Summary

In this episode of This Is Surveying, Nina Young speaks with Rosie Wills, a chartered construction manager and ASSOC RICS surveyor based in North Devon.

Rosie shares her journey from over ten years in social housing into private residential surveying. We discuss damp and mould, peer review, Level 2 surveys, estate agent relationships, vendor surveys, pricing transparency, and why collaboration matters across the UK surveying profession.

This is a practical conversation about raising standards, reducing complaints, and building trust in residential surveying.

What We Cover

• Rosie’s route into surveying and chartered construction management
• Damp and mould expertise and building pathology
• The transition from housing to private practice
• Peer review between surveyors
• Understanding the RICS Home Survey Standard
• Working constructively with estate agents
• Vendor surveys and pre-sale strategies
• Transparent pricing and website improvements
• Complaints handling and professional risk
• Collaboration across UK surveyors

Guest Links

Rosie Wills LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosie-e-wills/
Nova Surveyors – https://novasurveyors.co.uk

Useful Links

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) – https://www.rics.org/

Guest Bio

Rosie Wills is a chartered construction manager and Assoc RICS surveyor based in North Devon. She spent over ten years working in social housing, developing specialist expertise in damp and mould and building pathology. Rosie now works in private practice delivering residential property surveys, including Level 2 and Level 3 home surveys, alongside specialist defect investigations. She is passionate about collaboration, peer review, professional standards, and improving trust in the surveying profession.

If you want to connect with surveyors across the UK and keep up with the profession, join The Surveying Room. It is free to join and open to all types of surveyors, students, and professionals who work with them. Surveyors UK & The Surveying Room

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Summary

In this episode I’m joined by commercial property surveyor and Property Elite co-founder Rachel Saint. We talk about APC pathways, the Senior Professional route, and why structured support matters so much for UK surveyors at every stage.

Rachel shares how she went from secretary to chartered surveyor, built a career in landlord and tenant and retail consultancy, and then pivoted into training surveyors across a huge range of pathways. We dig into the reality of the RICS APC, how to choose the right route for you, and what good mentoring and counselling actually looks like in practice.

What we cover

• Rachel’s unconventional route into surveying and early years in residential block management
• Moving into commercial property, retail consultancy and mixed use development
• Setting up Property Elite and the surge in demand for support during COVID
• How diverse the surveying profession really is, and why that makes APC complex
• Choosing the right APC pathway and competencies for your actual work
• The role and challenges of APC counsellors and supervisors
• Why structured support is harder in smaller or non-surveying organisations
• The three alternative RICS routes, including Senior Professional, and who they suit
• Senior Professional interviews, leadership and management-focused competencies
• Why valuation is both science and art, and why you still need to get out and see property
• Market myths about people “giving up” on APC, and why the picture is more nuanced
• Free resources and newsletters from Property Elite for APC candidates

Guest links

• Property Elite website: https://www.property-elite.co.uk/
• Rachel Saint on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-saint-1103b09/

Useful links

• LionHeart charity for surveyors: https://www.lionheart.org.uk/

Guest bio

Rachel Saint is a chartered commercial property surveyor with over 30 years of experience across landlord and tenant, retail agency, and retail and mixed use development. She started her career in residential block management before moving into commercial work, advising on shops, supermarkets and wider retail strategy. Rachel is the co-founder and owner of Property Elite, a specialist training and mentoring business that supports surveyors through RICS routes to qualification, including APC, Associate and Senior Professional routes. She now spends most of her time helping UK and international surveyors navigate pathways, competencies and assessments, and is particularly passionate about making the process accessible for candidates who do not have structured in-house support.

If you want to connect with surveyors across the UK and keep up with the profession, join The Surveying Room. It is free to join and open to all types of surveyors, students, and professionals who work with them. Surveyors UK & The Surveying Room

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In this episode I am joined by Ola Alade, a chartered commercial surveyor and RICS Matrics Commercial Property Surveyor of the Year 2025. Ola shares how he went from biomedical science to commercial property, and why he has chosen to focus his work on helping small businesses understand and negotiate their commercial leases.

We talk about AI in surveying, from the reality on the ground in property firms to the tools that are already saving time for small practices. We also get into access, diversity and retention in the surveying profession, and Ola’s work as an APC counsellor, assessor and chair.

