APC GRADUATION CEREMONY A grand day out……RICS Welcome to the Profession event
 | Bernard is a member of North East and Yorkshire Branch. He emphasises that this is written without the aid of AI). |
Bernard recounts a day out at RICS headquarters, to impart to new APC graduates his years of experience. |
The invitation
I was checking my emails a few weeks ago when one appeared which was “a blast from the past”, it was from Jen Clarke, now Global Engagement Manager at the RICS. I knew her as “Little Jenny” when she was part of the team who supported us as assessors in undertaking APC assessments for the RICS. The email was inviting me to attend and speak, in the role of a Retired Member, to successful APC candidates, who were, in turn, invited to a “graduation ceremony” at RICS HQ in Great George Street, London. In making the request she also said it had been supported by Kirsty Gould who heads up the APC for the RICS and who I have known for a considerable number of years. How could I refuse!
Travel and accommodation arrangements made, such that I could speak at both the Friday morning and afternoon sessions. To help and add some context to my talk, a member of Jen’s team sent me a broad outline of areas that they would like me to cover, albeit with a little “licence” allowed. The script invited me to say how I got into the profession, when I had qualified, when did my qualification “open doors” and my achievements.
It also invited me to comment on advice to new members, as well as life after full-time practice. I did a few drafts and while some elements flowed quite well, others were a little more difficult. Then I hit on an idea which might not only help, but could show I was “with it” ….use AI. I Googled Bernard White FRICS and added the outline the RICS had sent, linked in AI and pressed the appropriate button on my laptop. Nothing! But then 30 seconds later, we had a power outage which not only affected our road, but later I found out that it covered an area as far as 30 miles north of where we live. So much for AI. Back on track, my speech was finalised once my proofreader (aka Linda my wife) had checked it.
The day’s events
On the day, 10 July, I arrived early (shades of APC interviews) and changed into something more appropriate (business casual/smart casual) was the advice given. Those who were being presented, together with family and friends, assembled in a large room and despite the friendly help from RICS staff, service of tea/coffee or cold drinks, there was a nervousness about the gathering. At the appointed time, the speakers were called in, followed by the successful candidates, who then sat in alphabetical order ready for the presentation; finally, their friends and families.
While Daniella Blair from the RICS organised the event (and really well) the “glue” holding the session together was Sybil Taunton, Head of Diversity, Equality & Inclusion at the RICS. First speaker was Olivia Caravello MRICS, Chair of Midlands Matrix; it was a nice touch that Olivia was also one of those who was there by virtue of her graduating.
She was followed, first by Phil Sparke of Lionheart and then, giving the keynote address on behalf of the President, Luay Al-Khatib, who is also Director of the Future Innovation Hub. For the afternoon session, Luay was replaced by Gordon Johnston, who was until recently a Governing Council Member.
Then the main business. Names of each successful candidate present were read out (followed by “MRICS”) and they each collected an RICS pin badge, to go with their certificates, which they had already received.
No drum roll, but a simple announcement from Sybil, saw me take the stage. Any nerves (adrenaline really) quicky dispersed and I was into my 10-minute slot (it drew laughter from the audience, especially the successful candidates) when I mention how long I had got. I alluded to the fact that I qualified, and at the first attempt, in 1970.
While covering the next few years, I explained that the door really opened on my career when I joined Harrogate Borough Council in late 1979 to take charge of the estates department. A few slightly amusing stories, from both the APC assessing and work life, followed. There was the instance when I had to cut short an interview I was chairing at Great George Street, as Princess Anne was due and the Met Polce had to “sweep the building”: the candidate passed!
From my work life, one story I recounted was that of helping a local guide troupe secure funding to acquire and refurbish a building they were having from a development site, where the council was in partnership.
Given the form of their occupation, compensation on quitting was limited and even with some monies donated through the charitable arm of the developer, they were still short. At my suggestion, and after a bit of a search of their records, they found a former guide who had “made it.” The lady in question, along with her husband, donated a five-figure sum, which meant the relocation and refurbishment could go ahead. Had they been able to wait a little longer, she might have been even more generous, as she came away from her divorce settlement with Paul Sykes with a quoted £250m and from which she bought and redeveloped Grantley Hall, recently featured as the Poshest Hotel in Yorkshire on Channel 5.
Moving to advice, I made the point that they were now a member of a profession which places ethical standards at the top of the tree and that they should always apply them, no matter what. Yes, there were going to be occasions when clients, the other party, and even a fellow RICS member may well push them quite hard, but the advice was if they were sure then they should stick to their guns. There may be the odd occasion when, as part of the process, granny may have to be turned to the wall, but the clear advice, from one who knows (tee shirt in the wash), is maintain that ethical line, be honest with others, but more importantly, with themselves, and they wouldn’t go far wrong.
As to life after full-time practice, in pondering what the future would hold, my first thought was that that is a question which was better directed to my grandchildren. I accepted that I knew comparatively little about AI; and certainly the property profession was not immune from any potential applications or impact. However, the point I sought to make was that the profession still involved real people and while it would be wrong, indeed perhaps pointless, to go against the development and constructive use of AI and things like Copilot/Gemini, there needs in my view to be a balance between the human side and technology. I drew laughter from the audience when saying while they may not have come across them yet, there are still clients and property owners out there who would cause a meltdown for many AI programmes.
My concluding comment was that most of all, they should enjoy what they had spent time qualifying for, and that a smile on their face would get them a long way in life, personally and professionally.
At the conclusion of my speech (no link between the two you understand) the successful candidates, together with their friends and families, were invited to have drinks and canapes before embarking on a tour of the building, including a view over Parliament and beyond, from the 5th floor balcony.
A teaser
Finally, I posed a question to the audience and which anyone reading this article can join it too, if they wish. You are sent to inspect a small site a couple of hours away from the office and in a remote location You have an old plan clearly reproduced many times, so questionable in terms of accuracy, showing the range of buildings. On arrival there is one more than on the plan, a small conventional flat roof brick building. You feel you should take details and measurements in case it is relevant in some way, but you are using a pool car and the last person who used it took all the measuring kit and even the camera out. Your mobile phone can’t get a signal or even to take pictures, you haven’t got the office drone, and you have no idea where the nearest Screwfix is, so what do you do?
Nobody on the day got the correct answer by the way!
[Ed – I regret that it stumped me too – and it really shouldn’t have. The answer can be found at the bottom of the Branches News]
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