Relax work permit rules for QSs, RICS urges government

The RICS is to petition the government to relax the immigration laws for quantity surveyors. The institution is calling on the profession to back a campaign to get QSs on the Work Permits UK shortage occupations list.

Eight of the major practices have lent their support: Gardiner & Theobald, EC Harris, Cyril Sweett, Franklin + Andrews, Turner & Townsend, Faithful+Gould, Gleeds and AYH.

Recruitment agents Hays Property & Construction and Judd Farris are also on board. But the RICS said it wants more QSs firms and also some major contractors to add weight to the cause before it approaches the government.

Ed Badke, director for construction and the built environment at the RICS, is leading this latest initiative to tackle the shortage of QSs. He said he wanted to build up a case file of foreign QSs who had been working for UK firms and then forced to leave under the current Home Office rules.

It’s not like he’s trying to grab money off the state, we need him

Paul Rowland, Adair Associates

Badke said: “We have been approached by a couple of firms who were struggling to keep good people whose visas had expired. The QS profession should be added to the UK’s shortage occupations list.”

Following these initial approaches the RICS wrote to a number of companies and found the phenomenon was widespread. “People are getting half way through their training and having to go home,” said Badke.

Terri Setters, training and graduate recruitment manager at Gardiner & Theobald, said: “We had trained a girl for two years and then she had to return to Korea. We have had this happen a couple of times so we contacted the RICS about it. There is a shortage of QSs so we need these people.”

Badke said: “We want more people on board before we approach Work Permits UK (part of the Home Office). So we want to say to the industry, if you agree with us, contact us.”