WHY BECOME

August 2009/1500/RICS PGandF/Amigo

A CHARTERED
COMMERCIAL
PROPERTY
RICS HQ
Advancing standards in land, 12 Great George Street
property and construction. Parliament Square
London SW1P 3AD
United Kingdom
RICS is the world’s leading qualification when it comes to
professional standards in land, property and construction.

In a world where more and more people, governments, banks

and commercial organisations demand greater certainty of
Worldwide media
enquiries:
E pressoffice@rics.org
Contact Centre:
SURVEYOR?
professional standards and ethics, attaining RICS status E contactrics@rics.org
is the recognised mark of property professionalism. T +44 (0)870 333 1600
F +44 (0)20 7334 3811
Over 100 000 property professionals working in the major United Kingdom
established and emerging economies of the world have contactrics@rics.org
already recognised the importance of securing RICS status Europe: excluding UK
by becoming members. ricseurope@rics.org
Asia
RICS is an independent professional body originally ricsasia@rics.org
established in the UK by Royal Charter. Since 1868, RICS
Africa
has been committed to setting and upholding the highest
ricsafrica@rics.org
standards of excellence and integrity – providing
impartial, authoritative advice on key issues affecting Americas
ricsamericas@rics.org
businesses and society. RICS is a regulator of both its
individual members and firms enabling it to maintain the Middle East
highest standards and providing the basis for unparalleled ricsmiddleeast@rics.org
client confidence in the sector. Oceania
ricsoceania@rics.org
RICS has a worldwide network. For further information simply India
contact the relevant RICS office or our Contact Centre. ricsindia@rics.org

rics.org rics.org

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DESIGNER: PW / RICS / 0195_CPS A5 leaflets / FINISHED SIZE: A5 210 X 148.5 / 8th PROOF_05.08.09
 WELCOME TO THE WORLD WHAT IS COMMERCIAL PROPERTY SURVEYING?
OF CHARTERED SURVEYORS

What is surveying? The advantages of becoming ‘chartered’ Chartered Commercial Property Surveyors Apart from there being great scope for the
Surveying is a diverse and highly rewarding If you want to benefit from true professional have an interesting, challenging and type of property you may be working with,
career. Surveyors offer the very best status, then you will need to be chartered. ever-changing workload that ensures there are also a tremendous variety of
advice on a range of land, property, they rarely find their work predictable or functions which you might be serving
construction and related environmental Employers and clients around the world formulaic. They concentrate on all types in relation to that property, such as
issues. They advise clients on all of the recognise RICS ‘chartered’ as the mark of property in the business sector. investment, management, dispute resolution
physical assets that make up the world of quality within the surveying professions. This includes the public sector, education, and the purchase and sale of buildings.
that we live in. These include just about Because of this global recognition, chartered healthcare, licensed, leisure and An overview of commercial property
everything from the skyscrapers of New status is the gateway to numerous job and telecommunications – to name only a few. specialisms is outlined in the box below:
York, Hong Kong, Shanghai and London’s career opportunities.
Dockland area; to works of art, transport
systems, the rain forests of the Amazon, So if you want to maximise your career
the Great Barrier Reef and the Masai Mara opportunities, both within the UK and
in Kenya. The fact is, wherever you find internationally, then read on and discover
yourself in the world there will almost how RICS chartered status can move you
certainly be Chartered Surveyors there onto the fast track to a rewarding and
• Agency: Purchase, sale, letting and leasing of commercial real estate
helping to shape it. successful career.
• Management: Including both the human and financial implications
• Landlord and tenant: Covering all aspects of lease negotiations
• Corporate real estate: Strategic management of/advice on operational real estate
• Investment: Appraisal, performance measurement and analysis
• Location solutions: Assisting with site needs for R&D, retail, corporate offices,
manufacturing, back offices (shared services, call centres, data centres), business
continuity and disaster recovery
• Sustainability: Help your client lessen their environmental impact, manage risk
effectively, reduce costs and ultimately gain a strategic competitive advantage
• Mixed-use buildings: Assist in delivering large-scale mixed-use schemes
• Corporate recovery: Help failing commercial organisations avoid administration.

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DESIGNER: PW / RICS / 0195_CPS A5 leaflets / FINISHED SIZE: A5 210 X 148.5 / 8th PROOF_05.08.09
 REASONS TO BECOME A CHARTERED COMMERCIAL HOW DO I JOIN?
PROPERTY SURVEYOR

