Real Estate Investor Magazine South Africa August 2015 | Page 56

ADVERTORIAL Professional Standards Have Never Been More Important BY TC CHETTY T here is a global emphasis on demanding – and recognising - professional standards across a broad range of spheres. ‘Best practices’ are not buzzwords; they have become an imperative in both the private and public sectors. This is evident in the built environment. With a property sector representing some 70% of global wealth; land, property and construction issues impact on everyone, at all levels. In a world where individuals, the business sector and government demand higher professional standards and ethics, in the built environment attaining RICS status is the recognised mark of property professionalism. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) is an independent professional body originally established in the UK by Royal Charter, that is consulted by governments worldwide for advice on the feasibility of legislation covering some of the biggest issues for business and society, such as climate change, housing provision, asset valuation and property investment vehicles. Global organisations such as The World Economic Forum, United Nations and World Bank look to RICS for advice and guidance on a wide range of topics including international guidelines for land tenure, disaster management and public-private partnerships. RICS members are active across the entire spectrum of land, construction and real estate activities. With offices in 27 cities around the world and over 100 000 qualified members in 146 countries, RICS is the world’s leading qualification when it comes to professional standards in land, property and construction. Since 1868, it has been committed to setting and upholding the highest standards of excellence and integrity, providing impartial, authoritative advice on key issues affecting businesses and society. Recognising the significant economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa and the huge potential and demand for expertise across the built environment, RICS has focused attention on this continent. We understand that Africa needs to invest unprecedented 54 AUGUST 2015 SA Real Estate Investor sums in infrastructure to meet the growing demand of its population and economy. This forms part of the rapid urbanisation taking place in Africa, with key cities expected to experience population growth of 60% compared to 2010 levels. Given these challenges, we are seeing increasing demand for expertise in all areas of the built environment and acknowledgement of the importance of the RICS’ qualification, training, services and standards. This qualification is recognised worldwide, thereby enabling members to work across markets. Our members are able to offer advice across the property spectrum, from inception and planning, through to valuation, project management, construction, and ongoing maintenance, and ultimately to management, renovation or replacement. There is growing interest in our arm’s-length “In the built environment attaining RICS status is the recognised mark of property professionalism.” regulatory model. Coupled with this, demand is growing for RICS’ dispute resolution service. We find that this combination of our ability to deliver and adopt effective monitoring helps increase market transparency and raises investor confidence in construction and infrastructure projects across the continent. Joining RICS not only provides a prestigious qualification, it also offers a genuine competitive advantage as it affirms that you work to the highest standard of excellence and integrity. For further information contact TC Chetty, RICS Country Manager for South Africa on [phone] or 083 264 3134 or email [email protected]. RESOURCES Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) www.reimag.co.za