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Summary
Victoria Collins joins me to share her journey from working in a bronze foundry to becoming a chartered building surveyor at Ridge & Partners.

We talk about changing careers, studying later in life, and what it really takes to qualify in surveying. Victoria also shares her passion for historic buildings and her current path into building conservation.

This is a brilliant example of how varied the routes into surveying can be.

What We Cover

• From fine art to surveying
• Working in a bronze foundry
• Health challenges and career decisions
• Studying a master’s alongside work
• Passing the APC and becoming chartered
• Day to day life in commercial building surveying
• Project work and site experience
• Moving into building conservation
• Apprenticeships and supporting new entrants
• The importance of problem solving in surveying

Guest Links

Victoria Collins - linkedin.com/in/victoria-collins-670719195

Useful Links

Ridge and Partners LLP - https://ridge.co.uk/

Guest Bio
Victoria Collins is a chartered building surveyor at Ridge & Partners with a growing specialism in building conservation. She began her career in a fine art bronze foundry, working on large scale sculptures for internationally recognised artists. After eight years in the industry, she retrained in building surveying, completing a master’s degree while working and going on to achieve chartership through the RICS. Vicki is now undertaking a further master’s in historic conservation and is working towards professional accreditation in the field, combining her hands-on background with a passion for historic buildings.

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

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Summary
David Coplin-Chard, a founder & director of Landview Surveyors, joins me to share his journey from estate agency into residential surveying. We talk about branding, communication, and why soft skills are just as important as technical knowledge.

A practical and honest conversation about building a business, standing out, and improving the home buying experience.

What We Cover

• Moving into surveying from estate agency
• Soft skills and communication in surveying
• Managing difficult situations on site
• Survey timing and the buying process
• Building a brand in surveying
• The importance of reviews
• Social media for surveyors
• AI and the future of surveying
• Career advice for new surveyors

Guest Links:

David Coplin-Chard - linkedin.com/in/david-coplin-chard-827599203

Useful Links:

Landview Surveyors- landviewsurveyors.co.uk

Guest Bio
David Coplin-Chard is a founder & director of Landview Surveyors. He is a residential surveyor and business owner with a background in estate agency. He transitioned into surveying through the Sava route and has since built a growing brand in the residential surveying space. Known for his strong communication skills and presence on social media, David focuses on improving client experience, modernising how surveyors present themselves, and building a recognisable brand in a traditionally low-visibility profession.

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

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Summary
I’m joined by Tim Clarke, Managing Director of Harrison Clark, to talk all things dilapidations. We break down what they are, why they matter, and how surveyors help both landlords and tenants navigate risk.

This is a practical and honest conversation about commercial surveying, lease liability, and the real impact of good advice.

What we cover

• Tim’s journey into surveying
• Public vs private sector experience
• What dilapidations mean in practice
• Why landlords protect asset value
• How claims are assessed and negotiated
• Lease wording and risk exposure
• Schedules of condition explained
• Tenant and landlord strategies
• Real examples from practice
• The human side of surveying

Guest Links

Tim Clarke – linkedin.com/in/tim-clarke-bsc-hons-msc-mba-mrics-cmgr-fcmi-88064432

Useful Links

Harrison Clarke - harrisonclarke.co.uk

Guest Bio
Tim Clarke is the Managing Director of Harrison Clark, a chartered surveying firm specialising in commercial property advice, including dilapidations, technical due diligence, and lease consultancy. With experience across both public and private sectors, Tim has built a reputation for practical, clear advice and a strong understanding of property risk. He is also passionate about making surveying knowledge more accessible through education, content, and industry engagement.

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