Buildings shape our environment A rewarding career There are numerous routes to RICS Adaptation Routes: Routes to membership
If you relish a challenge and want to make with professional status membership. Our staff at any RICS office are constantly changing and RICS
a difference in the way we interact with Being a professional advisor, valued by will be more than happy to help you find welcomes professionals from other
our day-to-day environment, then this could your client, brings a high level of personal the one that best suits your experience disciplines and/or those with membership
be the profession for you. satisfaction, financial reward and status. and academic qualifications. of related bodies.
If you have drive and enthusiasm and
A dynamic profession are looking to work in a people-oriented Routes to membership Research Route: This route requires
If the prospect of being stuck behind business, then Chartered Commercial applicants to have 5 years’ surveying
a desk does not appeal, then working as Property Surveying is the career for you. Student Membership: This is experience, at least 2 years of which must
a Chartered Commercial Property Surveyor completely free and can be accessed be since completion of a PhD, and for
is something you should consider. No two Be rewarded financially at www.rics.org/careers them now to be in a senior industry position.
days are the same, with your role often Chartered Surveyors are among the best
involving working across the private and paid graduates within three years of leaving Graduate Route: There are several routes AssocRICS: This is the entry grade to RICS
public sector, meeting new people, and university (source: The Royal Bank of all based around the completion of an membership, for technical or support staff,
travelling to all corners of the globe. Scotland Graduate Satisfaction Report 2005). accredited RICS undergraduate level that shows an individual’s capability of
course and 2 year APC completion (with performing the fundamental tasks required
Be part of the sustainability agenda A global profession final year assessment and peer interview). to work in their specialism.
In most countries, it is estimated that The RICS qualification is globally recognised
Commercial Property is responsible for and becoming a Chartered Commercial Academic Route: This is open to Stretching yourself to achieve chartered
approximately 20% of Carbon Emissions – Property Surveyor opens up the opportunity academics teaching in RICS partnership status is probably one of the best things
you could be instrumental in helping reduce to work in almost any country in the world. universities (100+ worldwide). you could ever do to help develop
the carbon footprint of this, traditionally RICS currently has members operating out your career – both in terms of monetary
heavy polluting, sector. of 146 countries worldwide. Senior Professional Route: This route rewards and professional status.
requires 10 years plus experience in the
industry plus a cognate (related) degree
or MSc and 5 years’ experience. For general questions about careers in
surveying or for more information regarding
the above routes to entry, consult the RICS
Contact Centre:
E: contactrics@rics.org
T: +44 (0)870 333 1600
For more information on Chartered Surveyors RICS Contact Centre, Surveyor Court,
visit our website at www.rics.org/joinRICS Westwood Way, Coventry, CV4 8JE, UK

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DESIGNER: PW / RICS / 0195_CPS A5 leaflets / FINISHED SIZE: A5 210 X 148.5 / 8th PROOF_05.08.09
 WHAT YOU GET: CHARTERED STATUS WHY I BECAME A CHARTERED COMMERCIAL
PROPERTY SURVEYOR

“There can be few other professions that offer such a wide variety of
experience and develop such a broad range of skills. I can be
presenting in a City boardroom one day and driving round Cornwall
talking to small local businesses and shoppers the next.”
James Taylor, Senior Lecturer in Real Estate at UWE and a Partner
of Adapt Properties LLP
Chartered status enables you to stand RICS’ Commercial Property Professional
out from others. It shows that you are a Group provides a range of member “I am the only person I know who has been to Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan and
professional person, armed with cutting benefits such as: Uzbekistan (which is in equal measure a good ice-breaker/conversation
edge knowledge and skills. This gives • An internationally respected qualification,
killer at social events!) Very few careers offer complete global diversity
confidence to clients, the general public recognised as the ‘gold standard’ of
and employers. professional competence in the way that commercial surveying does. Have MRICS, will travel!”
• A full and ever expanding in-depth Neil Hildreth, Real Estate Manager, Nokia Workplace Resources
Professional Support Services: portfolio of industry standards, guidance
As an RICS member, Chartered Commercial and technical information on a wide “Qualifying as a Chartered Commercial Property Surveyor has not only
Property Surveyors are able to keep up to variety of professional topics underlined my professional credentials, it has aided my career
date with developments in their profession • Extensive online resources and a fortnightly
through a combination of professional Commercial E-brief
progression. Becoming chartered has opened up numerous opportunities
journals, electronic communications and • Continuous Professional Development and allowed me to work across many diverse fields from retailing to the
direct access to colleagues across all RICS opportunities, including access to a aviation industry through to property investment.”
networks. These networks also provide an cost-effective programme of lectures Stuart Davies, Director – Asset Management, Brixton plc
unrivalled source of professional and training events (with related
development opportunities. online resources)
“I have found that the professionalism and standards associated with
• Technical training and university
partnerships
being a Chartered Surveyor have enriched my working life by opening
• The ability to lobby and influence doors that would not otherwise have been open to me; this has
government and other policy makers on enabled me to diversify within my career enhancing my job satisfaction
government consultations and the future and professional experience.”
direction for issues intrinsic to commercial
Christina Hirst, Chartered Surveyor
property surveying
Results of a recent independent Macdonald • Access to experienced Professional Group For more information on Chartered
and Company Salary Survey show that members, a Professional Information team Commercial Property Surveyors
Chartered Surveyors earn between 8% and and a Contact Centre, all providing visit our website at
35% more than non-qualified professionals. impartial advice. www.rics.org/commercialproperty

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DESIGNER: PW / RICS / 0195_CPS A5 leaflets / FINISHED SIZE: A5 210 X 148.5 / 8th PROOF_05.08.09