Combined Mandatory

Competency Masterclass
Tim Jones FRICS
Chartered Building Surveyor
Web Class Outcomes

By the end of the Web Class you will be able to:

► Complete the templates for the above competencies with the right level of
detail
► Understand the types of questions you may be asked at Final Assessment
► Identify how best to respond to the assessor’s questions
► Present relevant experience to support your answers
► Avoid common mistakes and pitfalls
 Agenda

Definition of competency levels 1, 2 and 3

Demonstrating business skills within mandatory
competencies through experience
What assessors look for in case studies,
presentation and interview

Good and bad examples

Typical interview questions and responses
Top tips and common pitfalls
Introductions

Tim Jones FRICS, MBA, B.Sc

➢ Chartered Building Surveyor
➢ RICS PM Trainer and APC Assessor (PM, BS, MC, CP, Rural, A&A, FM, BI and P&D)
➢ 30+ years in Public Sector, Construction & Project Management
➢ Director Atherstone St. James Ltd – Building Surveying Company
➢ Past Chair RICS QS & Construction Professional Group (West Midlands)
➢ Past RICS PM Global Board Member
➢ RICS Accredited Civil Commercial Mediator
➢ RICS Registered Valuer
Before we start - contacting me during the class

You can respond to me by:

1. Clicking ‘hands up’, smiley face or tick/cross.

(Please try that now)

2. Typing into the text box.

(You can try that later during the questions)

3. Voting Poll answers

(Let’s try now…)
Before we start - a bit about you

➢ What pathway have you chosen?

➢ What are you most concerned about in demonstrating your

competence in
o Accounting principles and procedures
o Business Planning
o Data management
o Health & Safety
Introduction to competence
demonstration
Why do you need to
demonstrate competence in
your APC?

What is the purpose?

What are we testing / proving?

Part 1
 Defining the levels

Level 1 - KNOWING

Level 2 - DOING

Level 3 - ADVISING
Where and when in the
APC do you demonstrate
competence?

Part 1
Assessment criteria

➢ Confidence

➢ Professionalism

➢ Attention to detail

➢ Analytical approach

➢ Knowledge

Part 1
 Defining the levels

Level 1 – KNOWLEDGE
We will go through each competency in
order explaining how you indicate that you
have gained the relevant knowledge
 Level 1 – KNOWLEDGE

Books
Web-site research
Seminars / Masterclasses
Courses
Observation at work
Company financial accounts
Voluntary work accounts
Even hobbies / clubs / sports teams etc
Demonstrating competence in your
case study
Overview

Use the Show that you

understand the
document to Show good financial
Client’s Business
knowledge (Accounts)
tell the panel Objectives
(Business Plan)
what you
know and
Show that you
about your have used Data Show knowledge
correctly of H&S
Knowledge & requirements
(Data
Experience Management) (H&S)

Show that you have

complied with relevant
H&S legislation or
procedures.
(H&S)

Part 2
Top tips
Show that you use a range of documents to
manage your project including:

➢ Client Brief/Business Plan

➢ Financial Analysis

➢ Mention Relevant legislation

➢ Confidentiality Statement

➢ Photographs

Part 2
Final assessment questions – practice
examples & demonstrating
competency in your summary of
experience
Accounting principles and procedures

What are RICS expecting?

That you should demonstrate knowledge and

understanding of:

➢ Accounting concepts
➢ The format and preparation of management and
company accounts
➢ Profit and loss statements
➢ Cash flow statements
➢ Balance sheets
Accounting principles and procedures

Some example
questions
Accounting principles and procedures

Question

➢ Why is knowledge of accounting

principles important for chartered
surveyors?
Accounting principles and procedures

An answer

➢ To be able understand the financial health of a

project to protect the Client’s Interests.

➢ To able to understand the financial health of your

company or organisation so that you can
manage it effectively.

➢ To understand your own financial health

Accounting principles and procedures

In your summary of experience you should

indicate that you have read your
company’s/organisation’s/other body’s
accounts and in particular:

➢ management and company accounts

➢ profit and loss statements
➢ cash flow statements
➢ balance sheets
Accounting principles and procedures

More example
questions
Accounting principles and procedures

Question:
What is the difference between Management
Accounts and Company Accounts?
Accounting principles and procedures

Possible answer:
➢ Management accounting provides information to
people within an organisation or for a project -
Confidential.

