I have been following with interest the debate in your magazine regarding the RICS, and after the latest issue (6 February) have been tempted to chip in regarding the institution and what it represents.
  • The RICS magazine, rebranded as RICS Business, provides no information of benefit to me as a QS, seeming to be more aimed at estate agents, rural practice and managers. The CQS magazine, as it used to be, was informative and educational, providing plenty of source information for practitioners and trainees.

  • The RICS appears to be promoting itself as an elitist organisation, requiring of QSs high levels of achievement at A level prior to entry to university. It also seems to suggest that QSs should be managers, without taking on board all the attributes of a good manager. The only way, in my view, to achieve this is by having served the apprenticeship of doing the job.

  • The organisation does not do anything for me other than provide me with a qualification. I do not support a lot of what the RICS stands for, I just have the letters after my name.

Postscript

David McClymont, FRICS, by email.