RICS to Close Most UK Offices in “Digital First Approach”

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• RICS to Close Most UK Offices in “Digital First Approach”

13 July 2020

RICS has announced the permanent closure of all of their UK offices, excluding those in London, Birmingham and Edinburgh.

Those remaining offices are due to reopen at the end of September, after a gradual easing of lockdown measures throughout the UK.

"We have made this decision after considering that the nature of those offices does not give us the type of space we will need for the new future of work. We will continue to deliver our programme of engagement through a digital-first approach.”

–Statement from RICS website

A statement posted on the FAQ section of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors’ website (RICS) reads: 

“Taking into account compliance with local government guidelines around COVID-19, our own corporate guidance and feedback from RICS staff, we have decided to extend our period of remote working for most global offices until the end of September.

“With the exception of London, Birmingham and Edinburgh, we will be closing all our other UK offices permanently. We have made this decision after considering that the nature of those offices does not give us the type of space we will need for the new future of work. We will continue to deliver our programme of engagement through a digital-first approach.”

A RICS spokesperson told us that the colleagues working in those offices are now home-based workers.

Property Week reported that RICS UK Managing Director Matthew Howell commented: “The nature of these smaller offices does not give us the type of space we will need for the new future of work.

“This will not affect the ability of our team to fully support our professionals.

Picture: RICS' office at Colmore Row, Birmingham, one of the offices to remain permanently closed. Image Credit: Business Live

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 13 July 2020

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