➢ Company accounts are a legal requirement in

most countries and provide information for
people outside the company – Public.
Accounting principles and procedures

Question:
What is a profit and loss statement?
Accounting principles and procedures

Possible answer:
➢ “A statement that shows
income and expenditure
for a project or company
to show what profit or loss
is being made.”
Accounting principles and procedures

Question:
What is a cash flow statement?
Accounting principles and procedures

Possible answer:
➢ “Essentially, the cash flow
statement is concerned with
the flow of cash in and cash
out of the Business or
project.

As an analytical tool, the

statement of cash flows is
useful in determining the
short-term viability of a
company or project,
particularly.”
Accounting principles and procedures

Question:
What is a balance sheet?
Accounting principles and procedures
Possible answer:
➢ “a statement of the assets,
liabilities, and capital of a
business or other organisation
at a particular point in time,
detailing the balance of income
and expenditure over the
preceding period.

This gives an idea as to what the

company owns and owes.

They may also include

shareholders investments as
well.”
Business planning

What does RICS expect?

That you can Demonstrate knowledge and
understanding of how business planning
activities contribute to the achievement of
corporate objectives
Business planning

Question:
What are the key components of a business
plan?
Business planning

Two answers:

The HSBC Guide: Business Mentoring Scheme:

➢ Objectives
➢Summary ➢ Pricing Strategy
➢Business overview
➢Business strategy ➢ Staffing
➢Marketing ➢ Competition
➢Team and management ➢ Market Research
structure ➢ Contingency Planning
➢Financial budgets and ➢ Financials
forecasts
➢ Legals
Business planning

Question:
In relation to business planning for your
service unit what would be the objectives of
your own organisation?
Business planning

Possible answer:
➢Mission Statement
➢More Clients
➢Higher Fees
➢More Tenders Won
➢Better Client Retention
➢Less Costs
➢Survival
➢Balanced Scorecards
Business planning

Question:
What would you expect to find in a sales
and marketing plan?
Business planning

Possible answer:
➢Sales projections
➢Competitor Analysis
➢Market Analysis
➢Price (Fee) Analysis
➢New Markets?
➢Customer analysis
➢Option Appraisals (SWOT, PESTLE)
Business planning

Question:
What do SWOT and PESTLE stand for?
Business planning

Strengths Weaknesses
• Your company’s • Areas that you are
strengths, USPs weak on as a business
unit – Can be a driver
for change or recognise
that you are not
interested in pursuing
that market, staff
turnover, fee income
levels, market share

Opportunities Threat
• Areas for growth, areas • Competitors moving
where your competitors into your market place,
are weak legislation etc.
Business planning
Political – Internal politics, the political landscape that you operate in and
general political environment that may affect the way that you do business
P and market yourselves

Economic – Your pricing strategy through to the national/international

perspective and how it affects your company
E
Social – CSR, HR, the types of projects that you work on and any social
implications
S
Technical – This can range from CPD & skills of the workforce, IT,
Property, transport, types of projects that you work on etc.

T
Legal – The legal implications of what you do as a company – H&S,
Insurance, Bribery Act, Contracts etc.
L
Environmental – Sustainability, Carbon footprint, ecology, implications for
you as a company and your clients
E
Business planning

SWOT and PESTLE and other

analyses provide you with
information for you to make
informed decisions and apply
Risk & Sensitivity Analysis to
those decisions.
Business planning
Summary
A business plan comprises a:

Goal

Way Reality
Forward Check

Options
Data management

RICS expects you to demonstrate

knowledge and understanding of the
sources of information and data, and of
the systems applicable to your area of
practice, including the methodologies
and techniques most appropriate to
collect, collate and store data.”
Data management

Question:

➢ Why is Data Management important in

the your area of practice?
Data management

Some answer points:

c
➢ Financial management
➢ Forecasting Data
➢ CRM
➢ Statistical Analysis management
➢ Report Writing
➢ Tendering Success is what
➢ Fee pricing
➢ Organisational Management
Surveyors do!
➢ Legal implications
➢ Planning
➢ CPD
➢ Research
Data management

Question:

➢ Where do you get information or data

from in your area of practice?

➢ How do you use that data?

