Since September 2024, York building surveyor Paul Cunniff has been supporting the next generation of surveyors by offering mentoring sessions in and around the city.
With a growing shortage of building surveyors in the UK, encouraging the next generation into the profession is a critical goal for many surveying firms like Allcott Associates.
So, when Paul suggested using skills he had developed previously by training in-house surveyors, to offer mentoring and shadowing opportunities to student surveyors who needed on-site experience as part of their training courses, we jumped at the chance. The benefits were numerous: as well as providing students with opportunities to shadow someone who normally inspects a wide range of property types, making mentoring easier to access would boost the profile of the company and the surveying industry as a whole, encouraging more students to consider surveying as a career. In addition, as Paul noted, mentoring would him achieve his CPD requirements for the year!
First mentoring experiences
Working closely with SAVA to help find potential candidates, Paul posted offers of mentoring online.
Candidates were selected, and once a confidentiality document was signed, and insurance requirements were clarified, it was all systems go.
Paul’s first student was working as an interpreter alongside his SAVA studies. He had limited experience of property types when they first met, but has since accompanied Paul on several level 3 inspections to experience different property types including a solid stone construction, a non-traditional construction, an Edwardian house, a flat and an interwar house.
Paul’s second student was already working in the construction industry, so had some knowledge of the field. He first met Paul to survey a grade 2 listed mansion with extensive grounds, and later to survey a semi-detached house in a former mining village.
Bringing Textbooks to Life
As well as exposure to a wide variety of construction types and ages, mentoring also offers students a great chance to see property defects in person, bringing the textbooks to life. From potentially tricky build features, such as Finlock gutters, spray foam insulation and chemical DPC injections, to defects such as cracking, damp and blocked drains, the students’ experience has been broad and varied.
As one of Paul’s students said,
“It’s always great to build on my experience by getting hands-on with different types of issues at various properties. This was my first encounter with spray foam insulation, so it was really useful to see how it had been applied and to understand the concerns around it. Looking forward to the next one!”
Paul’s sessions also offer students the chance to get acquainted with the various tools we use as surveyors, such as a drone, glass testing gear, an endoscope, and a surface thermometer.
The benefits are evident, with another mentee leaving a great testimonial,
“Over the past month, Paul has kindly let me shadow him during residential property surveying. His extensive knowledge and amazing attention to detail have been so inspiring and have really deepened my passion for this field.”
“[The] guidance has been so helpful, and I’m excited to keep building my career in residential property surveying and valuation!”
Of course, the students aren’t the only ones who benefit from the mentoring programme – the exchange of knowledge goes both ways. Discussing properties and defects with mentees keeps experienced surveyors up to date with the latest developments in the residential property industry; it also hones survey technique by forcing them to critically evaluate the best way to assess a property and pass that information on to someone else.
Next Steps for Aspiring Mentors
Paul has some great advice for anyone thinking of taking on a student,
“My view is that we are offering a service. The student is going to be nervous at first, so talk to them. Gauge their level of experience and how much they know about buildings. Find out what they want from the shadowing experience. When they pass the course, they will be allowed to conduct level 2 inspections, so what do they need to learn and experience to help them qualify?”
“I would urge others to consider doing this. It benefits to the students, the company, and yourself. It doesn’t take up a lot of extra time once you have completed the initial meeting and inspection. You will develop your own method of teaching as each student is different, and it depends on their level of experience, their learning requirements, and enthusiasm.”
Here’s to many more collaborations with the next generation of building surveyors!
