Young surveyors are on the rise

Young surveyors are on the rise, as more female surveyors are being recognised for their talent, reports RICS.

As reports of skills shortages in the construction industry continue, new research by RICS reveals that young people are seeing the opportunity and benefits of a career in construction, with a 30% increase in the number of 18-30-year-olds qualifying as surveyors in 2019. To add to this, RICS also reported an increase in young professional women entering its ‘Young Surveyor of the Year Awards’, despite less than 14% of UK surveyors being female.

Over the last six years, the number of young people, aged 18-30, qualifying as Chartered Surveyors or Associate Surveyors has steadily increased each year.* In 2013, 1125 18-30-year-olds qualified and in 2018, just under 1,520 young people of the same age group entered the surveying profession. This increase in more young talent pursuing careers in surveying is much-needed in an industry that lacks a diverse workforce, and where the average age of a surveyor is 55.

To help raise awareness of surveying as a career for diverse young talent from all backgrounds and celebrate the achievements of the UK’s most inspiring young surveyors, RICS established its flagship RICS Matrics Young Surveyor of the Year Awards (YSOYA) in 2014 for those aged 35 or under.

The number of female surveyors entering the YSOYA has grown since their launch, with 43 females entering last year – of which 29 were shortlisted – compared with 30 female entries in 2014 of which 14 made the shortlist. The overall ‘UK Young Surveyor of the Year, 2018’ title also went to a female - Laura Collins, a quantity surveyor and Associate at Rider Levett Bucknall. It’s important to note that the names of nominee’s along with their firm, gender and region, are removed from the entry forms before YSOYA judges assess them, ensuring the panel are completely unbiased in their choice of winners.