What We Cover

• From biomedical science to commercial surveying
• Discovering property via CoStar and NHS Property Services
• Working at The Arch Company and negotiating directly with small business tenants
• Why Ola founded Olawill and chose to sit on the tenant side
• How commercial leases and rent reviews really affect SMEs
• Where AI tools actually help surveyors and small businesses today
• Data, hallucinations and negligence risks in AI-assisted professional practice
• Why the word “surveyor” confuses people and how that affects recruitment
• Diversity, progression and the reality of representation in senior roles
• Making the APC interview process fairer as a counsellor, assessor and chair

Guest Links

• Olawill – Lease advisory for SMEs
• Connect with Ola on LinkedIn

Guest Bio

Ola Olade is a chartered commercial surveyor and founder of Olawill, a lease advisory practice focused on supporting small and medium-sized businesses. After an early academic path in biomedical science, he retrained in real estate development at the University of Westminster and built his career across roles at CoStar, NHS Property Services, The Arch Company and LCP. Ola has worked extensively in asset management and lease events, particularly with SME tenants in railway arches and neighbourhood parades, which inspired him to focus on redressing the knowledge imbalance between landlords and tenants. In 2025 he was named RICS Matrics Chartered Commercial Property Surveyor of the Year. He also serves as an APC counsellor, assessor and chair, helping the next generation of surveyors navigate the chartership process.

If you want to connect with surveyors across the UK and keep up with the profession, join The Surveying Room. It is free to join and open to all types of surveyors, students, and professionals who work with them. Surveyors UK & The Surveying Room

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Summary

Building surveying apprentice and RICS Matrics Apprentice of the Year, Sonya Swaley, joins me to share her journey into surveying and life on a five year apprenticeship. After Covid disrupted her A levels and a year studying economics, Sonya made the leap into professional construction and has not looked back.

We talk about the realities of balancing work, university and APC preparation, why she chose building surveying over quantity surveying, and how apprenticeships can unlock a chartered career without student debt. Sonya also opens up about being a young woman in a male dominated sector, developing confidence on site, and why she now prefers heritage and listed buildings to shiny new builds.

What We Cover

• How Covid, cancelled exams and a year of economics led Sonya to surveying
• Moving from full time university into an apprenticeship route
• Why building surveying is less promoted than quantity surveying but more varied
• What it is like to be four years into a five year building surveying apprenticeship
• Starting the APC early and building a diary from day one
• Sonya’s experience of the RICS Matrics Awards and winning Apprentice of the Year
• Why she believes apprenticeships are a win for both apprentices and employers
• Government funding support for smaller firms who take on apprentices
• Learning to handle difficult conversations with contractors using facts and kindness
• Being a woman in surveying and the role of women in property networks
• The joy and challenge of working on heritage and listed buildings
• Using LinkedIn as a portfolio and a way to help others into the profession

Guest Bio

Sonya Swaley is a building surveying apprentice currently working with Murray Birrell in London. After Covid disrupted her A levels, Sonya began a full time economics degree before realising that a traditional university route was not for her. She returned home, completed an A level in professional construction and secured a building surveying apprenticeship. Now over four years into a five year programme with London South Bank University, Sonya is already on her APC pathway and building a strong mix of site and office experience, particularly on heritage and listed buildings. In 2024 she was named RICS Matrics Apprentice of the Year, recognising her commitment, technical development and contributions to the profession. Alongside her role, Sonya is active on LinkedIn, mentors prospective apprentices informally, and is passionate about widening access to surveying careers through apprenticeships and better outreach in schools and colleges.

Guest Links

• Sonya Swaley on LinkedIn
• Murray Birrell Chartered Surveyors

Useful Links

• Association of Apprentices
• Outer Circle networking group
• Women in Property
• London South Bank University built environment apprenticeships

If you want to connect with surveyors across the UK and keep up with the profession, join The Surveying Room. It is free to join and open to all types of surveyors, students, and professionals who work with them. Surveyors UK & The Surveying Room

Connect with me - Nina Young on LinkedIn

In this episode, I’m joined by registered building inspector and building control surveyor, Jack Calveley. Jack talks through his journey from SAVA residential surveying into LABC’s trainee programme, gaining his Level 4 and 5 qualifications, and moving from local authority into private sector building control.

We unpack what building control actually is, what a registered building inspector does all week, why the role is now a protected title, and how the profession is changing with new competency and registration requirements. We also cover training, CPD, career progression, and Jack’s own podcast, Behind the Regs, which shines a light on the building control community.

What We Cover

• Jack’s background – SAVA residential surveying, joining professional bodies and discovering building control
• How the LABC trainee programme works, and what Level 4 and 5 training looks like in practice
• The day to day role of a building control surveyor – design stage checks, site inspections and completion sign off
• Independence and impartiality – why inspectors cannot design the solution or tell builders exactly what to do
• Registration, protected titles and how to look up a registered building inspector on the GOV.UK register
• The shortage of building control surveyors, and why older surveyors left when competency proof was required
• Advice for trainees and career changers – how to approach the legislation, Approved Documents and CPD
• Salary bands and progression from trainee to Class 2 inspector and beyond in public and private sectors
• Behind the Regs – why Jack started a dedicated building control podcast and LinkedIn group
• What homeowners need to know about building regulations, re-roofs, knock throughs and social media myths

Guest Links

• Jack Calveley on LinkedIn
• Behind the Regs podcast LinkedIn group

Useful Links

• Building Control group - The Surveying Room - join here
• LABC – Building control careers and trainee programmes
• Total Training and Development – Building control qualifications (Level 4, 5, 6)
• CABE – Chartered Association of Building Engineers

If you want to connect with surveyors across the UK and keep up with the profession, join The Surveying Room. It is free to join and open to all types of surveyors, students, and professionals who work with them. Surveyors UK & The Surveying Room

Connect with me - Nina Young on LinkedIn

Summary
In this solo episode, I talk about why AI is already reshaping surveying, from residential surveys to professional practice, whether you consider yourself “techy” or not. I look at the new RICS professional standard on the responsible use of artificial intelligence in surveying practice, and what it means for judgement, accountability and how we use AI day to day.

