The RICS Podcast

Kate Willard OBE is on a mission to transform the Thames Estuary region of north Kent, south Essex and east London. She’s doing this in her roles as chair of the Thames Estuary Growth Board and the Thames Estuary envoy.Through a programme of regeneration and infrastructure development, the Growth Board hopes to boost the economies of the 17 different local authorities included in the Thames Estuary, as part of a ‘Green Blue Action Plan’.In this episode of the Building the Future podcast, Justin Sullivan FRICS, RICS Senior Vice President, meets Willard to discuss the work she is doing.“Infrastructure is only one piece of the story – it needs to be complemented by things like skills, education policy and industrial plans,” says Willard. “But without good infrastructure these things all become much harder.” As well as infrastructure, they also talk about biodiversity in the estuary, the role of hydrogen in greener transport and other coastal regions in the world facing similar challenges. Willard also highlights the importance of listening to local residents to get a better understanding of what it is an area really needs to succeed.Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors: https://www.rics.org/uk/ RICS Podcast Page https://www.rics.org/podcast/ Kieran Halliwell https://www.linkedin.com/in/kdhalliwell/

In this podcast we are joined by two RICS members that are eager to share their experiences of the assessment process. Aled Jenkins, MRICS who completed the Senior Professional assessment and Jordanne Dunn, AssocRICS, who followed the Associate route. They discuss useful resources that they used during their assessment journey, bust some common myths and provide their top tips to support candidates taking these routes. If you would like to find out more about the range of local and global resources available to help you through your assessment journey, please visit our dedicated candidate support pages on the RICS website.Resources discussed:RICS Matrics UKRICS Matrics InternationalLionHeart - HomeJoin RICSThis episode of The RICS Podcast covers:Jordanne and Aled’s background in the professionEssential resources that each used, with differences between the MRICS and AssocRICS pathwaysLearning styles, and how to adapt assessment prep to work for youCommon misconceptions about the assessment process and interviewRoyal Institution of Chartered Surveyors: https://www.rics.org/uk/ RICS Podcast Page https://www.rics.org/podcast/ Kieran Halliwell https://www.linkedin.com/in/kdhalliwell/

Throughout Antony Parkinson’s varied career in the residential property sector, he’s been on both sides of an APC assessment, garnered experience as a tribunal member, and seen the profession from outside and within RICS itself.Antony’s journey holds lessons for so many within various specialisms of the surveying profession, and he joins Mairead Carroll on The RICS Podcast this week to share some of his career’s key learnings.This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:Opportunities that Antony has been afforded by becoming a chartered surveyorObservations from both sides of the fence, being in practice and within RICS itselfThe journey that follows standards consultationsAdvice and motivation for future surveyors undertaking their APCRoyal Institution of Chartered Surveyors: https://www.rics.org/uk/ RICS Podcast Page https://www.rics.org/podcast/ Kieran Halliwell https://www.linkedin.com/in/kdhalliwell/

With the release of a brand new consultation for the RICS Residential Retrofit Standard, there’s a renewed push to improve support for householders retrofitting their homes.Hannah Reynolds is a part of the Expert Working Group for these standards, and in this week’s RICS Podcast she joins RICS’ Antony Parkinson to discuss her background, how to shift misconceptions about retrofitting traditional buildings, and where RICS members can get involved in the current consultation.This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:Hannah’s route into her role at Historic EnglandHow to make the process of approaching retrofitting easy and straightforwardThe role of the RICS expert groupHow members can contribute to the ongoing consultationRoyal Institution of Chartered Surveyors: https://www.rics.org/uk/ RICS Podcast Page https://www.rics.org/podcast/ Kieran Halliwell https://www.linkedin.com/in/kdhalliwell/

In the years following Covid-19, the tourism industry has seen a resurgence which highlights the sector’s impact on sustainability.With a keen focus on the opportunities for sustainable tourism to thrive in the years to come, The Travel Foundation’s CEO, Jeremy Sampson, is our guest on this week’s World Built Environment Forum episode of The RICS Podcast.Jeremy joins James Kavanagh to discuss the potential damage on local ecosystems, the levels of environmental awareness in consumers, and the regulations pushing tourism towards more sustainable practices.This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:Potential damage to local ecosystemsRegulations being put in place to nudge tourism towards sustainabilityThe level of environmental awareness in consumersConsequences of not improving sustainability in tourismThe ‘Envisaging Tourism in 2030 and Beyond’ reportRoyal Institution of Chartered Surveyors: https://www.rics.org/uk/ RICS Podcast Page https://www.rics.org/podcast/ Kieran Halliwell https://www.linkedin.com/in/kdhalliwell/

