Reaching young people at scale, improving diversity in early talent pipelines, and raising awareness of surveying careers are challenges facing the entire built environment sector. For RICS, the question was clear: how do you engage more young people and help them see surveying as a career they could genuinely pursue? The answer came through Virtual Work Experience.

By offering an accessible, engaging digital programme, RICS opened the door to thousands of students who might never otherwise have encountered the profession.

The challenge: engagement, awareness and inclusion

RICS set out to address three key challenges that were limiting engagement with future talent.

Reaching young people at scale

Traditional outreach methods struggled to reach large numbers of students consistently, particularly across different regions. RICS needed a scalable way to connect with young people wherever they were.

Low awareness of surveying careers

Many students simply didn’t know what surveying involved, or the range of careers available within the profession. Without visibility, surveying was often overlooked entirely.

Building more inclusive early talent pipelines

Students from priority and underrepresented backgrounds were less likely to access industry insight or feel that surveying was a career for them. Improving EDI outcomes was a growing priority.

The solution: an accessible virtual experience

Virtual Work Experience allowed RICS to bring the profession to life in a way that was flexible, inclusive and easy to access. Students could explore real-world surveying, hear from professionals, and build confidence - all without the barriers of location, travel or prior connections.

The programme was designed to be engaging, informative and relevant, helping students understand both the work itself and the many routes into the profession.

The impact: confidence, awareness and career interest

The programme delivered strong engagement and measurable improvements across key student outcomes.

Headline impact

• 1,866 students enrolled
• 78% started or completed the programme
• 8.5/10 average satisfaction rating
• 51% from diverse ethnic backgrounds
• 19% eligible for free school meals
• 28% first-generation university
• 6% SEND

Improved career awareness

Before the programme, just 53% of students rated their awareness of surveying careers as good or excellent.
After completing the experience, that figure rose to an impressive 97%.

Stronger career intent

• 61% of students said they were very likely to consider a career in surveying.
• Confidence about finding a job in the future increased by 28%, with 91% feeling confident after completing the programme.

These results show how effective virtual experiences can be in helping students not only learn about an industry, but see themselves as part of it.

The benefits

Scalable global reach

RICS connected with young people across regions and countries, extending engagement far beyond traditional outreach.

Career awareness

Students gained a clear understanding of what surveying involves and the many career pathways available.

More inclusive pipelines

The programme reached high proportions of students from priority backgrounds, supporting RICS’ EDI ambitions.

Why virtual work experience works

This case study demonstrates how virtual work experience can remove barriers, increase engagement, and deliver meaningful outcomes for both students and industry. By meeting young people where they are, RICS was able to inspire interest, build confidence and strengthen its future talent pipeline.

Looking ahead

For RICS, Virtual Work Experience has become a powerful tool for engaging the next generation of surveyors - not just in greater numbers, but with greater diversity and confidence. As the sector continues to evolve, programmes like this play a vital role in ensuring young people can see surveying as a profession that is open, accessible and full of opportunity.