EC Harris staff gain chance to work on humanitarian projects

Consultant EC Harris has signed a partnership with the RICS Disaster Management Commission to give its staff the opportunity to provide pro bono consultancy expertise on disaster management projects in developing countries. 

The commission, together with the RICS BuildAction initiative, enables built environment professionals to participate in disaster management projects implemented by non-governmental humanitarian, development organisations and multilateral agencies - the UN or local government bodies - in developing nations.

’Partnerships such as this provide much needed professional expertise to local communities, and also provide excellent opportunities for our staff to develop professionally and enjoy a more rounded and diverse career path, Matt bennion

This work is undertaken with support from leading members of RICS, who contribute international reach, thought leadership and wide-ranging professional skills.

Matt Bennion, chief operating officer at EC Harris, said: “RICS BuildAction provides an excellent service to developing countries, and we are very pleased to support them in their work.

“Partnerships such as this provide much needed professional expertise to local communities, and also provide excellent opportunities for our staff to develop professionally and enjoy a more rounded and diverse career path.”

The collaboration is part of the EC Harris flexible working scheme, which allows staff to take unpaid, or part paid, sabbaticals in order to support local communities by using their existing professional expertise, while also accelerating their personal development through learning new skills and broadening their experiences.    

David Tuffin, chairman of the RICS Disaster Management Commission, said: “[This] provides an avenue for surveyors and other built environment professionals to apply their professional skills to strengthen the capacity of vulnerable communities to reduce disaster risks and ensure more effective post-disaster reconstruction and recovery.

“The partnership with EC Harris will provide an enormous benefit to our work with the international humanitarian and development community given the widespread need for built environment professionals’ expertise to assist with disaster management projects.”