The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) may be steeped in history, but its key challenge will resonate with any modern director: remaining relevant to its marketplace on a budget [turnover is £50m]. Says chief operating officer Sean Tompkins: "We're a small organisation in terms of staff, investment and scale. But we needed to become a worldwide body and that required strategic boldness—it was one of my main goals as COO."
Founded 136 years ago to represent a group of just 20 surveyors, RICS membership has since swelled to 136,000 and it has diversified to embrace what it calls "property professionals"—those involved in land, property, construction and environmental issues. The Institute promotes best practice in its sector through education and training, protects consumers through regulation of professional standards, and gives advice to its members, the public, government and business. A priority for Tompkins "is to ensure there are enough professionals to meet the demands of the booming property industry".
A former marketing director at the RICS and, before that, Prudential, Tompkins was well placed to lead the transition, and membership now spans 120 countries. "We've focused on creating a global brand," he explains. "In 2003 we came second to Toyota in the Marketing Society's brand revitalisation award—on a budget of thousands, not Toyota's millions." The RICS also won Small Contact Centre of the Year, for which Tompkins credits his "valued and expert" staff.
Globalisation has influenced the strategy to move to a world stage. "Trillions of pounds are flowing around the international property market," says Tompkins. "Property is now an investment vehicle, an asset class—it's not just bricks and mortar." Which means that the RICS is placing an even greater emphasis on maintaining standards and skills.
"Money doesn't get you membership; you have to qualify, adhere to regulations, continue to learn and keep up-to-date," claims Tompkins. "You can see the way the world market is changing. The skills acquired over the years have to remain relevant. You've got to show good leadership and competence—and you have to add more value than you did in the past."
And then there's the environment. Buildings are responsible for around 40 per cent of carbon emissions in the UK, with residential property contributing 26 per cent of all emissions. The government has made clear its commitment to achieve zero-carbon housing and low-carbon communities across the UK.
Tompkins sees this as an opportunity, not a burden. "We have been at the forefront of the broad thrust of energy efficiency and creating sustainable communities for years," he says. So while the RICS continues to work with government to ensure that property professionals play a role in the battle against climate change, Tompkins also has an eye on the future. "Property is so widespread in its appeal, we're encouraging more young people into the profession," he says. "There's a UK obsession with property. It's a global industry, which means there are more opportunities."
