Bradley and Caroline, APC
Discover how our team members are achieving the RICS APC accreditation through mentoring and practical experience.
RICS APC Spotlight
The RICS Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) is a globally recognised process that ensures candidates meet the high standards of professionalism and competency required to become a Chartered Surveyor.
AT FFT, we have a dedicated internal APC support team of 10 experienced professionals who guide surveyors through every stage of the process.
Together, they support candidates with regular progress reviews, mock interviews, and preparation for final submissions. Surveyors meet with their Supervisor and Counsellor every three months to track progress, identify development areas and stay on course.
So far, the team have supported over 30 candidates to successful qualification as Chartered Surveyors.
We have asked two of our most recently qualified Chartered Surveyors, Bradley and Caroline to reflect on their journey and what advice they would give to others thinking of pursuing their APC.
Bradley Quick, Building Surveyor
“I joined FFT in 2020 as part of the Building Surveying Apprenticeship Scheme and graduated in 2024.
During my apprenticeship, I began my two-year APC journey and successfully became a Chartered Building Surveyor in May 2026.
FFT provided excellent support throughout my APC, with regular CPD sessions, structured guidance and an experienced APC supervisor and counsellor who mentored me throughout the 2 years. As I developed my competencies, I was assessed through competency sign-off sessions, where I was asked a series of questions to demonstrate my knowledge before each competency was approved. This structured approach ensured I fully understood each area before progressing. The competency sign-off process was also linked to FFT’s pay progression, providing a great incentive to continually develop my skills and experience.
As my final assessment approached, FFT organised two mock interviews that closely replicated the real APC assessment. The detailed feedback I received from these sessions significantly improved my confidence, refined my presentation and interview technique and ensured I was fully prepared for the final assessment.
FFT also has an extensive APC resource library dedicated to Building Surveying, along with a number of RICS Chartered Building Surveyors who are always willing to offer advice, guidance and support whenever needed.
Overall, FFT provided me with the knowledge, experience and confidence to pass my APC first time. Achieving Chartered status at the age of 23 made me one of the youngest Chartered Building Surveyors, something I am incredibly proud of and which would not have been possible without the support and opportunities provided by FFT.”
Caroline Ayres, Building Surveyor
“I completed my degree in Building Surveying as a mature student. Despite years of part-time study, the real education began when I started my first job in surveying at FFT. Everything was unfamiliar, from the terminology to the task at hand. I commenced the APC journey within the first year but felt nowhere near ready to face RICS and prove that I was professionally competent – I had a limited amount of experience and honestly felt professionally incompetent!
My colleagues supported me to gain the required knowledge and experience to become a competent building surveyor, that gave me the confidence to prepare my submission.
Whilst preparing my submission, my colleagues gave their time to read through my submission and devise practice questions.
In the run up to the interview, I received offers of mock interviews and Q&A sessions – not just within my team but from colleagues across the organisation.
From the business, I received study leave to adequately prepare myself for the APC interview, without having to worry about the pressures of work.
My advice to anyone is to start the process whether you feel competent or not, because FFT will support you every step of the way.”
Get in touch
Want to know more about how FFT supports you through your APC? We’d love to hear from you.