Data management

Some answer points:

c
➢ GDPR There are 1000’s
➢ Price books
➢ Tenders of sources.
➢ Property sales records
➢ Companies House
➢ Land registry Make sure that
➢ Electoral Register
➢ Government departments you know the
➢ Membership records ones that are
➢ Internet
➢ CRM (ACT) applicable to
➢ Data collection companies
you and that
you can use it!
Data management

Question:

➢ What systems are there available for the

management of information or data in
your area of practice?
Data management
Examples of systems to Examples of data
collect data: management systems
c ➢ c
➢ Clip-boards ➢ Software
➢ Hand-helds ➢ Excel
➢ Cameras ➢ Sage ACT
➢ Lap-tops ➢ Databases
➢ Census forms ➢ Outlook
➢ Surveys (on-line) ➢ Hard
➢ Mapping (OS) ➢ Data storage facilities
➢ Lasers ➢ Property records
➢ Satellites ➢ Banks
➢ Infra red surveys ➢ Books
➢ Libraries
Data management

Question:

➢ Why is data management important in a

legal sense?

➢ How is GDPR affecting your

role/company?
Data management

Legal / contractual / Data Protection Act

➢ c
professional issues ➢ Used fairly and lawfully
c
➢ FOI Act ➢ Used for limited, specifically
➢ Data Protection Act (8 Principles) stated purposes
➢ GDPR ➢ Used in a way that is adequate,
➢ Storage time frames of legal relevant and not excessive
documentation ➢ Accurate
▪ 6 years for VAT ➢ Kept for no longer than is
▪ Various time frames from 3 absolutely necessary
to 15 years ➢ Handled according to people’s
➢ RICS CPD requirements? data protection rights
➢ Kept safe and secure
➢ Not transferred outside the
European Economic Area without
adequate protection
Data management

GDPR

➢ rights for people to access the information companies

hold about them

➢ obligations for better data management for businesses

eg obtaining consent of individuals

➢ Information Commissioner

➢ a new regime of fines

Data management

Keeping up to date with the

RICS Guidance

➢ Black Book
➢ Red Book
➢ Conflict etc
➢ IPMS
➢ ICMS
➢ ILMS
➢ IES
Health & Safety

Question:

➢ Why is knowledge of Health & Safety

important for a Chartered Surveyor?
Health & Safety

Possible answers:
➢ To protect the Client’s Interests
➢ To protect yourself physically
➢ To protect yourself mentally
➢ To protect people who work for you
➢ To protect people who work on your projects
➢ To protect the general public (duty of care)
➢ To protect your companies interests (avoid being
sued)
 Health & safety

What does the RICS expect of you??

Level 1? “Level 2?

Demonstrate knowledge and Provide evidence of practical

understanding of the principles
and responsibilities imposed by
law, codes of practice and
other regulations appropriate to
your area of practice.
application of health and safety issues
and the requirements for compliance, in
your area of practice.”
 Health & safety

Knowledge

Surveying Safely

HSE - http://www.hse.gov.uk/

Your own countries H&S Laws

 Health & safety

Legislation

H&S at Work Act 1974

CDM Regulations 2015
Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health
Electric/Gas Regulations
RIDDOR
Personal Protective Equipment at Work
Work at Height Regulations
Legionnaires Disease
 Health & safety

Common Questions

What is the RICS H&S guide called?

What are the key client responsibilities under CDM Regulations?
What are the duties of a Principle Designer/Contractor etc in CDM
What are the dates that Asbestos was banned in the UK?
What are the three types of asbestos?
What are the two types of asbestos survey?
What are the health risks associated with Giant Hogweed?
What is your company’s lone working policy?
What is legionella?
 Health & safety

RICS Guidance
Surveying Safely, 2nd edition
► Personal and corporate responsibility for
property professionals
► Legal considerations and duties
► Assessing hazards and risks
► Property professionals’ places of work
► Occupational health
► Visiting premises and sites
► Procurement and management of
contractors and construction work
Questions and
answers

Start typing your

questions!
Key review points

➢ Make sure that you know your own company

procedures in all the mandatory competencies
➢ Try to show a diverse range of Level 1 knowledge
in your summary of experience
➢ Make sure that any photos or text doesn’t breach
H&S legislation
➢ QS Pathway Guide

Part 6
Further sources of support
➢ RICS Support:
➢ Mentors, RTA Surgeries, APC Team

➢ RICS Guidance Documents – WWW.RICS.Org/Knowledge

➢ RICS Regulatory Documents – http://www.rics.org/uk/regulation1/firm-

and-individual-guidance

➢ Pathway guides (QS)

➢ Training (e.g. web classes for case study, summary of exp. and
final assessment interview and presentation)

➢ APC forum on LinkedIn

➢ Isurv
➢ Companies House
➢ HSBC Bank – Business Website
➢ www.businessballs.com Part 6
 Questions and
answers

Thanks for
attending!

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