Following the intense assessment process, the last thing a candidate wants to receive is a referral result, however, it is an outcome that many will face. For this episode, we are delighted to be joined by Kate Taylor FRICS, who will discuss overcoming that disappointment and how to use the experience and feedback to positively move forward into the next attempt.If you would like to find out more about the range of local and global resources available to help you through your assessment journey, please visit our dedicated candidate support pages on the RICS website.This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:The panel’s approach to making referral decisionsCommon themes among first-time referralsHow the referral report is structured to assist future attemptsForming a plan of action for resubmissionAdvice for those facing repeat referralsResources discussed:APC Prep DaysLionHeart – Charity for RICS members/candidatesMatrics Surveyor Awards 2023Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors: https://www.rics.org/uk/ RICS Podcast Page https://www.rics.org/podcast/ Kieran Halliwell https://www.linkedin.com/in/kdhalliwell/

The UK’s ambitions to deliver fairly distributed opportunities across different geographic communities and meet the demands of a growing population will require significant land use change in the coming decades.With the Geospatial Commission setting out their 2030 strategy comes a very timely opportunity to speak with two primary experts & leaders of the National Land Data Programme (NLDP) initiative - Professor Louise Heathwaite and Thalia Baldwin.They spoke with RICS’ James Kavanagh on The RICS Podcast this week about the key land use challenges, innovative data analysis, and strategies for better understanding unique geographical needs.This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:The impact of the Geospatial Commission’s 2030 strategyIntegral links between the commission and the vital area of land useRecent trends of increased urgency, scale, and quality of technologyThe biggest data challenges that’ll make the land use decision-making tool more proactiveRoyal Institution of Chartered Surveyors: https://www.rics.org/uk/ RICS Podcast Page https://www.rics.org/podcast/ Kieran Halliwell https://www.linkedin.com/in/kdhalliwell/

Toronto has been an exciting test bed for the creative mixed-use building model, combining interests of different parties to achieve individual goals and extend their benefits city-wide.Sharing his observations within Canada, and how the model might work globally, is Matti Siemiatycki, Professor in Department of Geography & Planning and Director of the Infrastructure Institute at School of Cities, University of Toronto.In this WBEF episode of The RICS Podcast, we explore the foundational ideas behind the creative mixed-use model, the collaborative process, and goals it hopes to achieve.This episode of WBEF covers:The existing mixed use model and how creative mixed use builds upon itHow developments within this model have been received in TorontoBenefits to individual parties and citywide objectives of creative mixed useChallenges that each party within the arrangement must addressHow the model could develop in a global contextRoyal Institution of Chartered Surveyors: https://www.rics.org/uk/ RICS Podcast Page https://www.rics.org/podcast/ Kieran Halliwell https://www.linkedin.com/in/kdhalliwell/

In April of 2022, 6 professional bodies came together to sign a Memorandum of Understanding to drive a more diverse, equitable and inclusive sector, and that’s just the first step.Sharing how we, as an industry, can move forward and develop strategies to achieve EDI goals, Paloma Armora is joined this week on The RICS Podcast by Mark Harrison, Machel Bogues, and the familiar voice of RICS’ Sybil Taunton.This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:The inception of the MoU and how it came to beCritical areas of focus and why good data is of primary importanceHow other professional bodies can join the initiativeRoyal Institution of Chartered Surveyors: https://www.rics.org/uk/ RICS Podcast Page https://www.rics.org/podcast/ Kieran Halliwell https://www.linkedin.com/in/kdhalliwell/

In this podcast, we are joined by Alex Dorling, MRICS, Assessor, Chair and Counsellor to discuss the role of a counsellor, the relationship between counsellors and candidates and the support that is available.If you would like to find out more about the range of local and global resources available to help you through your assessment journey, please visit our dedicated candidate support pages on the RICS website.Resources discussed:LionHeart - APC SupportCounsellor/Supervisor training webinars – register your interest by emailing ukicandidatesupport@rics.orgThis episode of The RICS Podcast covers:Insight into the role of counsellors, and their working relationship with candidatesCounselling in remote, hybrid and in-person environmentsDiffering approaches to best support referred candidates compared to new candidatesSupport for those who become counsellors, and the rewarding benefits of doing soRoyal Institution of Chartered Surveyors: https://www.rics.org/uk/ RICS Podcast Page https://www.rics.org/podcast/ Kieran Halliwell https://www.linkedin.com/in/kdhalliwell/