Update from Justin Young, RICS CEO – February 2026

In my last update I mentioned our commitment to enhancing member value and experience. I’m pleased to share that our new RICS Member App, launched this month, is a key part of that journey, transforming the way members interact with us. The app was built for our global membership, with a solid foundation that enables us to keep improving it over time.

Teams across RICS, including regulation, digital delivery, experience, communications and markets, have worked tirelessly to bring this app to life, with capabilities that matter most to our members. These include streamlining the way you log your CPD, manage personal information and preferences, and access digital ID cards.

The app also supports our new CPD framework, which focuses learning on what's relevant to your career while embedding three mandatory topics, ethics, sustainability, and data, technology, and AI. These reflect our commitment to uphold the standards that protect public trust. Together, the app and the framework, give you a more flexible, meaningful approach to your professional development.

Beyond the immediate functionality, the app has been designed as an adaptable platform that will develop over time. This means we can deliver consistent, personalised experiences and extend our features to include event bookings, easier access to standards and stronger community connections. It is available to AssocRICS, MRICS, FRICS members and can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play. Our existing website to log your CPD has also been redesigned to be more intuitive and user-friendly. You can choose which channel suits you, however I would encourage you to try the app as I'm confident you'll find it genuinely saves time and enhances your RICS membership experience. A small number of countries have restrictions due to app store policies (e.g. Russia, China, Belarus, Iran), but if you're in one of these regions, you can still access the full CPD platform.

As we invest in better tools and experiences for our members, we are equally focused on transforming how people enter our profession. This includes making progress on our Entry and Assessment programme, which has now been expanded to create the Qualifications and Professional Development (QPD) transformations programme.

With a skills shortage in the profession presenting a real and pressing problem, attracting future surveyors is essential. It is RICS’ responsibility to do this while ensuring that new members hold the right skills, knowledge and behaviours.

Building on the recommendations from our Entry and Assessments review, we're currently focused on making improvements to the existing process. We're starting with the priority areas based on candidate feedback, which include enhancing how qualifications are delivered and streamlining pathways, before moving on to broader changes that will transform the entire assessment experience.

The scope of this programme is expanding beyond assessments alone. We’re now developing the end-to-end experience of gaining an RICS qualification, one that builds equity, trust, and consistency for members, employers, educators and the public. This isn't just about simplifying our entry process, it's about creating an ecosystem that seamlessly prepares surveying professionals for the future and positions RICS as the awarding organisation of choice worldwide. You will hear more about this from the team soon.

Alongside these changes, we are also collaborating with grassroots and charitable organisations through our 'Inspired to Hired' platform on RICS Recruit to increase awareness and access to the built and natural environment, improve social mobility, and establish a sustainable talent pipeline. This platform will evolve as we onboard more collaborative partners and expand outside of the UK, working with our market teams to establish partnerships in our global regions.

Our new Governing Council members embody this commitment to diversity and inclusion. They bring with them varied perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds, making our governance more robust as we navigate an evolving professional landscape. I had the opportunity to welcome them as they took position in our highest governing body last month, and I’m looking forward to working closely with them all to create a truly experience-led, world class RICS that serves our profession, protects the public interest, and drives real impact.