🎧 This Is Surveying Because surveying matters, and so do the people behind it. This Is Surveying lifts the lid on the real world of surveying, the highs, the hurdles, the geeky details (yes, even AI and emerging tech), and the humans driving it all. We go beyond the stereotypes to explore how surveyors shape both the built and natural environment. You’ll hear honest, down-to-earth conversations about work, business, and life, from seasoned professionals to those just starting out, plus fresh perspectives from guests outside the profession who bring valuable insight into leadership, innovation, and change. Powered by Surveyors UK , the independent platform connecting and promoting the profession, and The Surveying Room , its free online community bringing surveyors together, breaking down silos, and making surveying visible. If you’re a surveyor, a future surveyor, or simply curious abou
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Episode #36
Aphantasia, Adversity, and AI: The Surveyor Who Thinks Differently
Sep 29, 20261h 11mS1
This episode includes discussion of suicide and difficult experiences from Dan's childhood. Please take care while listening, particularly if these subjects may be difficult for you. What happens when a difficult past becomes part of what makes you better at surveying? Dan Knowles, founder and managing director of Websters Surveyors, shares the very unconventional path that brought him into surveying, from growing up in difficult circumstances and experiencing homelessness to building a growing residential surveying firm. He also opens up about aphantasia, the way it shapes how he thinks and works, and why he sees it as a “secret power”. We then get into AI, automation and the future of surveying, including how Websters is using technology to cut repetitive admin while keeping professional judgement firmly in the hands of surveyors. A very honest conversation about resilience, surveying, AI and building a firm without losing sight of quality. What We Cover Dan's route from a law degree into surveying His move from commercial to residential surveying The human side of residential property work Childhood, homelessness and resilience Aphantasia and how it affects memory and visualisation Designing information around the client journey AI and automation within a surveying firm APIs, desktop research and property data The limits of AI when assessing property defects AI-generated questions from clients How people are increasingly using AI to find surveyors Recruitment, training and building a strong surveying culture Guest Links Dan Knowles - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-knowles-frics-821bbb22/ Websters Surveyors - https://websterssurveyors.co.uk/ Useful Links Samaritans - https://www.samaritans.org/ Guest Bio Dan Knowles is the founder and managing director of Websters Surveyors. He is a chartered surveyor, RICS registered valuer and RICS expert panel member, with a career spanning commercial and residential surveying. After initially qualifying as a commercial surveyor, Dan moved into residential surveying and has since built Websters Surveyors into a growing firm working across residential surveys, valuations, leasehold reform and compulsory purchase work. He is particularly interested in technology and innovation, and has developed a range of AI and automation tools within the business to reduce repetitive administration and improve the client journey. Dan is also passionate about training, company culture and maintaining quality as the firm grows. 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
Why Residential Surveying Carries the Highest Duty of Care
Sep 22, 202654 minS1
Get it wrong on someone's home, and there's no cheque big enough to fix it. That's the highest duty of care in the profession, says Richard Ballam, a chartered surveyor and owner of Rickards Oliver in Manchester. He talks Nina Young through his own unlikely route into surveying, a failed career in chemistry, a life-changing fall from a ladder, and a mortgage report that worked out at £400 a word. The conversation also covers the realities of running an independent firm, the corporate versus independent debate, and where AI fits into report writing today. Richard opens up on the human side of the job too, from difficult repossessions to sitting with clients over a cup of tea, and why he believes the next generation of surveyors are just as sharp as ever. What We Cover From chemistry and a PhD to becoming a chartered surveyor Discovering surveying through mortgage valuation reports Starting and running an independent surveying firm The difference between corporate and independent surveying Training, mentoring and learning from other surveyors AI and the changing way clients read and analyse survey reports Using AI to support site note collection The importance of professional judgement and accountability Remote working and the loss of informal knowledge sharing The future of residential surveying and diversity in the profession Manchester, regional development and the RICS North West Board Technology and what’s exciting in surveying Guest Links Richard Ballam - ttps://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-ballam-frics/ Rickards Oliver - https://rosurveyors.co.uk/ Useful Links RICS North West Board: https://www.rics.org/about-rics/where-we-are/uk-and-ireland/rics-in-north-west RICS and Alliance Manchester Business School Launch - https://www.rics.org/training-events/networking-events/rics-north-west-and-alliance-manchester-business-school-partnership-launch Guest Bio Richard Ballam is a chartered surveyor and valuer and the owner and director of Rickards Oliver, an independent surveying firm based in Manchester covering primarily the North West. Richard has worked across both corporate and independent surveying and brings more than 25 years of experience to his work. His background is unusual, having originally studied chemistry and started a PhD before moving into surveying. He is also involved with the RICS North West Board, where he is focused on reconnecting with local membership, CPD and links with the wider business and academic community. His interests include residential surveying, professional practice, technology and the practical use of AI and drones within 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
