This is Surveying

Nina Young - Surveyors UK
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🎧 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 about this brilliant and often overlooked profession, you’re in the right place. Hosted by Nina Young, Founder of Surveyors UK. Visit www.surveyors-uk.com to join The Surveying Room and learn more. We are also on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@SurveyorsUK

  1. 4d ago

    The Residential Surveyor Is Dead. Long Live the Residential Surveyor. Part 1

    This episode is sponsored by Rebuild Cost UK, specialists in reinstatement cost assessments for RICS-compliant reporting. Find out more at https://rebuildcost.uk/ What happens when we stop asking how AI can make surveying quicker and start asking whether residential surveying needs to be reinvented altogether? Nina Young talks to chartered surveyor and Legal & General Surveying Services technical manager Jony Milner about AI, the future of residential surveying, professional bodies, and industry culture. In Part 1, the conversation focuses on the future of residential surveying and what AI could mean for the profession. Is the residential surveyor really dying? Could AI eventually become better than the human surveyor? And could a typical three-bedroom semi eventually survey itself? Nina and Jony also explore whether the traditional survey report needs to be rethought, whether property surveys could become living digital records, whether surveyors could become the human interface for AI, and what surveying can learn from other industries. What We Cover Meet Jony Milner and his route into surveyingWhy surveying needs more voicesFrom aspiring film director to residential surveyorIs the residential surveyor really dying?AI, productivity and the future of surveyingCould seller surveys help tackle the skills shortage?Why the survey report may need to changeCould property surveys become living digital records?Will surveyors become the human interface for AI?Who takes responsibility when AI does the work?Could AI become better than the human surveyor?Could a house eventually survey itself?What surveying can learn from other industries This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation. Stay tuned for Part 2, where Nina and Jony explore toxic culture, social media, professional bodies, collaboration, competency, chartered status and the future of the profession. Guest Links Jony Milner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jony-m-b225b146/Legal & General Surveying Services: https://www.legalandgeneral.com/surveying-services/ Useful Links RICS: https://www.rics.org/CABE: https://cbuilde.com/RPSA: https://www.rpsa.org.uk/CIOB: https://www.ciob.org/ Guest Bio Jony Milner is a chartered surveyor, residential surveyor and valuer, and technical manager at Legal & General Surveying Services. He has worked in and around surveying for nearly 30 years, with experience across corporate surveying, private practice, local authorities and panel management. His career spans residential surveying and valuation, building surveying, retrofit work, risk management and professional standards. Jony is particularly interested in how the profession can adapt to technological change, improve collaboration, and think differently about the future of surveying. This episode is sponsored by Rebuild Cost UK, a pay-as-you-go rebuild cost calculator built for residential surveyors. No subscriptions, no annual contracts, you only pay when you run a calculation. Try your very first calculation free at rebuildcost.uk. 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

  2. Aug 4

    How AI Is Making Claims Easier Against Surveyors

    This episode is sponsored by Rebuild Cost UK, specialists in reinstatement cost assessments for RICS-compliant reporting. Find out more at https://rebuildcost.uk/ 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 explainedAI-generated complaints and claimsWhy surveyors are seeing more client queriesHow insurers assess AI riskAI governance and complianceShadow AI within surveying firmsGraduate skills and future recruitmentAI as a quality checking toolRisk management and record keepingThe 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. This episode is sponsored by Rebuild Cost UK, a pay-as-you-go rebuild cost calculator built for residential surveyors. No subscriptions, no annual contracts, you only pay when you run a calculation. Try your very first calculation free at rebuildcost.uk. 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

  3. Jul 28

    92% of Buildings Are Overheating: Here's What Surveyors Can Do

    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

  4. Jul 14

    Your Surveying Career Needs a Strategy, Not Just a CV

    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 journeyCareer strategy versus job hoppingWhy breadth of experience creates opportunityCandidate-led recruitment in surveyingCommunication skills that employers valueGraduate recruitment and first impressionsAI and recruitmentChartership and APC supportCareer capital and long-term planningWhat 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

