Leading Chartered Surveyor firm, Bruton Knowles, has stepped up its recruitment campaign across all areas of the business as it sets out the trajectory for achieving its 2022 growth ambitions.

The 200 strong firm wants to expand its workforce by 160 staff in what is set to be a landmark year as it celebrates its 160th anniversary.

2022 has already got off to a superb start, with a significant number of new business wins. Bruton Knowles’ client base has been rapidly expanding since the company bounced back from the shock of the first pandemic lockdown and following a hugely successful restructure.

This saw the establishment of four National Teams - Utilities and Infrastructure, Building Consultancy, Commercial and Valuation: each one focusing on core growth areas of the business.

Now, Bruton Knowles wants to revitalise its recruitment efforts to capitalise on the abundance of new projects. By bringing in new talent from across the sector, the firm aims to complement the existing high calibre workforce, ensuring the exacting standards of client requirements continue to be exceeded.

In the past six months alone, Bruton Knowles has seen its headcount grow by 20%, meaning it has already smashed its 2021-22 15% recruitment target. This was announced at the outset of the firm’s new financial year last August.

Since then, 40 new staff have joined the business, 34 of which sit within the National Teams. Utilities and Infrastructure is by far the fastest growing division, at 38%, with 15 additional hires coming on board.

Twelve have also now joined Valuation, four Building Consultancy and three Commercial. The remaining six new starters enrolled in corporate, rural, and planning roles.

This new cohort of Bruton Knowles’ employees have joined in positions, spanning all levels of the business, and at all stages of the career spectrum. They range from assistants to technicians, graduates to associates and senior surveyors, all bringing with them a wealth of professionalism and expertise.

HR Director, Neil Young, who spearheaded the design and delivery of Bruton Knowles’ recruitment programme in line with the overarching people strategy, explained: “Based on the current pattern of growth across Bruton Knowles’ work portfolio, our forecasts predict an upward recruitment trend. This is reflected in our HR plans and means staff numbers are now higher than they were at pre-pandemic levels.

“We continually review and adjust our recruitment targets to ensure our overall HR approach is strategically aligned with Bruton Knowles’ commercial objectives. Our intention is to grow our staff base even further during this milestone year whilst also empowering all employees to meet their full potential.”

Despite growing concerns about rising prices and workforce deficiencies, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors recently reported the UK construction sector continues to show resilience following the combined economic shocks of Brexit and the global Covid-19 pandemic.

Yet last Autumn, the Office for National Statistics reported that vacancies in the construction sector hit an all-time high since records began in 2001, with in excess of 40,000. The skills shortage across the industry continues to be well documented, so it comes as no surprise that quantity surveyors remain on the UK’s shortage occupation list.

Despite this, however, Bruton Knowles continues to buck the trend. By positioning itself as an innovator in both employment practices and workforce systems, it is leading the sector in the quest to modernise this time-honoured career.

Bruton Knowles is one of the best-known property consultancy brands in the UK. It continues to respond to recent market challenges and is led by a management team with an unwavering ambition to adapt working practices in order to attract the right talent.

As well as offering its staff full flexibility to be based remotely or at one of Bruton Knowles’ 10 UK offices, the roll out of new technology across the business has proved crucial. Smarter working practices have been embedded into the fabric of the organisation.

These are enabling slicker operational activity as well as the more streamlined delivery of tailored training and development opportunities, so individuals are fully supported in reaching their full potential. Career opportunities are there for the taking, with bespoke training programmes on offer to enhance the skills and capabilities of every employee.

Neil continued: “I would like to extend a very warm welcome to all our new starters who join Bruton Knowles at a pivotal time for the business. It is a tough recruitment market at present, but we believe our employment offer is second to none.

“Over the course of 2022, we want to maintain momentum by welcoming more new recruits and coaching all our staff along the way. Enabling them to realise their career aspirations whilst delivering the best possible advice to our clients is a priority for the business. We look forward to helping to shape the future surveying workforce as the profession moves into a new era of delivery.”   

Bruton Knowles offers a one-stop-shop for clients, with its four National Teams - Valuation, Commercial, Utilities & Infrastructure and Building Consultancy - providing a point of contact to deliver an entire project to the exacting standards required.

National Teams have been significant for Bruton Knowles’ business portfolio over the past year, and there are plans to launch more in due course. The firm’s employees are its most valuable asset.

All have extensive expertise and in-depth market knowledge of local and national property markets throughout the UK. Using its team of motivated resourceful surveyors, Bruton Knowles provides the very best commercial property advice. www.brutonknowles.co.uk.

All vacancy details can be found on the jobs page of Bruton Knowles’ website.