Summary

In this episode I’m joined by commercial property surveyor and Property Elite co-founder Rachel Saint. We talk about APC pathways, the Senior Professional route, and why structured support matters so much for UK surveyors at every stage.

Rachel shares how she went from secretary to chartered surveyor, built a career in landlord and tenant and retail consultancy, and then pivoted into training surveyors across a huge range of pathways. We dig into the reality of the RICS APC, how to choose the right route for you, and what good mentoring and counselling actually looks like in practice.

What we cover

• Rachel’s unconventional route into surveying and early years in residential block management
• Moving into commercial property, retail consultancy and mixed use development
• Setting up Property Elite and the surge in demand for support during COVID
• How diverse the surveying profession really is, and why that makes APC complex
• Choosing the right APC pathway and competencies for your actual work
• The role and challenges of APC counsellors and supervisors
• Why structured support is harder in smaller or non-surveying organisations
• The three alternative RICS routes, including Senior Professional, and who they suit
• Senior Professional interviews, leadership and management-focused competencies
• Why valuation is both science and art, and why you still need to get out and see property
• Market myths about people “giving up” on APC, and why the picture is more nuanced
• Free resources and newsletters from Property Elite for APC candidates

Guest links

• Property Elite website: https://www.property-elite.co.uk/
• Rachel Saint on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-saint-1103b09/

Useful links

• LionHeart charity for surveyors: https://www.lionheart.org.uk/

Guest bio

Rachel Saint is a chartered commercial property surveyor with over 30 years of experience across landlord and tenant, retail agency, and retail and mixed use development. She started her career in residential block management before moving into commercial work, advising on shops, supermarkets and wider retail strategy. Rachel is the co-founder and owner of Property Elite, a specialist training and mentoring business that supports surveyors through RICS routes to qualification, including APC, Associate and Senior Professional routes. She now spends most of her time helping UK and international surveyors navigate pathways, competencies and assessments, and is particularly passionate about making the process accessible for candidates who do not have structured in-house support.

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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