Rural Surveyor
What is the work like?
Rural surveyors, also known as agricultural surveyors, manage farms and estates, value property and assets, advise clients on legal and tax issues, and plan and develop land use. Rural surveyors work for local authorities, surveying practices, private landowners, farmers and conservation bodies.
One of your main areas of work as a rural surveyor, would be farm and estate management. In this type of job, you may be called a land agent ('factors' in Scotland). Your duties would include:
- the day-to-day running of the estate
- maintaining the accounts
- producing financial forecasts
- dealing with grant and subsidy applications
- negotiating land access, for example with power companies or mining and quarrying firms.
Part of your work might also include carrying out valuations for clients. These could cover property, machinery, crops and livestock, and are usually done for sale, insurance, taxation or compensation purposes. You would arrange auctions of farm property, including the marketing and publicity, and conduct the auction on the day.
You could also work in estate restoration or the creation of wildlife conservation areas, where you would create computer maps of the landscape, using geographical information systems (GIS), satellite imaging and precision measuring instruments. Organisations would then use these maps to decide how best to develop the land.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
You would normally need a degree or professional qualification accredited by the Royal Institution for Chartered Surveyors (RICS) to become a rural surveyor.
You could choose from a range of relevant degree subjects including:
- surveying
- business studies
- economics
- land management
- maths.
If you have a non-accredited degree, you would need to take a postgraduate course in surveying. You could do this through a graduate traineeship once working or by studying full-time at an accredited university. If you are working in property or construction, you could also take a distance learning postgraduate conversion course with the College of Estate Management (CEM). For details, contact the CEM.
If you want to specialise straight away as an agricultural surveyor, you would normally take a degree or postgraduate course at one of three colleges recommended by the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV). These are at Reading, Cirencester and Newport, Shropshire. See the CAAV website for more details.
Experience of working on the land, for example farming or conservation work, would also put you at an advantage when applying for work.
Due to the nature of this job, a driving licence would be useful.
For more information about rural surveying as a career and details of degree subjects and providers, see the website for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
What further training and development can I do?
Once you are working, you should continue to update your knowledge and skills. You would normally do this by working towards chartered status with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) or the Chartered Institute of Building's (CIOB) Faculty for Architecture and Surveying.
To qualify for chartered status through the RICS, you must complete the RICS Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) while you are working. You have to record at least two years' experience and pass an interview with a panel of assessors.
If you want to apply for CIOB chartered status, you would need an accredited honours degree and two years' relevant work experience.
You could think about joining the CAAV, which offers a variety of membership levels for professionals and students, and has examinations covering areas such as agricultural policy and EU regulations, diversification, environmental issues, tenancy law, taxation and dispute resolution. Contact the CAAV for details.
Where can I go for more information?
2 The Courtyard48 New North Road
Exeter
Devon
EX4 4EP
Helpline: 08000 567160
Reading
Berkshire
RG6 6AW
Tel: 0800 019 9697
35 Market Place
Coleford
Gloucestershire
GL16 8AA
Westwood Way
Coventry
CV4 8JE
Tel: 0870 333 1600
If you would like to discuss your career options with a learning adviser, call 0800 100 900 or use our online enquiry form
Alternatively, you can visit our website at: www.direct.gov.uk/careersadvice
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Countryside/ Conservation Officer
What salary and other benefits can I expect?
- New graduate rural surveyors can earn between £20,000 and £23,000 a year.
- Experienced surveyors earn between £24,000 and £35,000.
- Chartered rural surveyors can earn around £40,000 a year.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
Your working hours would vary depending on the day's tasks. If you are working from the office, your hours would usually be 9am to 5pm. However, much of your time would be spent visiting clients on farms or estates, which could mean early starts and late finishes. Auctions may also take place at weekends to maximise interest.
This job involves a lot of travel as clients may be spread over a wide area.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- good analytical skills
- good IT skills, particularly for mapping projects
- the ability to assess the economics of different land uses, crops and animal breeds
- excellent communication skills for dealing with people at all levels
- a diplomatic approach and good negotiating skills
- the ability to analyse and present statistical information
- good project management skills
- a clear understanding of commercial and environmental issues in the rural economy
- a sound knowledge of UK and EU agricultural and land-use regulations.
What opportunities are there?
Your opportunities as a rural surveyor are good, as there is such a wide range of areas that you can work in. National rural strategies are also being put in place to develop the rural economy in a sustainable way. In Scotland for example, a recent announcement of the Rural Development Programme means that £1.6 billion is being made available for agricultural, forestry and environmental projects between 2007 and 2013.
Asset Skills reports that rural surveying skills, such as business, property and contract management, planning and financial skills are all in demand.
Diversification is increasingly important in the rural economy and rural surveyors play an important role in advising on the development of land use, particularly in the fields of leisure, conservation, specialised food production and biofuel crops.
Your options for career progression include specialising in a particular area of surveying, for example valuations, taking up senior management positions, going into partnership in private practice or moving into self-employment as a consultant.
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