Case studies: Surveyor: Morgan Allen

Morgan graduated with a BSc in Government and History. She studied part time for a Postgraduate Diploma in Property Development and Planning at London South Bank University, while working at Knight Frank. She qualified as a surveyor in 2009.

After university I took a year off, and following this gap year began temping as a secretary in Knight Frank’s Institutional Consultancy team, which sits within the Residential Development department. I became more and more interested and involved with the properties, assisting with valuation reports, charities act reports and property disposals, and so I would say my career in surveying has developed rather more ‘organically’ than that of my colleagues.

Not long after joining Knight Frank as a secretary, and with no previous experience in surveying or the property industry, a couple of colleagues mistakenly assumed I was on Knight Frank’s Graduate Scheme. I then approached the head of our division about doing a part-time Masters with the intention of taking my APC (Assessment of Professional Competence), as my undergrad degree wasn’t RICS cognate. Knight Frank generously agreed to pay the tutorial fees for the course, whilst I trained for my APC in tandem. In all it took two years of hard graft; I had a full-time job while studying for a part-time degree and training for my APC.

Although my degree was not directly relevant to surveying I still use the skills I learnt at university on a daily basis. These are things such as analytical, research and communication (verbal, written and presentation) skills.

No two days are the same; one day I will be in Penzance, the following in Cumbria. I usually try to do my inspections in the mornings if possible. I start by having a quick meeting to discuss the property and then I inspect and measure the property, taking photographs and notes as I go along. This will usually take me a few hours. I will then either ‘squat’ in a local office and check emails, or go back to my own office and start writing up my report.

If I am launching a property onto the market I will spend the day liaising with our marketing department and the client, drafting brochures and adverts etc. I spend as much time on valuations as I do on agency, and believe this gives me a greater handle on the market than say valuers who just undertake valuations and consultancy.

My career has progressed well post-qualification and I am undertaking more valuations for my own clients. I am hoping to progress my career within the Institutional Consultancy department at Knight Frank, eventually specialising in professional services to the educational sector.

I enjoy the variety of skills which I am required to use on a daily basis, which include valuation, agency, communication, and relationship management. However, juggling the requirements of different clients and instructions, valuations and consultancy work versus agency can be time consuming.

I’ve met some fascinating people over the past few years such as members of religious orders, senior civil servants, ambassadors, and clerics from every religion and nationality. I especially enjoy the variety of buildings I am involved with, from a Grade II listed monastery to a modern school campus.

I would suggest work experience to anyone wanting to get into this career and to do as much as possible. I have heard from our Human Resources department that we get a huge number of very good applicants for a small number of placements, and would suggest that a way to stand out would be work experience in the property sector.