BUILT ENVIRONMENT JOURNAL

A late career move pays off

A late career changer explains his journey from semi-retirement to top performing building surveying student

Author:

  • Mike McGoldrick

15 October 2020

I have to admit that achieving a first-class degree in building surveying from Northumbria University at the age of 58 was not on my bucket list when I made the decision to take life a little easier. To secure three final-year prizes – including top performing student – and start a new career as a building surveyor with Eddisons in Newcastle along the way was even more unexpected, although nonetheless enormously satisfying.

Having spent more than 25 years as a finance and accounting professional, working for the Department for Education, Ministry of Defence (MOD) and latterly the Small Business Service, the time had come for me to hang up my calculator, file away my spreadsheets and pursue that elusive degree my parents told me to do 40 years ago. But, what should that degree focus on? It needed to be something sufficiently stimulating to sustain me through a three or four-year commitment but also quite distinct from anything I’d done before.

Different construction methods

Ever since my days as an accountant with MOD’s defence housing executive, where I helped to manage a portfolio of defence housing properties under a private finance initiative maintenance contract, I had been interested in what made buildings tick. Specifically, the use of different construction methods – for example, many MOD homes were post-war, prefabricated, steel-framed buildings. Why many buildings often fail – corrosion to concrete steel rebars and defective roofs were some of our biggest and costliest issues – and why achieving the right balance between reactive and planned maintenance is so important to cost management. I was also surprised by their flexibility and adaptability – my office at the time, for example, was actually a converted bedroom of a MOD bungalow, which came with its own en-suite shower room.

So, with the experience of a few personal property renovations behind me – and a proposal from my architect brother to collaborate on some small-scale, commercially-focused property redevelopments as a future retirement hobby – a building surveying degree, with its extensive and varied array of subject topics looked the best option. It seemed to provide a way to build on or, in most instances, correct the self-taught technical skills and knowledge I’d acquired through past renovation projects.

I was a little unnerved by the prospect of returning to learning after such a long time. Would the university take me seriously? Could I afford at my age to take on a debt of potentially £50,000 or more? Would I be able to work successfully alongside much younger students, particularly given the relatively high proportion of group work the course entailed? A brief telephone call with Minnie Fraser, one of the course tutors, allayed my concerns and when my application to the course was successful, I was as excited to start on my undergraduate journey as any school leaver.

An enjoyable and fulfilling degree

The next four years proved to be incredibly enjoyable and fulfilling. Being surrounded by young, enquiring minds full of ambition for their career journey ahead proved very motivating. That, coupled with my rather competitive nature, drove me to achieve far more than I had ever expected with my degree – undoubtedly helped by the substantial free time afforded by new semi-retirement. Just as importantly, though, working alongside such resolute individuals helped me to understand the hopes, fears and challenges they faced from a rapidly changing profession – in particular around sustainability, the role of new technology and the impact of globalisation.

That proved valuable when working for Eddisons, initially as a placement student and then as a graduate surveyor, where such issues were becoming increasingly relevant to clients. Eddisons valued my prior previous career experience and skills just as much as the technical knowledge I had gained from my surveying course. It meant that I was able to take on far more responsibility than normally afforded to graduate surveyors – benefiting both my own and the company’s development and providing a strong foundation towards achieving full RICS chartered status.

“Being surrounded by young, enquiring minds full of ambition for their career journey ahead proved very motivating”

A supportive employer

Eddisons’ support and commitment hasn’t stopped there. They have been highly supportive, for example, when I needed to care for my elderly parents. As well as agreeing a short sabbatical they were also happy to draw up a new bespoke employment contract that will now enable me to work remotely and flexibly around these new obligations. This enlightened attitude and commitment to employee welfare is, I believe, one of the key reasons why the company’s building surveying business has continued to grow from strength to strength this last year despite the significant economic challenges the industry has faced as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.

I’m aware that not every mature graduate’s experience will have been as positive as mine has been with Eddisons. Nevertheless, with a continuing skills shortage and ageing employee demographic, the surveying profession is increasingly seeing the value of widening the recruitment net. That can only lead to more and better opportunities for late career changers such as myself who bring with them significant experience, knowledge and transferable skills that, can quickly deliver a positive impact on company performance.

So, for anybody who is at that point in their life where they are looking for a new challenge with work that is both fascinating and fulfilling, I wholeheartedly recommend surveying as a career path. It was definitely the best thing I ever did and proves that you can, after all, teach an old dog new tricks.

mike.mcgoldrick@eddisons.com

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