Question Time: James Thompson

Tue 22 September 2020

Meet James Thompson, Associate Rural Chartered Surveyor at youngsRPS. Here, James lets you get to know him, and the work he does, a little better.

Firstly, tell us about your role, how you got there and what you specialise in…
I am an Associate Chartered Surveyor mainly working throughout County Durham and North Yorkshire. 2020 marks my thirteenth year with the company since graduating from Newcastle University in 2007. I was initially based in the Hexham office and I also worked for a period of time in Alnwick before being permanently based between Sedgefield and Northallerton. I undertake a range of rural services including land and farm sales, valuations, grants and subsidies, farm business appraisals and budgeting, utility and compensation work, together with the promotion and sale of land for residential development.

How would you describe what a Rural Chartered Surveyor does in one sentence?
Anything involving land and property outside of a town or a city.

What does a normal day look like to you?
No two days are the same and the Covid 19 pandemic has only increased the variation of a standard working day with the increased flexibility of home/on farm working. Being a partner in the family farm business already provided variation as you could be lambing a sheep before heading off to work or appointments. Extremes in a typical working day could include meeting a solicitor/house builder in a city centre office, followed by an on-farm utility crop loss inspection. Being prepared for anything is the key by ensuring that a pair of wellies and a waterproof coat are always in the car!

How do you work with the other departments within YoungsRPS on a day to day basis?
Communication is the key which enables each team member to fully understand each other’s role. The growth and expansion of youngsRPS in recent years has evolved the company into a one stop shop for all property needs, which historically was centred around its rural roots. I believe it is in the clients’ interest to highlight potential opportunities that you, or the firm, may be able to assist them with.

What advice would you give someone looking to come into the industry?
Coming from a farming background automatically gives you an advantage and appreciation of the issues which can affect farm businesses and rural property. It would be my advice that training within a small to medium sized regional firm brings with it a breadth of experience, allowing you to obtain your RICS and CAAV qualifications without being pigeonholed into a specific department. youngsRPS has an excellent track record of their graduates achieving their RICS and CAAV qualifications on first sitting!