Kingston’s Got (Surveying) Talent!
Kingston graduate Ben Hodge (BSc Hons Property Planning and Development) has been named the winner of this year’s Kingston’s Got Talent, an awards event run by FADA’s School of Surveying and Planning and sponsored by the RICS’s Local Association.
The annual event brings together one graduate from each of the School’s undergraduate courses to compete for a cash award from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). To win, graduates must impress a panel of judges made up of industry professionals, RICS board personnel and Kingston academic staff with a short presentation.
Nominees talk about what makes a good surveyor and why they have what it takes to make it in the industry, before fielding questions from judges, current students, local employers and academic staff. This year’s presentations ranged from the importance of an entrepreneurial spirit to the need for determination and enthusiasm to succeed in the surveying industry.
In his winning presentation, Ben talked about the importance of duty of care and advised current students not to give up: “The market for jobs is tough, but with perseverance and self belief the best results can be achieved by anyone; hard work does not go unnoticed by employers. Make the most of social events, it’s important not to understate their importance – that’s where you will meet partners and potential colleagues in their most relaxed environment.”
Head of School, Professor Sarah Sayce said “ as we have come to expect all the finalists gave an excellent account of themselves and showed that they had talent not just technically but they understood the need for integrity and a strong work ethic- as well as highly developed inter-personal skills. I know they will continue as now to be great ambassadors for both the School and the University.”
Kingston’s Got Talent will return in 2012. If you’re interested in finding out more about this initiative, please contact h.boyes@kingston.ac.uk.
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