RICS MATRICS What it means to its members
- Danni Foster
- Oct 28
- 8 min read
Updated: Oct 29
 | Danni is Next Generation Manager at RICS. |
Probably of great interest to the FACES community, here Danni interviews Francesca about her Matrics experiences. Her enthusiasm for the profession shines through. It shows the power of young surveyors working together in Matrics and FACES. |
RICS Matrics UK is an early career community designed to support students, apprentices, trainees and those who are newly qualified (up to 10 years), as they move into the industry. It gives the community a platform to influence the profession, as well as an opportunity to network and gain support as they go through the assessment.
The network, made up of 27 local committees across the UK, offers peer support groups, mentoring, free online Continuous Personal Development (CPD) opportunities, networking and social events, all designed to develop the leaders of tomorrow.
We caught up with Francesca Fowler-Walsh, MRICS GSFP, Associate at Savills in Edinburgh and on the Matrics UK Board.
Francesca is a chartered Member of the RICS and a Green and Sustainable Finance Professional accredited by the Chartered Banker Institute. She graduated from Harper Adams University in 2020 with a BSc (Hons) in Rural Enterprises and Land Management and qualified as a rural chartered surveyor in 2023. Before relocating to Edinburgh in 2024 to join the Natural Capital team at Savills, Francesca worked as a land agent in the North of England, advising on estate and environmental land management. With a passion for food, farming and rural affairs, and supporting the next generation, she is a Trustee of the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs.
How did you find out about Matrics, what was your first event, how did you find it?
My RICS Matrics journey began almost as early as my surveying one. In my first term at Harper Adams university, the Land Management Society organised a trip to Shrewsbury for a network event with the local RICS Matrics. It was our first real exposure to the RICS, Matrics and the APC process, and it left a lasting impression.
Years later, I met our wonderful Matrics Coordinator, Kirsty White, during an online CPD session hosted by Matrics. After the session, we chatted about re-establishing the committee in my home-county of Lancashire and, as they say, the rest is history.
My first in-person Matrics event came just a few weeks later in Leeds. The room was buzzing with energy, full of conversation and wide smiles. It was there I met Theo Till, the then Chair of RICS Matrics UK, who generously shared details of his own Matrics journey, the impact Matrics had on his career and some recommendations for running a committee. He introduced me to fellow Matrics members who whisked me off to meet people they insisted I “just had to talk to!”. Many of those people have since become valuable professional contacts. That evening hooked me – I knew there and then I wanted to be a part of the RICS Matrics community.
What is your involvement with Matrics now? How do you see that evolving in the future?
It feels like just five minutes ago I was starting out; recruiting committee members and chasing down sponsors for events in Lancashire. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of chairing the Northern region and, earlier this year, I joined the RICS Matrics UK Board.
Currently, I’m working closely with Michael O’Connor on our digital transformation. Michael has led the rollout of the RICS Matrics UK LinkedIn pages, which are providing a platform for our committees and regions to promote events, share insights, and connect with members more effectively. Alongside that, I’ve been developing the RICS Matrics Playbook – a one stop-shop resource hosted on SharePoint that we’re excited to launch later this year. It’s designed to support our community with everything from event planning and training to guidance on Board initiatives and best practice.
The next phase of development will see Michael and I team up with Dean Hockley, our RICS Matrics Treasurer, to integrate PowerApps and PowerBI. This will help streamline business planning and give committees, regions and the Board access to live data, making it easier to track engagement, plan strategically, and demonstrate impact.
Looking ahead to 2026, I’ll also be focusing on expanding our training and development offer to those 5+ years post-qualification. There’s a real opportunity to support this group with tailored resources and networking, helping them to build the skills, confidence and connections they need as they take the next steps in their careers. Whether they’re progressing within their firms, stepping into leadership roles within the RICS or contributing to wider society through thought leadership, non-exec roles or mentoring, Matrics can play a key role in that journey.
In what ways has networking through Matrics influenced your career progression or opened new doors for you?
In my experience, the value of Matrics comes from all of the interactions it provides. That’s why I always encourage people to get involved early. It’s important to remember that involvement doesn’t have to be all or nothing – Matrics is a community that flexes with you. Over the past five years, there have been occasions when I couldn’t commit as much time as I’d have liked to. It was then that the strength of the community shone through. Matrics was always there - whether it was an offer of an online revision session ahead of my APC, a text message of support, or an invitation to celebrate the end of the assessment period.
Through Matrics, and our partnership with LionHeart, I’ve developed a wide range of skills and met people I wouldn’t otherwise have crossed paths with. From sitting next to my boss’ boss’ boss’ peer at dinner, to building SharePoint sites, and learning how to manage a team, delegate effectively, and have difficult conversations, Matrics has been a training ground for both technical and soft skills.
