SURVEYORS in the East of England are celebrating after 16 women and 71 men across the region were awarded chartered status by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

SURVEYORS in the East of England are celebrating after 16 women and 71 men across the region were awarded chartered status by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

The surveyors undertook up to three years of structured training, combining practical training, experience and academic qualifications, to achieve the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) in their chosen assessment subject.

Quantity surveying and commercial were the two most popular pathways for the new chartered surveyors in the East of England, with 25 passing each subject. Rural practice had the next highest pass rate with 13 surveyors and the highest number of female passes (five). Rural practice was closely followed by building surveying, which 10 candidates passed. Other new chartered surveyors in the region chose to specialise in: facilities management, valuation, residential survey and valuation, residential, geomatics, project management, planning and development and building control.

Across the UK, a total of just over 940 new chartered members have qualified, with the largest number being in London. The overall pass rate this year was 73%. The pass rate among women was 79%, slightly ahead of that for men, at 71%.

With construction one of the world's largest industries and a need for professional skills across a number of disciplines, surveying remains a highly attractive career for many people. It can offer travel, the opportunity to work anywhere in the UK or worldwide, variety, prestige and good salaries.

Dayle Bayliss MRICS, 29, from Ipswich, is set to start a new role as project manager for the historic Reform Club, in London's Pall Mall.

“I have been interested in construction from a young age and building surveying offered an opportunity to practice a range of skills in relation to the construction industry,” she said.

“Being awarded chartered status is a real sense of achievement. RICS membership is a mark of my ability and professionalism that is recognised within the industry. Since passing my APC I have been offered a new job working as the project manager for a Grade 1 listed building on Pall Mall. This is an exciting time for me, and this is all thanks to five letters, MRICS.”

Stuart McDonald MRICS, 26, management surveyor at East of England Co-operative Society in Ipswich said: “I have always taken an active interest in property from a young age. When at school I had work experience with a local building surveyor and became interested in the wide range of opportunities that a career in surveying offered. I was also keen on the opportunity to interact with clients, colleagues and the public.

“I feel immensely pleased and proud to have qualified and to be awarded chartered status, RICS is a professional, trusted, regulated and respected organisation.

“I work as a management surveyor within the Property & Estates team of East of England Co-operative Society. As part of the team I assist in managing a large mixed use portfolio of properties, some operational and some investment. East of England Co-operative Society's property portfolio is spread across Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex and there is a real range of property types and interests, which is great as it means each day offers interesting challenges and varying types of work.”