  5. Jun 30

    Why Residential Surveyors Need to Know What They’re Walking Into

    This episode is sponsored by Rebuild Cost UK, specialists in reinstatement cost assessments for RICS-compliant reporting. Find out more at https://rebuildcost.uk/ Rebecca Freeman nearly became a lawyer. A clearing phone call changed that, and she ended up in residential surveying instead. It turned out to be exactly the right fit. She built a career that now sits at senior leadership and risk at Legal & General Surveying Services. But the most important parts of that journey aren't on the CV. In this episode, Nina talks to Rebecca about what residential surveying is really like to do. You're going into people's homes, often alone, navigating situations that no training manual fully prepares you for. She speaks openly about lone working, personal safety, and why the profession needs to take both more seriously. She also talks about emotional intelligence as a practical skill, not a soft one, and what it actually takes to do this job well over a long career. This is the kind of conversation the profession needs more of. What We Cover How a clearing phone call led Rebecca into surveying instead of lawWhy residential surveying suited her from the startStarting out at Countrywide and learning the job in BathMentorship, MRICS and building a long-term career in the professionHow the 2008 crash reshaped day-to-day working lifeThe shift from paper to digital and early surveying technologyWhat residential surveying reveals about people and how they liveLone working, personal safety and the support surveyors actually needEmotional intelligence and handling difficult situations on siteWhat AI and technology might change, and what will always need a human Guest Links Rebecca Freeman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-freeman-frics-98312019/ Legal & General Surveying Services: https://www.legalandgeneral.com/surveying-services/ Women in Residential Surveying: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13733915/ Useful Links LionHeart: https://www.lionheart.org.uk/ Guest Bio Rebecca Freeman is a residential surveying leader with more than 20 years’ experience in the profession. She is Risk Director at Legal & General Surveying Services and previously spent 22 years with Countrywide Surveying Services, building her career from graduate surveyor through to senior leadership. Rebecca is also the founder of Women in Residential Surveying, where she has been championing better support, visibility and practical conversations around the realities of working in the profession. Her background spans residential valuation, surveying operations, risk, training and professional development, with a particular interest in lone working, resilience and the future of residential surveying. This episode is sponsored by Rebuild Cost UK, a pay-as-you-go rebuild cost calculator built for residential surveyors. No subscriptions, no annual contracts, you only pay when you run a calculation. Try your very first calculation free at rebuildcost.uk. 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

  6. Jun 9

    From Hobby to High Stakes: What Gets Surveyors Using Drones in Trouble

    This episode is sponsored by Rebuild Cost UK, specialists in reinstatement cost assessments for RICS-compliant reporting. Find out more at https://rebuildcost.uk/ Adam Bailey was there when drones first entered the built environment, and he's watched the entire industry evolve around him. As Head of Specialist Surveys at Earl Kendrick, Adam joins Nina Young to talk about how drone technology has transformed the way surveyors work, why regulation and professional standards are being outpaced by poor practice, and what AI actually means for the future of the profession. From photogrammetry and thermal imaging to the very real risks of cutting corners with technology, this is a conversation about where surveying is headed and what it takes to do it properly. What We Cover How Adam Bailey became one of the first drone surveyors in the UKThe evolution of drone surveying technology since 2013Drone regulations and CAA requirementsInsurance, compliance and operational riskWhy professional surveying knowledge matters in drone inspectionsAI in surveying and the future of automated inspectionsDrone photogrammetry and measured surveysCommon mistakes surveyors make with dronesThermal imaging, building performance and retrofit surveysThe importance of education and professional standards in surveying tech Guest Links Adam Bailey: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/adambaileydronesurveyor Earl Kendrick: https://earlkendrick.com/ Useful Links Air Safety Map: https://airsafetymap.com/ CAA Drone Guidance: https://www.caa.co.uk/drones/ Atoll Done Management System: https://atollds.com/ Moonrock Drone Insurance: https://www.moonrockinsurance.com/ Global Drone Training: https://globaldronetraining.com/ Geo Business: https://www.geobusinessshow.com/ Digital Construction Week: https://www.digitalconstructionweek.com/ Guest Bio Adam Bailey is Head of Specialist Surveys at Earl Kendrick and has been working in the drone surveying sector since the early days of commercial drone use within the UK built environment industry. Originally coming from a background in block management and surveying, Adam founded one of the first specialist drone surveying businesses focused on property inspections and building surveys. He has also been involved in shaping standards and industry discussions around drone operations, safety, and regulation. Adam specialises in drone inspections, photogrammetry, thermal imaging, and surveying technology, with a strong focus on professionalism, compliance, and education within the sector. This episode is sponsored by Rebuild Cost UK, a pay-as-you-go rebuild cost calculator built for residential surveyors. No subscriptions, no annual contracts, you only pay when you run a calculation. Try your very first calculation free at rebuildcost.uk. 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

