George Viner is a graduate building surveyor at TFT, who joined our team after changing his profession from working as a multi-skilled tradesman.

He spoke to BE News about how he made the move, how he finds work today, and his take on the wider industry too.

Here's a snippet of the conversation:

What I do: As a graduate building surveyor, my role offers a lot of variety through a mixture of professional services and project work. My day-to-day tasks include, but are not limited to, on-site inspections, report writing and contract administration. I am currently working towards my Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) through the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). The APC requires me to record work diaries and submit a written summary of my experience over a period of 24 months. The diaries and summary cover 21 competencies in mandatory and technical areas of the profession.

‍Why I got into the property industry: I am 34. Prior to joining TFT, I had run my own small business as a multi-skilled tradesman for over 10 years. I have experience and qualifications in plastering, bricklaying, carpentry and various other construction activities. Sadly, I suffered a workplace accident in 2017 that resulted in a serious laceration to my ankle, followed by progressive and degenerative back pain. I didn’t see a future working with tools due to the intensity and degenerative nature of my injuries and decided to look at new careers and opportunities in the built environment.

How I did it: The last construction project I was involved in as a tradesman was a small commercial-to-residential development in Sutton, London. The works involved converting a three-storey building into six self-contained flats which the main developer had instructed a building surveyor to monitor. I had many discussions with the surveyor on his role and this prompted me to research routes into the profession. I discovered RICS-accredited degrees in building surveying were widely available and government loans available to study full-time. I applied to study at the University of Brighton and completed my course in July 2023 with first class (hons) degree.

My first big break: Landing my current full-time position with TFT. I love the company’s ethos and my colleagues have all been genuinely lovely and supportive on my new career journey.

My greatest achievement/proudest moment to date: Successfully taking over as lead consultant for one of TFT’s void refurbishment projects since I joined little more than a year ago.

My biggest bugbear about the industry/the one thing I would change about the industry: Most project work – particularly as it relates to construction – seems to come down to cost. Sadly, ‘cheap’ doesn’t generally equate with quality. We are currently seeking to improve people’s lives and wellbeing through sustainable solutions; this won’t be achieved if decisions are made simply on the basis of the cheapest price.

My advice for someone just starting out: Be resilient, learn from all your experiences positive and negative. Be driven and have goals!

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You can read the whole article on BE News here.

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