Summary

Building surveying apprentice and RICS Matrics Apprentice of the Year, Sonya Swaley, joins me to share her journey into surveying and life on a five year apprenticeship. After Covid disrupted her A levels and a year studying economics, Sonya made the leap into professional construction and has not looked back.

We talk about the realities of balancing work, university and APC preparation, why she chose building surveying over quantity surveying, and how apprenticeships can unlock a chartered career without student debt. Sonya also opens up about being a young woman in a male dominated sector, developing confidence on site, and why she now prefers heritage and listed buildings to shiny new builds.

What We Cover

• How Covid, cancelled exams and a year of economics led Sonya to surveying
• Moving from full time university into an apprenticeship route
• Why building surveying is less promoted than quantity surveying but more varied
• What it is like to be four years into a five year building surveying apprenticeship
• Starting the APC early and building a diary from day one
• Sonya’s experience of the RICS Matrics Awards and winning Apprentice of the Year
• Why she believes apprenticeships are a win for both apprentices and employers
• Government funding support for smaller firms who take on apprentices
• Learning to handle difficult conversations with contractors using facts and kindness
• Being a woman in surveying and the role of women in property networks
• The joy and challenge of working on heritage and listed buildings
• Using LinkedIn as a portfolio and a way to help others into the profession

Guest Bio

Sonya Swaley is a building surveying apprentice currently working with Murray Birrell in London. After Covid disrupted her A levels, Sonya began a full time economics degree before realising that a traditional university route was not for her. She returned home, completed an A level in professional construction and secured a building surveying apprenticeship. Now over four years into a five year programme with London South Bank University, Sonya is already on her APC pathway and building a strong mix of site and office experience, particularly on heritage and listed buildings. In 2024 she was named RICS Matrics Apprentice of the Year, recognising her commitment, technical development and contributions to the profession. Alongside her role, Sonya is active on LinkedIn, mentors prospective apprentices informally, and is passionate about widening access to surveying careers through apprenticeships and better outreach in schools and colleges.

Guest Links

• Sonya Swaley on LinkedIn
• Murray Birrell Chartered Surveyors

Useful Links

• Association of Apprentices
• Outer Circle networking group
• Women in Property
• London South Bank University built environment apprenticeships

If you want to connect with surveyors across the UK and keep up with the profession, join The Surveying Room. It is free to join and open to all types of surveyors, students, and professionals who work with them. Surveyors UK & The Surveying Room

Connect with me - Nina Young on LinkedIn

In this episode, I’m joined by registered building inspector and building control surveyor, Jack Calveley. Jack talks through his journey from SAVA residential surveying into LABC’s trainee programme, gaining his Level 4 and 5 qualifications, and moving from local authority into private sector building control.

We unpack what building control actually is, what a registered building inspector does all week, why the role is now a protected title, and how the profession is changing with new competency and registration requirements. We also cover training, CPD, career progression, and Jack’s own podcast, Behind the Regs, which shines a light on the building control community.

What We Cover

• Jack’s background – SAVA residential surveying, joining professional bodies and discovering building control
• How the LABC trainee programme works, and what Level 4 and 5 training looks like in practice
• The day to day role of a building control surveyor – design stage checks, site inspections and completion sign off
• Independence and impartiality – why inspectors cannot design the solution or tell builders exactly what to do
• Registration, protected titles and how to look up a registered building inspector on the GOV.UK register
• The shortage of building control surveyors, and why older surveyors left when competency proof was required
• Advice for trainees and career changers – how to approach the legislation, Approved Documents and CPD
• Salary bands and progression from trainee to Class 2 inspector and beyond in public and private sectors
• Behind the Regs – why Jack started a dedicated building control podcast and LinkedIn group
• What homeowners need to know about building regulations, re-roofs, knock throughs and social media myths

Guest Links

• Jack Calveley on LinkedIn
• Behind the Regs podcast LinkedIn group

Useful Links

• Building Control group - The Surveying Room - join here
• LABC – Building control careers and trainee programmes
• Total Training and Development – Building control qualifications (Level 4, 5, 6)
• CABE – Chartered Association of Building Engineers

If you want to connect with surveyors across the UK and keep up with the profession, join The Surveying Room. It is free to join and open to all types of surveyors, students, and professionals who work with them. Surveyors UK & The Surveying Room

Connect with me - Nina Young on LinkedIn

Summary
In this solo episode, I talk about why AI is already reshaping surveying, from residential surveys to professional practice, whether you consider yourself “techy” or not. I look at the new RICS professional standard on the responsible use of artificial intelligence in surveying practice, and what it means for judgement, accountability and how we use AI day to day.

I also share details of a live, practical AI session I am running with AI trainer Nick Crawford, designed specifically for surveyors and surveying firms who want a clear, grounded starting point without the hype.

What we cover

• Why AI is already embedded in everyday tools like search, email and messaging
• How this shift in everyday life has finally landed in surveying
• Why AI is not just about faster reports, but a change in the whole operating environment
• The difference between knowledge and judgement for surveyors
• Why AVMs and AI tools cannot replace on site inspection and accountability
• How client search behaviour is changing, including people asking AI tools to find surveyors
• A practical explanation of the RICS standard on responsible use of AI and “material impact”
• Why responsibility stays with the surveyor, even when AI shapes the work
• How smaller firms and practitioners can use AI as a strategic partner, not a replacement
• Details of my live AI training session with Nick Crawford, and what we will cover

Useful links

• AI Explained: A Practical Session for Surveyors and Professionals - book here
  
  
• RICS: Responsible use of artificial intelligence in surveying practice
• Nina’s LinkedIn AI and surveying newsletter

If you want to connect with surveyors across the UK and keep up with the profession, join The Surveying Room. It is free to join and open to all types of surveyors, students, and professionals who work with them. Surveyors UK & The Surveying Room

Connect with me - Nina Young on LinkedIn