As a Chartered Building Surveyor, James discusses his career growth with Bradley Hall Chartered Surveyors and Estate Agents, what it takes to be a building surveyor, and how the pandemic has impacted his role.
How has your career developed with Bradley Hall?
I graduated from Northumbria University in 2018 and was lucky enough to start at Bradley Hall in the August of that year. As Bradley Hall is a multi-disciplinary company, I was excited to get involved as a graduate surveyor in all things property. While allowing me to develop my experience, I have been supported throughout my APC to gain chartered status.
The senior management team at Bradley Hall is incredibly supportive and operates on a strong culture that nurtures career development. The majority of surveying staff we have started out as trainees, either on placements or through a structured training programme which allows everyone to reach their maximum potential.
My position allows me to work with a range of clients, from private individuals to large national corporations. I am also able to work with both residential and commercial properties and I really enjoy the diversity my position offers me. For instance, one day I could be working with a client with a one-bedroom flat and the next day I could be working with a national hotel company. The variation the job offers is something that has always appealed to me, it has not failed to deliver.
What does it take to make a good Building Surveyor?
I firmly believe that construction knowledge is the main strength of a successful Building Surveyor. Other helpful skills include: an eye for detail, teamwork, a strong skill set with both verbal and written communications, and a degree of IT understanding. Good customer service skills and the upholding of the RICS ethical standards is also something I would say are essential to any good building surveying practice.
My job entails a wide array of tasks - building surveyors do a lot more than survey buildings. Day to day tasks include Project Management, Insurance Reinstatement Cost Assessments, Schedule of Conditions, Design and Tender of refurbishments and extensions, Contract Administration, Planned Preventative Maintenance, and measured surveys, project monitoring as well as residential and commercial surveys.
How has the pandemic changed your role?
There are the obvious factors such as working remotely, being involved in more Teams calls than usual, and the additional PPE that needs to be worn when we attend sites. However, compared to some positions I consider myself quite lucky that generally I have been able to perform my job as I did whilst also following government guidelines.
If you could have a day in another department in the office, what department would you choose and why?
If I were to have a day in another department, it would be Bradley Hall's sister company, BH Planning & Design. I believe it makes the most sense with my skill set and the reel of work involved. Plus, I think the logistics of working to both preserve and enhance listed buildings would be a real challenge.
Bradley Hall’s established Building Surveying services provide expert advice on a broad range of specialist lines of consultancy including design and construction, structural condition, maintenance, repair, refurbish and restoration of existing and proposed buildings. The firm currently undertakes pre-acquisition surveys as well as targeted defect diagnosis inspections for offices, industrial, commercial, and residential buildings. With Bradley Hall’s strategic expansion across the North West there are further plans to instate building surveying services in the Manchester and Leeds offices.
To speak to James about our Building surveying service please email buildingsurveying@bradleyhall.co.uk or call 0191 232 8080.
