We’re delighted to share the good news that two of Scanlans’ brightest young stars have passed their RICS Assessment of Professional Competence to qualify as chartered surveyors during lockdown.

The successful duo are Laura Jackson, who is based in our Birmingham office, and Lara Linsey, who is based in Manchester.

Laura, 36, joined our firm in September 2018 as a graduate valuation surveyor.

Single mum Laura combined studying with working full-time and, in the run-up to her APC, also had to juggle home schooling for her five-year-old daughter Orla during lockdown.

Laura began working in the property sector when she was 17 but found herself unemployed after the 2008 financial crash and decided to enrol as a mature student on a real estate degree course at Birmingham City University.

After having Orla, she worked part-time until her daughter reached school age.

Laura said: “I am so happy and proud to gain chartered surveyor status. It’s been hard work, being a single mum working full-time while studying for my qualification, but it was worth it all to gain those magic letters, MRICS!

“Everyone at Scanlans has been very supportive and I really appreciate the guidance and mentoring I’ve received. The accreditation means a lot to me.”

Laura covers the Midlands region for Scanlans, carrying out commercial valuations and LPA Receivership work.

Lara, 27, who has a politics degree and a master’s degree in commercial real estate,  joined Scanlans in February 2019 as a graduate surveyor and made the most of lockdown by studying solidly for her APC.

At Scanlans she works all over the north west as a commercial surveyor.

She said: “I’m overjoyed to have passed my APC at the first attempt. It’s a true testament to the support I’ve received from my colleagues.

“With their encouragement I felt bolstered to fulfil my potential, and I am thankful to them for facilitating my learning.”

Scanlans chairman Ian Stanistreet, who helped to mentor the pair, said: “Gaining chartered surveyor status is an arduous process as you have to prove your competence at different levels in a front of a panel of RICS assessors.

“There was the added complication for Laura and Lara of their APCs taking place on video but they have come through with flying colours and we are extremely thrilled for them both. They should be proud of their achievements.”