Send us Fan Mail Artificial intelligence is changing the surveying profession, but what does it mean for professional indemnity insurance and risk? In this episode, Nina Young speaks with Nick Rains from Howden Insurance Brokers about how AI is reshaping the insurance landscape. They discuss how AI is making it easier for complaints and formal claims to be generated, along with the importance of AI governance, professional indemnity insurance, and clear policies as AI becomes part of everyday practice. This conversation offers practical insights to help surveyors and firms understand the risks, opportunities, and responsibilities that come with adopting AI. What We Cover Professional indemnity insurance explained AI-generated complaints and claims Why surveyors are seeing more client queries How insurers assess AI risk AI governance and compliance Shadow AI within surveying firms Graduate skills and future recruitment AI as a quality checking tool Risk management and record keeping The future of AI within surveying Guest Links Howden Insurance Brokers – https://www.howdengroup.com/uk-en Guest Bio Nick Rains is Senior Contract and Wordings Executive at Howden Insurance Brokers. He advises surveyors, architects, engineers and other construction professionals on professional indemnity insurance, contractual risk and policy wordings. Alongside his insurance expertise, Nick has developed a strong interest in artificial intelligence and its impact on professional practice, governance and risk management across the built environment. 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
92% of Buildings Are Overheating: Here's What Surveyors Can Do
Jul 28, 202650 minS1
Send us Fan Mail Conservation and sustainability aren't opposites. They're two sides of the same coin. Dr Samantha Organ, associate professor at the University of the West of England and a building surveyor working across heritage, sustainability and consultancy, joins Nina Young to explain why. This conversation explores climate resilience and the future of historic buildings. It also touches on the graduate shortage reshaping surveying salaries, why she stays in both academia and practice, and where AI quietly undermines the critical thinking the job depends on. What We Cover Samantha's journey into surveying Women in the profession Academia and industry working together Heritage and conservation projects National Trust experiences Climate resilience and overheating Sustainable buildings and retrofit AI and critical thinking Graduate shortages Why building surveying offers incredible variety Guest Links Dr Samantha Organ: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-samantha-organ-frics-amice-44246b16/ SO Associates: https://www.so-associates.co.uk/ Useful Links University of the West of England: https://www.uwe.ac.uk/ How to Close the Authority Gap | Mary Ann Sieghart: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJcYAqNfgtA Guest Bio Dr Samantha Organ is an Associate Professor at the University of the West of England and a chartered building surveyor with extensive experience across heritage conservation, sustainability, research and professional practice. Her career has included senior roles within the National Trust, private consultancy and academia, where she combines practical surveying with teaching and research. Samantha is passionate about climate resilience, historic buildings, developing future surveyors and helping the profession prepare for the challenges facing the built environment. 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
Your Surveying Career Needs a Strategy, Not Just a CV
Jul 14, 202647 minS1
Send us Fan Mail Recruitment isn't just about finding the next job. Roger Dunning has spent 24 years placing surveyors, and he's noticed the same pattern every time. The ones who get furthest aren't chasing the next job, they're building what he calls "career capital." In this episode, Nina Young talks to Roger, founder of HD Surveyors, about why broad experience beats early specialism, why chartership is a non-negotiable badge to employers, and why Roger sees the best recruiters as career advisers, not CV distributors. A grounded, practical look at building a surveying career on purpose. What We Cover Roger's recruitment journey Career strategy versus job hopping Why breadth of experience creates opportunity Candidate-led recruitment in surveying Communication skills that employers value Graduate recruitment and first impressions AI and recruitment Chartership and APC support Career capital and long-term planning What good recruiters really do Guest Links Roger Dunning: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/rogerdunning HD Surveyors: https://hdsurveyors.com/ Useful Links Salary & Career Satisfaction Survey: https://survey.hdsurveyors.com/2026-salary-survey Guest Bio Roger Dunning is the founder of HD Surveyors and has worked in recruitment for more than 24 years. He specialises in recruiting building surveyors, quantity surveyors and project managers across the UK. Throughout his career he has helped hundreds of professionals build successful careers by focusing on long-term strategy rather than short-term job moves. Roger is passionate about career development, chartership, mentoring and helping surveyors make informed decisions that increase their long-term value in the 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 Connect with me - Nina Young on LinkedIn
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