Update from Justin Young, RICS CEO - October 2023

Last month we launched the 2nd edition of RICS’ whole life carbon assessment standard. As societies around the world grapple with the practical choices necessary for successfully achieving Net Zero, it is essential that our sector pulls its weight in driving decarbonisation, and this vital standard will help us to do just that. By providing clarity on the carbon costs and benefits of design choices in construction and infrastructure projects and assets, the standard empowers professionals and project stakeholders to make informed decisions that advance their progress towards Net Zero.

This follows on swiftly from RICS being granted observer status by the United Nations last month for this year's COP28, further evidence of the centrality of climate leadership to RICS’ ongoing global endeavours. I thank all RICS members, colleagues and partners, including the Department for Transport and Net Zero Waste Scotland, for bringing this important standard to life.

RICS has also launched a manifesto for the built environment in the lead-up to the next UK General Election. As part of our public interest remit, it is RICS' duty to advocate policies that provide solutions to some of the most important challenges of our time. The RICS manifesto sets out a ten-point roadmap, which includes points focussed on creating safe, sustainable, and affordable homes for all, delivering high-quality commercial spaces for businesses, and securing future skills for a sustainable built environment, among many other important factors.

I look forward to discussing these core issues when I’m joined by a delegation from RICS to attend UK party conferences this month to raise the profile of our profession and promote the priorities for the built and natural environment with key political stakeholders.

In what’s set to be a busy October, RICS will also be running campaigns marking UK Black History Month, promoting the voices of Black surveyors and celebrating their outstanding contribution, and shining a spotlight on Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) across our membership. Look out for dedicated content across our communications channels and share your stories. The SME programme will include a dedicated webinar on 23 October, a hybrid event taking place in Birmingham on 18 October, as well as content and direct engagement highlighting the critical role of SMEs within our profession.

Passionate, committed people are of course at the heart of every successful organisation, large or small – and in recent months it has been wonderful to see such high-calibre candidates come forward to take up the many opportunities to serve that have opened across RICS’ leadership and governance structure.

Recruitment will continue this month for a permanent Membership Services Committee Chair, a position open to all members, and for four independent (non-member) roles to be handled by a search agency. These are: A permanent SRB Chair; the Senior Independent Governor; an Independent Member of Governing Council; and an RICS Board digital and tech member. More information about the SRB Chair role can be found here while the other roles are featured here from 03 October.

As we look to introduce some new faces to the organisation, we also recently said farewell and thank you to RICS’ former interim CEO Richard Collins, following his handover with us over the last few weeks. While in role he provided stable and effective leadership for the organisation, helping to steer RICS through a significant period of change and transformational reform.

We wish Richard the very best in his future endeavours and his exceptional contribution to the profession will be remembered for many years to come.