By Lily Taylor, Rural & Commercial Surveyor
This Route to Rural Week, we’re joining the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV) and partners across the industry to show school leavers, graduates and career changers that there really is a route into rural surveying for everyone.
You don’t need to come from a farming family or own a farm to build a successful career in the countryside. Rural surveying, property management, agricultural valuations, grant funding and estate management all offer real opportunities for people with an interest in land, property and agriculture.
At Howkins & Harrison, we offer placements, graduate roles and apprenticeships for aspiring rural surveyors. To mark Route to Rural Week, one of our rural surveyors shares their own route into the profession, the qualifications worth considering and practical advice for anyone looking to get started.
My route to rural: how I got into rural surveying
When I was studying for my A Levels, I wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to do as a career. A family friend suggested looking into surveying, and as I came from a rural background, I knew I wanted a career connected to the countryside.
I discovered the Harper Adams Experience, which gave me the chance to learn more about the Rural Enterprise and Land Management degree. The course combines rural business, property and land management, and is accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
After my A Levels, I joined Harper Adams University and spent a year on a work placement with a rural surveying firm. I really enjoyed it, and it confirmed that rural surveying was the path I wanted to follow.
I joined Howkins & Harrison as a graduate in 2022 and went on to complete my RICS and CAAV qualifications, becoming a fully qualified rural surveyor. Looking back, the practical experience I gained during my degree was invaluable. It showed me what the role really involves and gave me the confidence to pursue it.
Route 1: Degrees and degree apprenticeships
Having studied at Harper Adams myself, I’d naturally recommend its Rural Enterprise and Land Management or Rural Property and Real Estate courses. But several universities offer relevant courses in rural surveying, rural property and land management, including:
- Harper Adams University
- The Royal Agricultural University
- The University of Reading
- Oxford Brookes University
- Nottingham Trent University
When choosing a course, look at the modules on offer, the chances for work experience and whether the degree is accredited by the relevant professional body. A placement year is particularly valuable: it lets you put what you’ve learnt into practice and see the day-to-day work of a rural surveyor.
A traditional degree isn’t the only option. Harper Adams also offers degree apprenticeships, which combine academic study with practical workplace experience. Jake Lucas joined Howkins & Harrison through this pathway, proving that different routes can lead to the same rewarding career.
Starting your career at Howkins & Harrison
We offer work placements, graduate roles and apprenticeships for people looking to start a career in rural surveying. One of the biggest benefits of joining our team is the breadth of experience on offer, including:
- Rural property valuations: valuing agricultural land, farms and rural property.
- Tenancy matters: advising on agricultural tenancies and landlord and tenant issues.
- Rural sales and lettings: helping clients buy, sell and let rural property.
- Grant funding: supporting farmers and landowners to explore funding opportunities.
This variety gives our graduates and apprentices a broad understanding of the rural sector, rather than specialising too early. If you’d like to work directly with farmers and landowners, helping them manage their property and navigate the challenges facing rural businesses, rural surveying could be an excellent fit.
Becoming a trusted adviser: RICS and CAAV qualifications
The RICS and CAAV qualifications are two of the most highly regarded in rural surveying. Both show professional knowledge and competence, so clients can trust the advice they receive.
RICS: becoming a Chartered Surveyor
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors is a globally recognised professional body. To gain the designation MRICS, you generally follow the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC). You build relevant experience, document it, prepare submissions that can include a case study based on your own work, then sit a formal assessment with qualified assessors.
CAAV: agricultural valuation and rural practice
The Central Association of Agricultural Valuers is a specialist body for those working in agricultural valuation and rural property. Its qualification is highly respected in the sector, with practical, written and oral elements that test how you apply your knowledge to real-world scenarios. Successful candidates can use the designation FAAV, subject to the CAAV’s membership requirements.
These qualifications are about more than letters after your name. They show a commitment to professional standards and ongoing development, and reassure farmers, landowners and other clients that their surveyor can advise on important decisions about land, property and rural businesses.
Route 2: Changing career into rural surveying
Not everyone starts out on the rural route, and that’s fine. You don’t need to have grown up on a farm or studied agriculture to work in the rural sector.
If you already have a degree in another subject, a relevant postgraduate qualification, such as a rural master’s degree, can give you the specialist knowledge to enter the profession. Harper Adams University and the Royal Agricultural University both offer postgraduate options in rural property and land management. Depending on your qualifications and pathway, you may then be able to progress towards the RICS APC. Another option is to gain relevant work experience and explore a suitable professional qualification route.
If you’re considering a change, speak to universities and professional bodies about the routes open to you. Your existing skills may be more transferable than you think, particularly if you have a background in property, business, finance, land management or client-facing work.
Useful subjects at school
There’s no single combination of subjects that suits every route into rural surveying, but some give a useful foundation:
- Business studies: understanding rural businesses, financial decisions and commercial considerations.
- English: report writing, professional communication and advising clients.
- Mathematics: calculations, valuations, financial analysis and interpreting data.
- Sciences: analytical thinking, problem-solving and an understanding of the natural environment.
Strong communication, analytical and problem-solving skills matter just as much as subject knowledge. Entry requirements differ between universities and courses, so check what your preferred institution asks for before applying.
Route 3: Advice for school leavers
My biggest piece of advice: get work experience before committing to a university course, if you can.
I did work experience before university, and it helped confirm that I wanted to work in the rural sector. It gave me a better understanding of the industry and showed me how the subjects I was studying applied in a real working environment.
Try contacting local rural surveying firms, estate agents, land agents or agricultural businesses to ask about opportunities. Even a short placement can help you decide whether the profession is right for you and which areas interest you most. You can also attend university open days, talk to people already in the profession and research the different routes in, including degree apprenticeships.
Find your route to rural with Howkins & Harrison
Rural surveying lets you work with farmers, landowners and rural businesses on a wide range of property and land management matters. Whether you’re leaving school, graduating or considering a change of direction, there’s a route in for you.
Our placement, graduate and apprenticeship opportunities are a valuable starting point for building knowledge, gaining practical experience and developing a long-term career in the rural sector. Explore careers at Howkins & Harrison to find out more and take your first step on the route to rural.
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