EDITOR’S COMMENT I’ve been hanging out with our latest clutch of Rising Stars this week – who will be revealed in our 2 September issue – and, as usual, have been lifted up by the interaction.
Here are a collection of under 35-year-olds who are passionate, smart and invested in making sure that the built environment is recognised as the powerful tool for change it is.
One of the conversations that got me thinking most was about the RICS. There seems to be stark difference in opinion over the RICS between the next generation and the older, or more established, generation.
While the older generation seems frustrated and almost angry about what is going on at the RICS today, the next generation seems full of hope and, dare I say it, is more understanding of some of the challenges the RICS is currently dealing with.
Writing for EG this week, vocal critic Anthony Walker, a former RICS UK & Ireland board member, is firmly in the frustrated camp. He wants more information about what led to the recent mass walkout of the RICS standards and regulation board. And in his piece he questions whether self-regulation is still appropriate at the RICS. He is keen to point out that he has never had a negative experience with RICS regulation, but he does think it needs open debate.
The younger people I’ve spoken with seem less concerned. Is that because they don’t care? I doubt that. If we know anything about the next generation it is that it really does care passionately about things.
But perhaps there is a generational difference at play here, in that the next generation of real estate professionals want to see the RICS standing up for equity, diversity and inclusion, for sustainability and social value. Yes, they understand the importance of regulation and the rules that are needed to ensure that professionals in the built environment deliver places and spaces that are safe, secure and to “standard”, but perhaps there’s more trust from them in the RICS doing that and no requirement for them to be involved in every single decision.
I find it a really fascinating delta. I talk to so many people in this sector. The great and the good, who have been there, done that, survived the ups and downs. And, more and more, I’m engaging with the next set of real estate’s “great and good”: the Rising Stars, the Future Leaders, the apprentices and graduates I’m fortunate enough to spend some time with. Both sets largely want the same thing. They want real estate to be recognised as a professional, legitimate, and powerfully good industry. They just have different approaches.
So what’s the solution? The older guard seemingly wants all the dirty laundry in the RICS aired and a whole new approach to how it is operated put to the vote. The younger guard wants to give it space to work through the various reviews and come up with a new and improved way forward.
There has to be a compromise somewhere in there. Here at EG we are big supporters of the RICS. We believe in it. We believe in the need for it and the great influence it can and should have on and for the industry. But we have also felt the closed off-ness of the RICS, a touch of hostility and the “we don’t want to talk about that now” attitude. And when that happens, it is hard not to find yourself in the slightly grumpy, frustrated camp with certain members of the older guard.
I know the RICS is keen for the “bad press” to die down before it engages, but, here’s a free tip, the best way to get rid of bad press is to engage and do so authentically and humbly.
We’ve asked it to do that and to join an “ask me anything”-type debate with past, present and future members. So far, it’s not biting, but I really hope that one day soon it will. I hope that because I don’t want to be frustrated and grumbly on behalf of the sector, I want to be filled with hope and a positive vision for the future, just like our Rising Stars.
To send feedback, e-mail samantha.mcclary@eg.co.uk or tweet @samanthamcclary or @EGPropertyNews