I also share details of a live, practical AI session I am running with AI trainer Nick Crawford, designed specifically for surveyors and surveying firms who want a clear, grounded starting point without the hype.

What we cover

• Why AI is already embedded in everyday tools like search, email and messaging
• How this shift in everyday life has finally landed in surveying
• Why AI is not just about faster reports, but a change in the whole operating environment
• The difference between knowledge and judgement for surveyors
• Why AVMs and AI tools cannot replace on site inspection and accountability
• How client search behaviour is changing, including people asking AI tools to find surveyors
• A practical explanation of the RICS standard on responsible use of AI and “material impact”
• Why responsibility stays with the surveyor, even when AI shapes the work
• How smaller firms and practitioners can use AI as a strategic partner, not a replacement
• Details of my live AI training session with Nick Crawford, and what we will cover

Useful links

• AI Explained: A Practical Session for Surveyors and Professionals - book here
  
  
• RICS: Responsible use of artificial intelligence in surveying practice
• Nina’s LinkedIn AI and surveying newsletter

If you want to connect with surveyors across the UK and keep up with the profession, join The Surveying Room. It is free to join and open to all types of surveyors, students, and professionals who work with them. Surveyors UK & The Surveying Room

Connect with me - Nina Young on LinkedIn

Summary

In this episode I’m joined by Layla Davey, a Chartered Commercial Surveyor working in rail freight at Network Rail. Layla looks after a huge patch across the South of England, dealing with sidings, open storage, landlord and tenant issues and day to day commercial surveying on the railway. We talk about what rail freight actually involves, the reality of site inspections, and why “read the lease” has become her professional motto.

Layla also shares an honest account of navigating the APC as a dyslexic and autistic surveyor, diagnosed in adulthood, while working full time and raising two young children. We explore processing challenges, distraction, burnout, lone working safety, and how things like quiet spaces, headphones, reasonable adjustments and workplace coaching can make surveying far more accessible. She is now an RICS counsellor and actively supports other surveyors, especially those who are neurodivergent or juggling family life through the APC.

Guest Bio

Layla Davey is a Chartered Commercial Surveyor working in rail freight at Network Rail. Covering a large patch from South East London down to Dorset, she manages sidings, open storage and industrial sites, bringing together commercial surveying, landlord and tenant work, lease compliance and on the ground health and safety. Layla came into surveying via a psychology degree and a role in local authority estates, where she discovered a love of leases and problem solving. Diagnosed with dyslexia and autism in adulthood, she completed her surveying apprenticeship, master’s and APC while working full time and raising two young children. She is now an RICS counsellor, with a particular passion for supporting neurodivergent surveyors and those balancing family life with the APC.

Disclaimer
The views expressed in this episode are Layla's own and are not representative of her employer.

What We Cover

• What a Chartered Commercial Surveyor does in rail freight at Network Rail
• Managing sidings, open storage and industrial sites alongside landlord and tenant work
• Lone working on site, safety apps, procedures and the Suzy Lamplugh story
• How Japanese knotweed, asbestos and other risks show up along the railway
• Layla’s route into surveying from a psychology degree and local authority work
• Doing a surveying apprenticeship, a master’s and the APC while raising two young children
• Dyslexia, autism, possible ADHD traits and how they affect processing and focus at work
• Reasonable adjustments for the APC and support available from RICS
• Burnout, sensory overload and the value of workplace coaching and quiet spaces
• Why Layla loves leases, landlord and tenant puzzles, and is now training as an RICS counsellor

Useful Links

Layla Davey LinkedIn

Suzy Lamplugh Trust

If you want to connect with surveyors across the UK and keep up with the profession, join The Surveying Room. It is free to join and open to all types of surveyors, students, and professionals who work with them. Surveyors UK & The Surveying Room

Connect with me - Nina Young on LinkedIn

A song written just for you - all the incredible surveyors and supporters of Surveyors UK. I want to say a personal thank you for all your support, both on this podcast and across The Surveying Room and Surveyors UK.

Wishing you all a well-deserved break, and here's to 2026!

Nina Young

Founder - Surveyors UK, The Surveying Room and This is Surveying

If you want to connect with surveyors across the UK and keep up with the profession, join The Surveying Room. It is free to join and open to all types of surveyors, students, and professionals who work with them. Surveyors UK & The Surveying Room

Connect with me - Nina Young on LinkedIn