FOCUS INTERVIEW
fees are allocated across the Institution. They
intend to update this information annually,
adding further layers of detail as they go
forward.
Explains Murphy: “Now we have the
transparent break down of fees, which was
road tested on the group. I’m proud of the
fact we’ve got a break down of the fee. It may
prompt debate on how resources are allocated
but it’s there in black and white and over time
we can listen to the membership to determine
if the split is right. It’s a mature discussion.”
BROAD CHURCH
RICS has a huge influence and reach but one
of the drawbacks, according to Bichard’s
summary of responses is that members do not
feel engaged or supported in their professional
area of practice, and cite other professional
bodies of which they are members they felt
were better placed to provide specialist advice
and support. A similar complaint runs through
the regional membership with those based
in the UK complaining the drive for global
expansion had become too dominant, while
some members based outside the UK felt RICS
was too focused on the UK. The RICS says
Murphy is well aware of this conundrum.
42 APRIL 2022
“One of the advantages of having the
various regional board members is part
of their role is to take a temperature from
their boards on what they’re hearing from
their members. We approach membership
as a collective in this MEEV group, but
clearly those various pathways would want
the RICS to do more for them specifically,
as do the various regions.
“I’d argue the broad church is the thing
that makes RICS powerful, because we’re
all operating in the building asset lifecycle.
If you look at the global challenges, our
environmental agenda or the D&I agenda
they’re for everybody to contribute.
“Anyone who works within the built
environment needs to understand these
big issues. For instance, the IBOS standard
which was published recently covers areas
that we drive in FM and equally so, we’ve
also published ‘Responsible Business in
Real Estate’ which featured a lot of FM
practitioners who helped pull it together.
“Over time the voice of the various
pathways will have to be listened to in the
same way the geographic conundrum is
being consulted. Every member I’ve been
in touch with has the intention of helping
make RICS great again. No one’s looking
back – we’re being positive about the
future.”
COMMUNICATIONS AND FEEDBACK
MEEVs has already published an update
report on the RICS website to keep
membership informed on progress and
will carry out six-monthly checks on
engagement levels. They’re also looking at
the metrics, including how many members
are taking up the CPD o§ er, how many
people have looked at the breakdown of
fees and how many have visited the new
member value portal. This latter initiative
aims to bring together all aspects of the
membership value proposition in one
place.
Future digital plans include a digital
communities portal planned for the second
quarter of this year, to provide members
with event and communication ‘autonomy’
along with a member-to-member digital
community platform. According to Murphy,
the creation of a digital community will
o§ er much more opportunity for member
to member engagement, and the option to
start your own groups that include people
with common interests.
He says: “This removes RICS from
being the middle man in terms of GDPR
perspective, so once a member joins a
community they can communicate with
other members across the globe. For
instance, say you decide to set up a global
FM group and have members across the
world. As with all of these things it’ll
depend on members’ engagement but if
you do take part you’ve the option to reach
out to people wherever they may be.”
As Murphy comments: “Members are
interested in developing their careers,
getting value for money for their fee and
meeting like- minded practitioners, and
they want to learn and understand global
issues as well as local issues.”
Less exciting but no less important
priorities for the group are to explore
hygiene factors such as the e§ ectiveness of
the customer call centre, ways of increasing
member influence and looking at how to
rebuild professional groups - including how
they will be structured.
Interestingly, feedback so far shows that
most of the members also believe the
institution should ensure they sort out the
governance which is a key output of the
current Bichard Review.
“What I’m seeing now is people are
letting the organisation sort itself out
and would like in the meantime to see
output increase, but the RICS needs the
resources to do so. My sense though is that
people are happy to give the RICS space
to work through these issues and I feel
encouraged.”
FUTURE PLANS
The group is briefed to carry on analysing
and responding to membership feedback
for the rest of this year while the Institute
waits to hear the outcome of the wider
governance review.
However, Murphy’s personal opinion is
that having a member led group of this sort
which pulls together the constituent parts
of the RICS would benefit the institution in
the longer term.
He says: “We’re certainly here for the
implementation of the issues we’ve
outlined here and I think the ability to pull
together the governing council, the world
regional boards, the management team
and membership is a real positive.
“In the longer term the members need
a strong voice that can help make things
happen. I appreciate we’ve got a huge
responsibility to make the RICS work for
the next 150 years – and with my built
environment hat on, I want our younger
generation to become as professional
as possible, understand all these global
challenges and operate in a responsible
way.”
FURTHER INFORMATION
www.rics.org/uk/news-insight/latest-news/
news-opinion/rics-updates-for-memberexperience
value/
Every member I’ve been in touch with
has the intention of helping make
RICS great again. No one’s looking back –
we’re being positive about the future.”
/rics-updates-for-member-experience-value
