regulation was closely adhered to. The benefit to wildlife and biodiversity was highly rewarding!
During my time on placement I was given the opportunity of a project in Bern in Switzerland. To map a race course through the centre of Bern. As an assistant surveyor it meant that I was in charge of setting up the GPS system and making sure it was secure, whilst my colleague set up the scanner that was on top of the car. Whilst the scanning it was my job to stop and start the scanner and to make sure we had enough scans in order to accurately map Bern Race course.
The Newcastle Parks Trust recently engaged the National Trust to provide advice on the management of the built assets in the city’s public parks. I provided valuation advice to the Parks Trust in relation to the income generating potential of these assets. These assets included both residential and commercial properties, located across the city. This valuation work will assist the Parks Trust in deciding how to manage these assets going forward, to ensure the sustainable management of Newcastle’s public parks, balancing both commercial benefit and financial viability.
During my placement year from University, I was involved in the management of commercial units in Edinburgh, including workshops and storage containers. I assisted with the marketing and letting of the units, including undertaking viewings and records of conditions, as well as dealing with the termination of leases and the general management of the yard. This gave me a broad insight into the management of commercial units and allowed me to correspond with a variety of people and businesses.
During my placement I acted as an agent on behalf of Severn Trent Water, consulting with landowners throughout the process. I assisted with the negotiations between the contractors and the land owners, agreed any accomodation works and oversaw the running of the project. I also was involved in the compensation calculations and ensuring the land and landowner's financial position were left in the same state they would be if the works had not been carried out. Ab Kettleby project consisted of 5km pipeline affecting numerous landowners.
During my placement year I worked for one of Shropshire's largest plant and machinery auctions which held monthly sales of used and new machinery for numerous clients from large international firms to small local sellers. This gave me an a opportunity to drive loads of different types of machines and learn how much everything cost! I was part of a small team of plant and machinery auctioneers who also sold the livestock at the Shrewsbury livestock market. During my time at the company we had two record breaking sales, one of which saw the highest turnover ever sold in one sale!
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