While I wouldn’t say Matrics has directly opened doors for me, it’s given me the confidence, experience and network to decide which doors I want to try to open. And, when I do, I know I have a diverse group of peers – across sectors, seniority, and regions, who I can call on for advice if the door I choose needs a little WD-40!
Can you share an example of a meaningful connection or collaboration that came about through networking/Matrics?
Without hesitation the most cherished connection has been with Kirsty White, our Matrics Coordinator. Kirsty is the beating heart of the Matrics community. She knows the network inside out and has an incredible ability to connect people with opportunities – whether it’s attending events, contributing to a panel, or penning thought leadership pieces (no matter how niche!). She genuinely wants to see the community and its members thrive, both professionally and personally, and seeks out opportunities to make this happen.
Kirsty and my Matrics peers have been instrumental in helping me grow within the profession. The experience I gained through Matrics contributed to me securing a position on the RICS North West Regional Advisory Board, where I’ve had the opportunity to contribute to strategic conversations around the future of surveying. This has included engaging with local leaders, such as Andy Burnham, on topics ranging from development and housing to nature-based carbon projects, and professional development in the region.
My focus has now shifted beyond the North West as my role in Matrics has evolved. As I’ve taken on positions with a wider geographic reach, I’ve learned the importance of listening to local voices as each committee and region has its own dynamic, shaped by members’ experiences and expectations, sponsorship availability, and even transport links. An ability to build relationships by picking up the phone or attend events outside of my patch has been valuable in my role with Savills Natural Capital. Matrics has supported my attendance at national events, including the RICS Rural England and Scotland conferences, helping me to expand my network and hear from professionals across the sector and the nations. At Savills, we’re fortunate to have strong local office networks, but Matrics has given me additional contacts and the interpersonal skills to build trust quickly.
Has being part of the Matrics community contributed to your personal wellbeing or professional confidence? If so, how?
Matrics has been a huge source of both personal and professional support. When I relocated to Edinburgh to join Savills Natural Capital team, I was stepping into a new city, a new role, and a new specialism. Having the Matrics network already in place gave me a ready-built support system, making the move so much easier.
Through Matics, I’ve connected with professions across the sector including planners, developers, lawyers and accountants. This has helped me understand the challenges and opportunities facing the industry from different perspectives. These insights have made me think more strategically and collaboratively.
Professionally, Matrics has given me a network across the UK. As the Matrics community grows beyond the UK, with new committees and the relocation of some familiar faces oversees, our reach has become international. This is hugely exciting for the profession and for me personally as we look to collaborate to address shared challenges, including the pressures of climate change.
What kind of support – professional or personal – have you found the most valuable through the network?
The people. Describing what Matrics offers is sometimes tricky. I’ve found that what members can get out of it changes over time, often in parallel to our careers. Irrespective of sector or stage of career, the feeling of the strength of the community and support it delivers is universal.
With nearly 30 local committees stretching from Aberdeen to Cornwall, the Matrics network includes committee members and chairs, regional chairs and the UK Board. That coverage means that wherever you are in the country, its highly likely you’ll bump into someone who is or has been involved in Matrics. In my experience, even at events not hosted by the RICS, there’s often a familiar face from the Matrics community.
Are there any standout moments, events, or initiatives within Matrics that have left a lasting impression on you?
There are a few. “One Matrics” (formerly Chairs Welcome) is always a favourite in my calendar. It’s one of those events that leaves you with a renewed sense of purpose and belonging. Standing in a room full of ambitious, bright and enthusiastic early-career surveyors, all pulling in the same direction to deliver meaningful impact across the country, is something quite special. The energy, the openness, and the willingness to share contacts and lessons learned creates a real sense of community.
During my time as Lancashire committee chair when we piloted online candidate support sessions, what started out as a local initiative to help overcome transport challenges, quickly gained momentum and, in one session alone, we reached over 150 attendees across three continents. It was a proud moment for our committee and for Matrics, demonstrating not only the appetite for support among candidates in the red rose county, but also the potential for Matrics to extend its reach far beyond the UK.
What would you say to someone considering joining Matrics?
Do it! You’ll gain far more out of it than you expect. Skills, confidence, friendship and opportunities: it’s a space you can grow, give back and be part of something special.
If you want to connect with Francesca you can on LinkedIn
And to find out more about RICS Matrics UK you can email matrics@rics.org or
If you want to find out more about natural capital and the inter interdependencies of rural and urban environments, to Savills Earth podcast episode on the Rural-Urban Nexus: https://www.savills.co.uk/blog/article/375676/podcasts/real-estate-insights-podcast--savills-earth-series-3--the-rural-urban-nexus.aspx
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