RICS South West Regional Chair's update - Sept 2011

Local Association groups have been growing in number, size and stature. There is now a pot of money which has been set aside from which to secure funding for local and regional activities. This has already started with some really good networking events taking place. I would urge you to get in touch with your Local Association to find out more.

The new UK Executive Director, Mark Walley, has been working hard with Richard Moxon, the Chair of the UK World Regional Board, to ensure that RICS becomes ever more relevant to us all. Both will be coming to the second annual Regional Assembly which will this year be taking place shortly at Dartington Hall, Totnes. I would ask you to consider attending in order to learn more about what your Institution does for you on a day to day basis.

There will also be an opportunity to hear more about the Online Academy which is an excellent new way of delivering lifelong learning. Over 7,000 people are already signed up to use this service.

Local Enterprise Partnerships are beginning to make headway and at the time of writing nearly all areas in our region have now established an LEP. I will stick my neck out and suggest that by the time you read this all areas will have one. Property has a very significant part to play in the effective running of LEPs and it is imperative that Chartered Surveyors get involved where they can to offer advice and assistance.

One final plea - when you’re out and about, keep your eyes open for suitable projects to enter the RICS Awards. This has become highly popular with architects and other professions – we must do more to promote the wide and varied involvement of the surveyor. More information available on the RICS Awards pages.

James Gregory MRICS

South West Regional Chair

t +44 (0)1793 428 106

e jgregory@alderking.com