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Student Serena investigating barriers to becoming a Chartered Surveyor

Posted 17 February 2023

Serena Cox

The barriers which might prevent or discourage people from becoming Chartered Surveyors are being examined by a Î÷¹ÏÊÓƵ student for her Honours Research Project. 

Fourth-year BSc (Hons) Real Estate student Serena Cox, from Newport in Shropshire, has known since she was a school pupil that she wanted to work in the rural property sector. 

However, concerns about the number of people choosing to enter the industry have led her to examine barriers to the attraction and retention of professionals within the surveying sector for her final year project. 

She said: “In the UK, there is a shortage of practising surveyors.  

“For the benefit and growth of the wider economy, this needs to be addressed and the reasons for it understood. 

My dissertation will examine what attracts people to the profession, what firms or practices need to do to recruit and retain the best people, and if the role meets their expectations and ambitions. 

“Importantly, I also aim to discover the reasons that qualified surveyors leave the profession - why those that study surveying change career path, and how the sector can raise awareness of the role and make it appeal to a more diverse group of young people.” 

Serena is asking people to fill in a short survey, which should take between five and 10 minutes to complete, to help her understand what prevents people from becoming a surveyor or why they leave the profession. 

 

Serena herself is now set to enter the industry, having been offered a graduate role with Carter Jonas in Birmingham, where she spent a year working on an industry placement in 2021 and 22. 

She is hoping to use this graduate role to add to the skills she has already developed at Harper Adams and complete her RICS Assessment of Professional Competence (APC.) 

Serena had always been aware of Harper Adams, having grown up nearby – and a combination of school work experience followed by Land and Property Management Experience Day at the University set her on the path to her current career. 

She added: “One of my earliest memories of the University is visiting the campus as a primary school pupil when I presented Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal with a bouquet of flowers! 
 
“My choice, of course, was initially influenced by my work experience at school when I shadowed surveyors, which allowed me to participate in site visits to understand land opportunities and determine development potential.  

“After attending an experience day for the Land Management and Real Estate courses offered by Harper Adams, this confirmed that the University was where I wanted to do my degree. 
 
“Studying at Harper Adams has allowed me to acquire new skills relevant to the surveying profession, but also the wider agricultural sector - such as animal and agricultural practices.  

“I have also very much valued being part of the Harper community.”