Episodes
Wednesday Feb 22, 2023
Bricks & Mortar: The APC journey
Wednesday Feb 22, 2023
Wednesday Feb 22, 2023
On this week's episode of Bricks & Mortar, EG's Sarah Jackman speaks to Kate Taylor, lead trainer in the RICS APC Faculty and managing director of APC Taylormade, about how to achieve the best results from the APC journey.
They discuss choosing a pathway, the mechanics of the process and how candidates can achieve - and document - the experience they need to demonstrate to qualify.
Taylor imparts some excellent practical advice, making this episode a must-listen for anyone embarking - or currently thinking of embarking - on the process.
Monday Nov 23, 2020
Monday Nov 23, 2020
In this latest episode of Bricks & Mortar, EG’s professional & legal editor, Sarah Jackman, is joined by Jen Lemen - an RICS APC assessor and co-founder of Property Elite - for a look at RICS ethics and professional standards.
The RICS’s current guidance is contained in its Global Professional and Ethical Standards, Rules of Conduct for Members and Rules of Conduct for Firms. However, it is currently consulting members on a new Professional Statement – Statement of Ethical Principles and Rules of Conduct - which, if adopted, will come into force in June 2021.
What has motivated the proposed change? What is in the detail? And what do both members and APC candidates preparing for final assessment need to be aware of?
Tune in to get up to speed on the detail.
Friday Jun 26, 2020
Bricks & Mortar: APC and the transition to permanent online assessment
Friday Jun 26, 2020
Friday Jun 26, 2020
Following the implementation of the UK lockdown, the RICS acted swiftly to move its session 1 2020 APC assessments online. The experience has been judged a success and the RICS has confirmed that all of its APC assessments will now take place online.
To discuss the change, EG's Sarah Jackman is joined by the RICS's assessment support manager, Gill Quinn and Roy Albert, a lead valuer in the Wales & West Regional Valuation Unit at the Valuation Office Agency, who has recently completed the APC assessment online.
Roy reflects on the experience itself - of overcoming initial anxiety to later benefiting from the availability of the RICS's support mechanisms - and offers practical tips for those preparing for online assessment later in the year.
Gill explains the background to the changes, looks at how they've been received from both an assessor and candidate perspective and highlights the benefits to being assessed using this new format.
Tuesday May 12, 2020
Bricks & Mortar: APC study and assessment during lockdown – what’s different?
Tuesday May 12, 2020
Tuesday May 12, 2020
In this week’s episode of Bricks & Mortar, EG’s Sarah Jackman is joined (virtually) by Jen Lemen – co-founder of Property Elite – for a look at how APC candidates should proceed in the current climate.
With the RICS having temporarily moved its assessments online, there are positives to be drawn, including, says Lemen “the ability for candidates to control their assessment in terms of external variables. Things like the stress of being in an assessment centre; travelling and potentially needing to stay overnight; being able to manage nerves better and being in a familiar environment might give a lot of candidates a confidence boost.”
But what happens if a candidate doesn’t have good internet connectivity or a good home working environment in which to take the exam remotely? Lemen talks through the options for deferral, as well as giving advice to those who have been furloughed or made redundant part way through the process. She rounds off with her top tips for anyone currently preparing for APC assessment, including keeping in touch with established support networks, forming a remote study group and planning the all important outfit.
Tuesday Jul 30, 2019
Bricks & Mortar: Supporting candidates through the APC journey
Tuesday Jul 30, 2019
Tuesday Jul 30, 2019
Counsellors and supervisors have a critical role to play in supporting candidates through the APC process. That support can take many forms, from providing regular feedback on their work and testing them on their competency and ethics knowledge to recommending when they're ready for final assessment.
To explain how the relationship works on a practical level, the structured RICS guidance that governs it and who is best placed to assume the two roles, Rachel Saint - co-founder of Property Elite - joins Sarah Jackman in the EG studio for the latest episode of Bricks & Mortar.
Rachel draws on her extensive experience of providing training support to APC candidates and suggests how they can get the most out of the relationship to ensure that they pass the APC the first time around.
Tuesday Jul 09, 2019
Bricks & Mortar: How to adapt to an APC referral
Tuesday Jul 09, 2019
Tuesday Jul 09, 2019
APC assessment is often the culmination of several years hard work and intensive study. So it inevitably comes as a huge disappointment for a candidate to receive a referral.
Ralph Charlwood, DeLever APC expert coach, mock interview assessor, RICS chair and APC assessor tells Sarah Jackman why candidates might be referred, what they need to do to prepare for a resit and how, ultimately, they should aim to turn a negative experience into a positive.
As he reflects: "Those around you are likely to judge how you deal with it rather than the referral itself. Try and reframe this as an opportunity to demonstrate maturity and grow as a professional. In the years to come you will look back and see it - in the context of other challenges that you will have faced - as a minor setback and hopefully one that you successfully overcame."
Monday Feb 04, 2019
Bricks & Mortar: How to prepare a successful APC final submission
Monday Feb 04, 2019
Monday Feb 04, 2019
From writing to a precise word count, to demonstrating adequate knowledge of technical competency and hot topics, there's a lot to keep in mind when preparing a final written submission for APC.
Join EG for this latest episode of Bricks & Mortar with APC assessor Jen Lemen as she guides candidates through preparing the written submission and how best to present it at the final interview.
She begins with the basics of choosing a case study topic and progresses on to what the assessors are looking for when reviewing final submissions. She suggests ways that the candidate can best work with their counsellor throughout the process and ultimately ensure that they are prepared for the big day.
Thursday Aug 10, 2017
20 steps to APC success
Thursday Aug 10, 2017
Thursday Aug 10, 2017
APC chairman of assessors and industry expert Jon Lever shares his 20 top tips for APC candidates, taking them through from the very beginning of the process to successful completion.
Monday Feb 18, 2019
Monday Feb 18, 2019
EG rounds off its coverage of the APC final assessment with a look at the interview itself: what candidates can expect from the assessment centre; how they can best prepare for it; and what they need to demonstrate to ensure a pass.
RICS assessor, Jen Lemen, gives practical advice on all aspects of the hour-long session, ranging from dressing appropriately and creating a good first impression, to delivering a time-perfect presentation and demonstrating knowledge of hot topics.
For anyone struggling with nerves, she also has invaluable practical advice for helping to keep them at bay.