Update from Justin Young, RICS CEO – June 2026

More than most, the last month brought the worldwide influence of our membership into focus. From forging stronger skills pipelines to accelerating housing delivery, embracing new technologies and supporting regulatory reform, the breadth of where our members are having an impact continues to grow.

At UKREiiF last month, the UK's leading forum on real estate investment and infrastructure, the conversations had a sharper edge to them, and the willingness to work across traditional boundaries was more tangible than I've seen before. We brought together over a thousand guests at the RICS studio across fifteen sessions on housing, commercial property, investment, skills, technology and regulation, and what struck me most wasn't the scale but the quality of the dialogue: professionals, policymakers and industry leaders who are genuinely trying to find common ground.

I joined leaders from RIBA and MHCLG on day one and sat alongside colleagues from across the political spectrum throughout the week, including a private roundtable which RICS convened, and I chaired with the Minister for Building Safety and a panel with the Shadow Secretary of State. The key message, wherever the conversation went, was that we must have cohesion across the industry if we hope to deliver meaningful change, something I have stood by consistently.

Beyond the UK, the skills agenda has been equally active. In April, RICS President Nicholas Maclean FRICS visited Australia and New Zealand where he delivered the keynote at the RICS Australasian Commercial Management in Construction Conference to more than 550 attendees and officially launched the Addressing Skills Shortages in Australia Report. Developed through extensive consultation with members over multiple years, the report sets out the need for suitably qualified construction professionals to support Australia's housing and infrastructure goals. Alongside the conference, Nick met with Value New South Wales (NSW), Infrastructure NSW and New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour to explore how government, industry and the profession can work in closer partnership.

Meanwhile RICS professionals gathered for a roundtable in Delhi to explore solutions to bridge the skills gap in the built environment across India. This work is all integral to our ongoing skills programme, and our commitment to reducing talent shortages across the profession.

Your insight shapes local responses to a global problem. Next month we'll be launching our annual skills survey, your chance to shape this year's RICS Skills Report and ensure the profession's voice drives the policy and industry response.

Back in the UK, the government is building a new strategy for the professions, trades and occupations involved in the complete lifecycle of buildings and is seeking evidence to help it shape the future of regulation. This is a golden opportunity for RICS members to share their experiences and ideas about what needs to change to support safe, high quality, sustainable buildings and a trusted building system. We are developing a response to this consultation and your input is important. Please come and participate in one of our upcoming roundtables to share your experience and ideas about the barriers, opportunities and interdependencies shaping the way people work across the sector.

Finally, I’m pleased to share news of a further commitment by RICS to consumer protection. From July 2026, consumers will have access to an RICS funded Alternative Dispute Resolution provision for a year after a firm ceases to be regulated. This will increase the level of coverage for consumers going forward. Alongside this, RICS is creating a new member-led consumer panel that will monitor the consumer landscape and make recommendation to RICS’ Governing Council to better protect consumers. RICS will also use its wider role as a professional body working in the public interest to bring together organisations across the consumer protection landscape, including insurers and the Property Ombudsman, to explore how we can better align our work, reduce gaps in support, and improve outcomes for consumers. Read more about recent and new consumer protection improvements here.

This has been a month of connection, collaboration and real progress. I know I’m not alone in feeling energised by the scale of opportunity we’ve discussed, and the vision of a future built environment that we’ve shared. Whether through our skills survey next month or the upcoming roundtables on building safety regulation, your input is what keeps that momentum going.