The RICS Podcast

Conflict in a business relationship can be costly in both financial terms and reputationally. There’s a growing movement to help alleviate the billions of pounds spent on disputes: the Conflict Avoidance Pledge.In the first of a four part miniseries, Len Bunton & Janey Milligan are joined by Steven Sanzone (NHS Scotland), Stephen Blakey (Network Rail) and David MacDonald (Scottish Futures Trust) to discuss the use of Dispute Avoidance Panels, the cultural impact of the Conflict Avoidance Pledge, and how we can demonstrate the tangible benefits of CAP and DAP.This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:The Conflict Avoidance Pledge, and how it can be promoted down the supply chainDifferences between the Conflict Avoidance Pledge and the process of resolving conflictWhether signing the CAP should be mandated, and how that affects business cultureThe difficulty in showing the tangible benefits of CAP/DAP

Regardless of the nature of your business, the importance of quality assurance to yourself and to your clients is paramount. For this reason, quality management processes are absolutely crucial.On The RICS Podcast this week, we’re joined by professionals from firms large and small - Leandro Escobar of EV Services, and Bidwells’ Liz Craig. We break down the steps you can take to ensure a quality output, how to maximise your team’s competencies & specialisms, and advice for those looking to start their own firm.This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:Steps to ensuring a quality output every timeThe importance of playing to your team’s strengthsAdvice for aspiring business owners to setting quality management processesThe value of peer reviewed work, even for partners in a firm

Data security is an ever-evolving field, and with far more working from home in the modern workplace, the risks to data and cybersecurity are vast and varied.Following on from a new piece of advice issued by RICS, Andrew Knight and David Benge offer their experienced lens on the biggest risk areas, why you need full understanding of where data is sourced and used, and how to protect yourself from cyber attacks and data security breaches.This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:The main challenges around cybersecurity, and their sourcesVital steps for firms to take around data protection regulationHow to educate your team to be aware of prevalent risksEncouraging an ethical data security culture

When conflict arises in a client relationship, it’s key that they’re resolved diligently, which is where the process of Alternative Dispute Resolution holds the power to defuse issues without the need for court proceedings.Joining us to explain what ADR is, expand on the process and share the most common types of ADR case, are Seki Ajenifuja of CEDR and Sarah Watson from The Property Ombudsman.If you’re looking for further advice on conflict resolution and ADR, we have developed content with the support of a working group of members to provide useful advice on managing client relationships and handling data. Find out more on the RICS website.This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:What Alternative Dispute Resolution is, and how firms & customers can benefit from ADR over court proceedingsHow Seki & Sarah’s firms ensure they reach the right decision in a disputeCommon types of ADR case, and pitfalls that surveying firms should seek to avoidWhere to find, and how to use, RICS’ new Client Relationships & Handling Data advice

The beginning of a client relationship is a key factor in the smooth running of your work with them in the future, so there are a number of considerations to make when setting up your initial agreement.Complementing a new piece of advice available on the RICS website, we’re joined on The RICS Podcast by John Baguley (Countrywide Surveying Services) and Gerard Smith (Lacy Scott & Knight) to discuss their experience in good practice, common pitfalls, and how to set expectations effectively from day one.This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:The key considerations when starting a new piece of workHow we can educate private consumers to improve the briefs they provideThe potential for your reports to be used for purposes beyond their original intentWhether it’s shrewd to consider publishing prices, and the challenge of talking money with customers

Welcome to The Entrepreneur Files, a RICS Podcast miniseries focused on bringing vital advice and resources to budding entrepreneurs looking to start their own firm.Kicking things off with a look at starting up and marketing yourself, we’re joined by Nella Pang and Ruth Brown, two directors who share their advice and experiences.We look at attracting clients, tricky price & payment term negotiations, the power of guidance from those already in the industry, and the biggest challenges you’ll overcome on the way.This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:Key differences between business ownership and regular employmentMarketing strategies to help showcase your businessThe biggest challenges to any entrepreneurConquering price & payment term negotiation with larger clients

When 50% of embodied carbon is in sub and superstructures, the impact of demolition on a building’s carbon footprint becomes an essential consideration.Having used his skills as a chartered surveyor in the realm of pre-demolition audits, Aythan Lewes is now using his talents to help clients make greener decisions as a Co-Founder of EALA Impacts.We discuss how a pre-demo audit carries a huge impact in reducing carbon emissions, breaking our focus on new buildings, representing social value on the triple bottom line, and the future of digitised material passports.This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:The pre-demolition audit’s role in reducing emissionsHow material passports can be digitised an used to better reuse building materialsThe Triple Bottom Line, and considerations when representing social valueBreaking the focus on new buildings, when 80% of buildings we need in 2050 already existAythan’s EALA Impacts, and how they’re proving the business case for sustainability in existing building stock

What is the value of art? The varied interpretations of value in art makes the discipline a difficult one within which to offer valuations.On The RICS Podcast this week we’re looking at how to apply frameworks in a market with increasing complexity due to the advent of NFTs, wealthy outsiders influencing the market, and the challenge of provenance research.This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:What and who determines the monetary value of artThe grey area between art’s emotional value and financial valueExternal factors that can influence valueThe challenging element of provenance researchAnecdotes from Alvah’s time with George W. Bush

RICS Dispute Resolution Service is the world’s oldest and largest provider of alternative dispute resolution services in the land, property and construction industries. For some industries the commitment to conflict avoidance is a recent development, so in this week’s episode of The RICS Podcast, John Fletcher (Director of Dispute Resolution) and Martin Burns (Head of ADR R&D) take a look at our initiatives to resolve issues and provide support for those who are looking to work with organisations committed to the same ethos of conflict avoidance.This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:The startling costs of disputes that reach legal stagesHow to ensure that dispute provisions in a contract are sufficientBenefits to organisations signing our Conflict Avoidance PledgeEffects of the pandemic on the increased use of technology in our sector

The RICS Valuation - Global Standards, or Red Book, is a document issued as part of our commitment to promoting and supporting worldwide delivery of valuations to the highest standards.As an evolving set of rules, best practice guidance, and related commentary for all members undertaking asset valuations, the focus on this episode of The RICS Podcast is on how RICS reacts quickly to economic & political instability, how valuations are increasingly factoring in ESG policies, and the Red Book’s handling of exceptions, approaches, and sub-methods.This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:How to apply the Red Book as a framework rather than a methodologyThe impact of ESG policies, and how this will be reflected in market valuationsA new approach to handling ‘exceptions’Key distinctions to clarify around valuation and worth