Spotlight on Sadie Enoch: a Welsh hopeful in this year’s Matrics Surveyor Awards

Studying and working

Sadie splits her time between work and her studies, dedicating two days a week to her RICS-accredited Real Estate degree, and three days helping to provide specialist surveying advice to Health Boards across Trusts within Wales. As a Network 75 apprentice, she’ll complete her degree over five years while gaining vast professional experience, and without incurring any student debt.

Sadie, in fact, is somewhat of a guinea pig for the University of South Wales’ first RICS-accredited Real Estate course. ‘The course was established because there was a lack of young surveyors in Wales,’ she says, ‘but there wasn’t much awareness of it in its first year. Over the years it’s really developed. Because I’m the first person to do the course, I’ve been able involved in making sure that it stays RICS accredited. I sat in with the RICS accreditation board and talked about my experience of the course, and I often provide feedback if there are any issues, or I think that a module could align more with RICS APC competencies. Anything that could benefit students in the future.’

Inspiring future surveyors

Sadie is mentored by Sian Cornwell-Shaw MRICS, a senior property surveyor at NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership and an RICS STEM Inspire Ambassador. Sadie has picked up Sian’s passion for introducing young people to the opportunities of a career in surveying. ‘I talk to people about surveying at literally every opportunity,’ Sadie says. ‘I might be out on site, and somebody will ask me what I’m doing, and before I know it, I’ve convinced them that surveying is the best career option for their son or daughter, or other family member.

‘I’ve also been involved in a lot of career open days and RICS events,’ she continues. ‘I join Sian nearly every week at a different school or careers fair.’

Sian, who nominated Sadie for the Student of the Year award, sings Sadie’s praises for her commitment, capability and her passion for the profession. ‘It isn't an easy task to manage attending university, produce high level coursework and exceptional exam results, plus be passionate at inspiring the next generation by attending schools, colleges, universities, talks and careers fayres, speaking in front of pupils,’ she says. ‘Sadie does all of this, and with such ease.’

Making an impact

Sadie’s continuous work to introduce others to the world of surveyors is having a visible ripple effect through the communities she engages with, with five pupils from her former school applying for the Network 75 degree apprenticeship scheme on RICS-accredited courses this year. ‘I’m regularly in contact with teachers from my high school,’ Sadie says. ‘I let them know about events we’re doing, and any opportunities the students could benefit from.

‘When I was in school,’ she adds, ‘if you were a high achiever, you were encouraged towards Oxford or Cambridge to study a well-known subjects like geography. I don’t think there was much understanding of the opportunities of apprenticeships, or surveying as a profession. So, for five people to apply for my course is special. I didn’t have the conversation directly with all of those people, but I think I made an impact.’

Why surveying?

For Sadie, there is plenty to love about a career in surveying. ‘I love the attention to detail that’s needed in surveying,’ says Sadie. ‘That aspect of the job really suits me. And the fact everything is very process-driven, so you can follow it step by step until it ends. But I also love the variety. One day I could be on site doing land and property portfolio inspections, the next I might be in the office helping with lease summaries, and another day I could be on site doing a drone survey.’

Advice for the next generation of surveyors

As for advice for budding surveyors, Sadie says: ‘Try and arrange some work experience to build a relationship with a surveying company, and also to solidify your interest. I also really recommend having a presence on LinkedIn. When I leave a careers fair, often 10 students will connect with me on LinkedIn. They’re building their networks, and also showing how keen they are.’

For those starting out in their surveying careers, she says: ‘Get involved with Matrics. I was quite nervous to go to Matrics events at first, but everyone is so inviting and ready to get to know each other. LinkedIn will carry on being useful, too, helping you grow a professional network for yourself.’

That network is important to Sadie, who is the first in her family to go to university, but has noticed that lots of young surveyors have relatives in the profession. ‘Often people learn about surveying because they’ve grown up with a surveyor in the family, and it can be helpful for them to have those ready-made connections. But you can absolutely do it from scratch. I did my A levels. I knew that I liked geography. I liked art. I liked paying attention to detail and following processes. I went out and got some experience through Nuffield Summer School, where I was able to use different equipment and gain a better understanding of what a surveyor does. That solidified for me that I wanted to join the profession. And now I have a really strong network that I built myself – often through getting out there and telling others why they should consider a career in surveying.’

Find out more about Matrics, and the RICS Matrics Surveyor Awards 2026.