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Learn Your Future...

What is the ‘Grow Your Future’ campaign?

The original idea for a project like this came to life following a conversation at a party in 2013. I was asked by one of my fellow guests what I did for a living, and I replied “I’m a Rural Practice Chartered Surveyor”.

The person who asked me this question had never heard of this career and so I tried to explain it, in particular how varied and interesting it was and how no two days were ever the same.

I started to discuss this problem with friends and colleagues and I discovered that I was not alone in the problems we face when attempting to explain the nature of our work to people who have never heard of the career. I became very interested in how the specialist rural sector of my profession was promoted and understood by others and whether I could design a website to showcase this career to a wider audience.

NCOP/Higher Horizons+

I was lucky enough to meet the team from Higher Horizons+, a collaborative network of ten Universities and colleges with the objective of supporting schools as part of the National Collaborative Outreach Programme (NCOP).

NCOP was launched in 2017 as an initiative from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (now Office for Students) to increase participation in higher education across England.

 

Government goals which NCOP aim to support

  • Double the proportion of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in higher education by 2020
  • Increase by 20% the number of students in higher education from ethnic minority groups
  • Address the under-representation of young men from disadvantaged background in higher education

My research has involved working with many different people, from those thinking about a career in surveying right the way up to the people who govern who is ready to become a qualified Surveyor, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

The result is Grow Your Future.

I hope you enjoy the website and it inspires you to join me and thousands of others in a highly rewarding, varied and exciting career.

 

Andrew Black FRICS
[email protected]

 

Need any help?

If you would like to know more about studying Rural Surveying, visit our university page.

Take a Look

Student and Graduate Case Studies

Robert

8/10

Outdoors
Factor

7/10

Importance
Factor

9/10

Eco
Factor

Robert
Valuation of Assets, Newcastle

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.

read more
Iain

8/10

Creative
Factor

7/10

People
Factor

9/10

Technology
Factor

Iain
Planning of Facilities, Farnham

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.

read more
Alex

9/10

Challenge
Factor

9/10

Variety
Factor

10/10

Reward
Factor

Alex
Management of Aviation Fuel Lines, Knutsford

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. 

read more
David, Bridge Farm Sealand

10/10

Reward
Factor

9/10

Feelgood
Factor

10/10

Leadership
Factor

David, Bridge Farm Sealand
Chester

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. 

read more
James, Moorland Heather Cutting

9/10

Outdoor
Factor

8/10

Creativity
Factor

10/10

Rewarding
Factor

James, Moorland Heather Cutting
Bakewell

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.

read more
James, Plant, Machinery and HGV Auctions

9/10

Importance
Factor

10/10

Variety
Factor

9/10

Rewarding
Factor

James, Plant, Machinery and HGV Auctions
Madley

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. 

read more
Lucy, Residential House Refurbishment

9/10

Variety
Factor

10/10

Challenge
Factor

10/10

Rewarding
Factor

Lucy, Residential House Refurbishment
Northampton

During my time on placement I was involved with a full refurbishment of a 3 bedroom residential property during my employment at Compton Estates. My responsibilities have included instructing contractors, managing the renovation at the property from start, dealing with health and safety and additional legal compliance. I feel lucky that I was able to organise and run a project of this size.

read more
Lucy, Water Supplies Project

9/10

Outdoor
Factor

10/10

Environmental
Factor

9/10

Technology
Factor

Lucy, Water Supplies Project
West Cumbria

My team were tasked with securing land access for the construction of a new 100km water pipeline. Starting in 2014, our first task was to land reference various pipeline routes, followed by arranging environmental and ground intrusive surveys along the proposed pipeline corridor. We were responsible for undertaking pre and post-entry photographic and video records of condition, securing licence agreements for compound sites and overseeing day-to-day running of the project to ensure the project progresses without delay. The pipelaying is programmed to be fully operational by 2022, following on from which we will be engaged in settling final compensation claims and securing Deed of Easements.

read more
Robert, Estate Asbestos Register and Management Plan

9/10

Importance
Factor

8/10

Teamwork
Factor

10/10

Rewarding
Factor

Robert, Estate Asbestos Register and Management Plan
Northumberland

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.

read more
Stephanie, Coal Authority Claim

9/10

Importance
Factor

10/10

Leadership
Factor

10/10

Variety
Factor

Stephanie, Coal Authority Claim
Hesket Newmarket

I received a call from a client one late afternoon telling me that a huge hole had appeared in one of his fields! I raced out to site and saw that a deep hole has appeared which was a danger to the public. I made sure the area was safely and quickly fenced off and alerted the authorities including the Coal Authority as the area was prone to old mine shaft collapses. It turned out that due to the age of one of the mineshafts beneath the field, the only thing holding it up was old timber supports which had given way, leading to the collapse. My role was to lead the team in ensuring the field was made safe again, by liaising with engineers to completely dig out and re-fill the hole. This is what I love about my job; no two days are the same and you have to be able to think on your feet.

read more
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