An Associate cost manager at one of the West Midlands' growing SME firms (Quantem Consulting) has become the youngest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) professionals to be awarded Fellowship of the RICS in the West Midlands.
At the age of 31 Tom Bell, becomes the youngest person to ever become a FRICS in the region and the second ever youngest in the UK, less than six years after gaining his chartered status.
Fellows of the RICS are considered major achievers and leaders in their field, having completed exceptional projects of made a special contribution to the surveying profession and wider land, property and construction industry.
Tom didn’t take the usual route into surveying. After joining Davis Langdon in 2004 he completed a five year part time degree, attending university on a day release basis. With on the job training alongside structured learning Tom was able to start his APC training in the final year of his degree.
In the six short years Tom has been a chartered surveyor he has helped shape some of the most prominent landmarks in the West Midlands. Projects of note that Tom led on was in the first phase of JLR Engineering Manufacturing Centre UK in Wolverhampton – a national RICS award winner in the 2014 Regeneration category. Following this success Tom has continued to work on many significant local projects, including, recently, the new office development of 103 Colmore Row.
In addition to shaping the local skyline Tom also worked in the Far East and provided procurement advice on a $500,000,000 runway extension and new terminal in Boracy, Philippines.
On learning that he was the youngest in the region to attain his Fellows status Tom commented: “I was shocked when I initially found out. In my mind I had always set out to achieve Fellowship status, but didn’t expect to be the youngest person in the West Midlands to do so. It’s an honour and sets a new milestone to be beaten!”
Monique Royle, West Midlands Regional Board Chair comments: “Just over 20% of professionals attain Fellowship status with the RICS and to do it at such a young age is an incredible achievement. Tom now joins an elite class of chartered surveyors and should be extremely proud of what he has achieved. Tom’s is an inspiration to all newly qualified and student members and to achieve his Fellows is a testament to his commitment to the West Midlands construction sector.”
Currently Tom is an APC assessor and chairs the West Midlands QS and Construction Local Professional Group, who host numerous events over the course of the year and cater to over 200 professionals from the region’s property, land and construction firms. For more information about their local events contact hobrien@rics.org