  7. Jun 2

    Can AI Replace a Chartered Surveyor? A Professor Answers Honestly

    This episode is sponsored by Rebuild Cost UK, specialists in reinstatement cost assessments for RICS-compliant reporting. Find out more at https://rebuildcost.uk/ In this episode, Nina Young speaks with Adrian Tagg about the changing world of building surveying education, the growing impact of AI, and why surveying remains one of the most future-proof professions. The conversation explores how universities are adapting to AI, why practical learning still matters, and what makes building surveying such a resilient profession in an increasingly automated world. Nina and Adrian also discuss outreach, attracting younger people into surveying, and the importance of developing evidence-based judgement that technology simply cannot replace. What We Cover Moving from the military into surveyingWhy building surveying is so diverseSustainability and energy efficiency in practiceThe shortage of surveyors across the industryOutreach work with schools and young peopleCareer changes and mature students in surveyingAI and its impact on educationWhy surveying still relies on human judgementProfessional accountability and client responsibilityThe future of surveying educationGuest Links Adrian Tagg’s Email – a.tagg@reading.ac.uk Useful Links University of Reading Building Surveying page – https://www.reading.ac.uk/ready-to-study/study/2026/surveying-and-construction-management-ug/bsc-building-surveying Guest Bio Adrian Tagg is an Associate Professor in Building Surveying at the University of Reading and a practising chartered building surveyor. Alongside academia, Adrian continues to work within industry and has extensive experience across building pathology, professional practice and surveying education. He also served as lead author for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors guidance note on Planned Preventative Maintenance. Adrian is passionate about professional standards, applied learning, and encouraging more people into the surveying profession. This episode is sponsored by Rebuild Cost UK, a pay-as-you-go rebuild cost calculator built for residential surveyors. No subscriptions, no annual contracts, you only pay when you run a calculation. Try your very first calculation free at rebuildcost.uk. 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

  8. May 26

    From Bronze Sculptor to Building Surveyor with Victoria Collins

    Summary Victoria Collins joins me to share her journey from working in a bronze foundry to becoming a chartered building surveyor at Ridge & Partners. We talk about changing careers, studying later in life, and what it really takes to qualify in surveying. Victoria also shares her passion for historic buildings and her current path into building conservation. This is a brilliant example of how varied the routes into surveying can be. What We Cover From fine art to surveying Working in a bronze foundry Health challenges and career decisions Studying a master’s alongside work Passing the APC and becoming chartered Day to day life in commercial building surveying Project work and site experience Moving into building conservation Apprenticeships and supporting new entrants The importance of problem solving in surveying Guest Links Victoria Collins - linkedin.com/in/victoria-collins-670719195 Useful Links  Ridge and Partners LLP - https://ridge.co.uk/ Guest Bio Victoria Collins is a chartered building surveyor at Ridge & Partners with a growing specialism in building conservation. She began her career in a fine art bronze foundry, working on large scale sculptures for internationally recognised artists. After eight years in the industry, she retrained in building surveying, completing a master’s degree while working and going on to achieve chartership through the RICS. Vicki is now undertaking a further master’s in historic conservation and is working towards professional accreditation in the field, combining her hands-on background with a passion for historic buildings. 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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🎧 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 about this brilliant and often overlooked profession, you’re in the right place. Hosted by Nina Young, Founder of Surveyors UK. Visit www.surveyors-uk.com to join The Surveying Room and learn more. We are also on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@SurveyorsUK

Information

  • Creator
    Nina Young - Surveyors UK
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    35
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 This is Surveying
  • Show Website
    This is Surveying

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