Kate Beech, associate building surveyor, Davis Langdon LLP

My most memorable project: Youth Hostel Association (YHA) – Change Project

YHA is currently reviewing its hostel network to appeal to a wider market. The hostels are diverse and in beautiful locations but they are often spoilt by the quality of the accommodation. The Change Project will hopefully provide a consistent standard for all hostels. I’ve been involved for a year and have overall  responsibility for the management of the building surveying element of this project. The remedial and improvement works to the hostels will take place over the next three years. The tight timescales, the scale of the work and the uniqueness of the project and buildings, along with the chance to visit some of the most beautiful parts of the country, make this an exciting and rewarding project to work on. It has also brought its challenges: we had to create an electronic data capture system, as well as plan and undertake 149 hostel surveys in some of most isolated locations throughout England and Wales.

Tips to be a top building surveyor

To succeed as a building surveyor you need a good combination of skills, including all-round technical knowledge, literacy, interpersonal skills and flexibility. The key to career progression is having the commercial awareness necessary to understand clients’ needs and spot opportunities. Be passionate about what you do: your own personal drive and enthusiasm go a long way.