Construction graduates 'vital' to city growth
Wednesday 12 September 2018
CHARTERED surveyors trained at the University of Salford are “vital” to the quality of our cities, but more are needed, according to a conference of experts.
The University currently trains around 150 each year, including 30 on the new Accelerated Degree pathway, which allows students to complete the full degree programme in two calendar years.
Students are strongly supported by Salford’s links with the professional body, the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), which will oversee their final steps to chartered status.
Visiting the University (Wednesday, Sept 12) to attend our Building Our Future Conference were two of the Institute’s leading lights, Global President John Hughes and Victoria Hampson, Regional Director (North& Midlands).
Proud
Victoria said: “The Institute is proud of the quality of courses at Salford and the numbers that go onto the APC and ultimately into the industry, where they are very much needed.
“Accelerated Degrees are an exciting innovation where Salford has responded to the market shortage of trained professionals. Clearly,the quicker we can train people while maintaining standards, the better.”
John Hughes was honoured guest at the conference as he undertakes a world tour of key member institutions to mark RICS’s 150th anniversary. He joined Mayor of Salford, Paul Dennett and Julie Charge, Director of Finance at the University to host the mini-summit on how the property and construction sector is driving economic growth in Greater Manchester.
Fantastic place
Julie and Paul currently work closely on the £800m masterplan for the Peel Campus and surrounding area which - with the river, the museums, the Crescent, University and Cathedral area – is, the Mayor says, a fantastic place for a masterplan and the site of 2,500 new homes and new cultural attractions.
They were joined by professional surveyors, lawyers,contractors and architects from Morgan Sindall, Sheppard Robson, Faithful +Gould, the Casey Group, GMCA, Pro-Manchester and business groups, the Business Growth Hub and GM Chamber of Commerce to debate opportunities and obstacles to growth.
Greater Manchester’s construction sector has grown 31% in the first quarter of 2018 compared to a 6% drop in London but the boom requires greater collaboration, productivity and more skilled professionals, the group agreed.
-The conference was facilitated by Estates and supported by The School of the Built Environment and the University’s Public Affairs and Alumni & Development.
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