New professionals set to maintain world standards

The new RICS Scotland offices in Princes Street has a Ska 'Gold' Rating.

Eighty-nine Scottish surveyors today received their official chartered status from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

I would like to congratulate our new professionals who have all passed the most challenging of assessments to become chartered surveyors, the recognised mark of property professionalism worldwide

Each MRICS member undergoes rigorous training to qualify as a chartered surveyor and the quality of professionals here today is a demonstration of the continuation of these standards.

While continuing to maintain worldwide standards and regulation, the profession of chartered surveying has developed in recent years, with further emphasis on ethics, international standards, diversity and sustainability.

Our New Member Reception, to welcome successful entrants into the profession, was held in the new RICS Scotland offices at 125 Princes Street, Edinburgh. The organisation moved into the new location, which also houses Scottish Arbitration Centre, Planning Aid Scotland and the Built Environment Forum Scotland, in September 2014.

The state-of-the-art office is the second Scottish project to achieve a Ska “Gold” Rating fit-out, which assesses sustainable design to minimise waste, water and energy during construction and use.

The fit out was completed within six weeks using sustainably sourced materials combined with energy efficient lighting, heating and ventilation systems. We achieved a 98 per cent diversion of waste from landfill and an 85 per cent reduction in carbon footprint during construction. Furniture from RICS’ previous office at Manor Place was donated for re-use by start-up businesses or sold at auction.

We are delighted to host this reception to welcome the new member at our new Scottish headquarters. Positioned in central Edinburgh, we hope to engage more with members, existing and new, as we maintain our commitment to standards within the profession and meeting the needs of the future profession.

In Scotland, chartered surveyors constitute an integral part of the planning and development of major construction and land development projects.

Within the property sector, chartered surveyors provide vital guidance on valuation, restoration and preservation of buildings and have the expertise recognised by the Scottish Government to undertake Home Reports.

We support newly-qualified surveyors and I urge them all to join RICS matrics, a group run by young surveyors for young surveyors.

Many have made lifelong contacts in the industry through joining matrics and have gained a greater understanding of the diversity of the profession.

For those who have joined the institution today, I wish you all the very best as you continue with your career.

• Sarah Speirs is director of RICS Scotland

FULL LIST OF NEW RICS MEMBERS

Christopher Adams, Alison Aitken, Peter Beatty, David Bell, Lynn Bell, Rebecca Boswell, Lorraine Brady, Gregor Brown, Lauren Brown, Graeme Budge, Fraser Carson, Andrew Cook, James Craig, Ewan Crawford, Russell Crawford, Rory Cullens, Stephen Dale, Angela Dalgleish, Kyle Davidson, Garth Davison, Andrew Dunlop, Ruaraidh Fitzpatrick, Gillian Fogarty, Ashlie Fraser, Claire Fulton, Thomas Garrity, Andrew Gibson, Angela Gilmour, Charles Gilmour, Noel Gilroy, Oliver Goodman, Douglas Grant, Hannah Guild, Nicky Harty, George Hipwell, Miles Hunter, David Hyde, William Inglis, Leigh Jamieson, Ryan Jarvis, Adam Jennings, Martin Lane, Kirsten Leslie, Andrew Little, Crawford Mackay, Hugh Maclean, Jamie March, Louise McAulay, Carolyn McEwan, Murray McIntosh, Ross McMann, Lauren Meldrum, Jonathan Molloy, Neil Mossman, John O’Donnell, Mark O’Sullivan, Joel Paterson, Fraser Ramage, William Rankine, Andrew Reid, Timothy Roads, David Robertson, Neil Robertson, Bruce Robertson, Elaine Rodger, Katy Rodgers, Gavin Russell, Evelyn Scott, Harry Sealey, Craig Semple, Paul Shanahan, David Shaw, Marc Smith, Harriet Smith, Jordan Smith, Scott Spittal, Christopher Stark, Max Steele, Sarah Stewart, Mark Thom, Iain Thomson, Stuart Thomson, John Turnbull, Stephanie Walker, Rebekah Wendes, Alix Whitaker, Andrew Wood, Lucie Wookey, Neil Wright.

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