Since RICS last reviewed its strategy and business plan three years ago, COVID-19 has accelerated many ongoing structural shifts already shaping our profession and society. This change has resulted in altered market, member, and public expectations of RICS.

Having listened to views recently expressed by a wide range of members and stakeholders, RICS Governing Council believes that the time is right to review the key pillars of the RICS business plan.

Defining our Future is a strategic review which builds on existing work covering governance and engagement, and will inform how our elected Governing Council sets the future strategic direction for RICS.

Your views will be critical in helping to shape our evolving strategy.

About the review

We want to ensure that our strategy is built on a foundation of evidence and insight. Developed through collaboration and co-creation to meet the demands of our members and stakeholders, wherever you are and whatever area of surveying you practice in.

The review will assess the progress of existing strategic activities and aims to:

  • consider how best to maintain stakeholder and public trust in RICS and the profession
  • ensure RICS remains a sustainable professional body
  • investigate how the purpose and ambitions of RICS can be aligned to further reinforce its relevance to all its membership and relevant industry sectors.

See your contributions to Defining our Future in numbers here – thank you for helping Governing Council ensure RICS’ priorities are fit for the future

Evidence gathering

To undertake an effective review, it is important we hear from as many members and stakeholders as possible. For this reason, evidence gathering has taken place via a number of channels, and we thank everyone who has taken the time to share their views:

  • A formal consultation ran from 3 March to 9 April, gathering insight structured around eight key strategic themes. You can view the consultation papers and associated questions in the links below.
  • We held a series of virtual roundtables across 32 global regions to hear views from members and stakeholders. Discussion took place in an open forum under Chatham House rules, with elected members of Governing Council present at many sessions to take feedback directly.
  • General feedback was also invited via a dedicated email inbox.

These channels are now closed for input, but the Survey of the Profession remains open for views until April 18. Information gathered via the Survey will help inform the outcomes of the strategic review, and members can respond using information shared directly to them by our third-party research agency that is conducting the survey on our behalf.

If you have any questions about the review, please email review2021@rics.org

Download the consultation papers in another language

Next steps

  • After evidence gathering: Responses to the consultation, Survey of the Profession, and the mailbox will be analysed together with feedback from roundtables, and the findings reported to Governing Council.
  • May: Meeting of Governing Council, in which it will use all feedback to review its strategy and priorities for the future, and will publish a summary of the responses and explain how these have shaped its thinking.
  • November:The final directional outcomes alongside any revisions to RICS’ future business plan will be approved by Governing Council.