Building an inclusive built environment, brick by brick

Meet Learie Gonsalves, Chartered Building Surveyor and one of the Directors at One Building Solution Ltd.

I started working in the industry in 1988 as a trainee Architect for a Housing Association and then progressed to work for Leicester City Council and Warwick District Council. While working there I obtained a degree in Building Surveying and became a Chartered member of RICS. I further progressed my career and worked as a Senior Building Surveyor at EC Harris Ltd (Arcadis), CBRE then lastly Pick Everard before setting up One Building Solution Ltd in November 2015.

What attracted you to building surveying as a career?

The career afforded me the opportunity to:

• develop a broad range of skills and competencies, while exposing you to new work that you could get involved with
• meet varying sectors and clients
• travel / work abroad and possibly re-locate
• continue the skills and qualification I obtained in architectural design and continue to deliver this as part of my business
• become a member of well known, established, industry and worldwide professional organisation
• set up my own business.

Why are you passionate about encouraging greater diversity into the profession?

RICS is a global brand working in diverse communities throughout the UK. Therefore, there needs to be a drive and better reflection of this in RICS and building consultancy generally. I have enjoyed and had a fantastic career in surveying and I believe that more people from diverse backgrounds should be encouraged to pursue a career in surveying.

In return, I believe there should be better representation in the industry at all levels as well as discovering talent amongst a group of potential surveyors that may have not considered surveying as a career without a prompt or some sort of guidance.

What difference can involvement with Reach Society make?

The Reach society can offer a platform for the RICS to exhibit at their career fairs / employability days where future talent maybe discovered. It will also give those attending a chance to possibly consider a career in surveying. The Reach Society may also provide direction, advise, links and possible partnership arrangements in reaching the diverse community.

Find out more about the Reach Society