This is Surveying

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Summary
I’m joined by Tim Clarke, Managing Director of Harrison Clark, to talk all things dilapidations. We break down what they are, why they matter, and how surveyors help both landlords and tenants navigate risk.
This is a practical and honest conversation about commercial surveying, lease liability, and the real impact of good advice.
What we cover
Tim’s journey into surveying 
Public vs private sector experience 
What dilapidations mean in practice 
Why landlords protect asset value 
How claims are assessed and negotiated 
Lease wording and risk exposure 
Schedules of condition explained 
Tenant and landlord strategies 
Real examples from practice 
The human side of surveying
Guest Links
Tim Clarke  –  linkedin.com/in/tim-clarke-bsc-hons-msc-mba-mrics-cmgr-fcmi-88064432
Useful Links
Harrison Clarke - harrisonclarke.co.uk
Guest Bio
Tim Clarke is the Managing Director of Harrison Clark, a chartered surveying firm specialising in commercial property advice, including dilapidations, technical due diligence, and lease consultancy. With experience across both public and private sectors, Tim has built a reputation for practical, clear advice and a strong understanding of property risk. He is also passionate about making surveying knowledge more accessible through education, content, and industry engagement.
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, Nina Young speaks with Ed Ellis about the human side of residential surveying. 
From unpredictable site visits to emotional client situations, Ed shares what it is really like working in people’s homes and why communication skills are just as important as technical knowledge in the surveying profession. 
This is an honest and insightful look at residential surveying in the UK. 
What we cover 
 Career journey into surveying 
 Life on site as a residential surveyor 
 Managing emotions and difficult situations 
 Survey vs valuation confusion 
 Importance of soft skills 
 Client perception of surveyors 
 Property documentation challenges 
 Professional standards and reputation 
 Industry misconceptions 
 Future of the surveying profession
Guest Links

Ed Ellis - https://www.linkedin.com/in/edward-ellis-15627636
Useful Links
RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors): https://www.rics.org
SAVA (Surveying Training): https://sava.co.uk
Guest Bio
Ed Ellis is a registered valuer and experienced residential surveyor with over 14 years in the industry. With a career spanning agencies, corporate firms, and private practice, this breadth of experience offers a well-rounded perspective on surveying and valuation. A strong emphasis is placed on the human side of residential surveying, highlighting the importance of clear communication, professionalism, and delivering a positive client experience. 
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
Drones are transforming surveying, but what does the job actually look like in practice?
In this episode, Nina Young speaks with Zara McGregor, Chief UAS Pilot at Plowman Craven. Zara shares how she built a career in drone surveying, the realities of flying drones on construction sites, and the challenges of regulation, safety, and public perception.
What We Cover
How Zara became a Chief UAS Pilot
Apprenticeships and alternative routes into surveying
Drone surveying on construction sites
Navigating airspace restrictions and flight permissions
Working with the Civil Aviation Authority and drone regulations
Safety checks and operational planning
The accuracy of drone survey data
Public perception of drones and privacy concerns
Career opportunities in drone surveying
Encouraging the next generation into geospatial careers
Guest Links
Zara McGregor on LinkedIn -  https://www.linkedin.com/in/zara-mcgregor-drone-whiz

Plowman Craven - https://plowmancraven.com
Useful Links
Coptrz – https://www.coptrz.com
Drone Pilot Academy – https://dronepilotacademy.co.uk
Guest Bio
Zara McGregor is Chief UAS Pilot at Plowman Craven, where she leads drone operations for surveying and construction projects. She began her career through a geospatial technician apprenticeship and developed her skills in land surveying, CAD, and aerial data capture. Zara now specialises in commercial drone operations, managing drone surveys, inspections, and mapping projects while ensuring compliance with Civil Aviation Authority regulations. She is also passionate about sharing her experiences and encouraging more people to explore careers in geospatial technology and drone 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  
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Summary
Charlie Crocker, Managing Director of Terracosta Property and an RICS Registered Valuer, joins Nina Young to talk about valuation, starting a surveying firm, and the realities of running a small practice.
From his early days at JLL to an unexpected entrepreneurial chapter in Brazil during the Olympics, Charlie shares lessons on pricing, resilience, graduates, and how AI is beginning to support valuation work.
What We Cover
Moving from town planning into surveying
Training as a graduate surveyor at JLL
Entrepreneurial lessons from working in Brazil
Launching Terracosta Property
Valuation and the complexity of commercial property
The challenge of pricing professional services
AI and its role in surveying today
Automated valuation models and where they fit
Supporting graduates through the APC process
Collaboration across the surveying profession
Guest Links
Charlie Crocker – https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlie-crocker-b498bb12
Useful Links
 Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) - https://www.rics.org 
Guest Bio
Charlie Crocker is the Managing Director of Terracosta Property and an RICS Registered Valuer and Chartered Surveyor. His career began at JLL after completing a RICS accredited masters, where he trained in valuation and gained experience across commercial property.
After several years in London, Charlie moved to Brazil, where he built and ran property businesses during the Olympic years. Returning to the UK, he founded Terracosta Property, a chartered surveying practice providing valuation and building surveying services across residential and commercial property.
Charlie is passionate about professional standards, developing graduates through the APC process, and embracing technology responsibly within surveying practice.
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

Professor Richard Fitton joins me on the podcast to talk about building performance, EPC reform, and the growing role surveyors will play in the retrofit of UK housing.
Richard is a Chartered Building Surveyor and Professor of Building Physics at the University of Salford. He leads Energy House 2.0, a world-leading research facility where full houses are tested inside climate-controlled chambers to understand exactly how buildings perform.
We talk about EPC accuracy, the performance gap between modelling and real buildings, and the research behind Richard’s white paper calling for better building data.
We also explore the Warm Homes Plan, the debate around fabric-first retrofit, and why surveyors have a major opportunity to expand their role in energy performance, ventilation, and healthy homes.

What We Cover
Richard’s route into surveying and academia
Inside Energy House and Energy House 2.0
Why real building performance testing matters
EPC reform and measured building data
The UK Warm Homes Plan and retrofit funding
Fabric first versus technology first retrofit
Opportunities for surveyors in retrofit work
The RICS retrofit surveyor pathway
Assessing renewable technologies in homes
Why healthy homes and ventilation matter
Guest Links
Richard Fitton on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-fitton-a668a822b

Useful Links

RICS Guidance on Retrofit - https://www.rics.org/consumer-guides/retrofitting-improving-energy-efficiency-home

Energy House - https://energyhouselabs.salford.ac.uk/

Warm Homes Plan - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/warm-homes-plan
Guest Bio
Professor Richard Fitton is a Chartered Building Surveyor, Fellow of the RICS, and Professor of Building Physics at the University of Salford.
He is the Technical Director of Energy House 2.0. This unique global research facility enables the construction of full homes within climate-controlled chambers to test real building performance under simulated weather conditions.
Richard’s research focuses on building performance, retrofit, energy efficiency, and housing sustainability. His work is influencing major UK housing policy and helping shape the design of new homes and retrofit strategies nationwide.
Alongside his research, Richard continues to engage with industry and surveying practice. He is also a member of the UK Fuel Poverty Committee, advising the government on policies to reduce fuel poverty and improve housing conditions.
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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