Guidance
The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) is offering opportunities to build a career as a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS).
Published 18 November 2016
Last updated 29 October 2020 — see all updates
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The Valuation Office Agency is a world leader in property valuation, and yet here, value isn’t just about property, or business rates. we define value in terms of our people: high quality training, interesting and varied work and a balance with life outside work. The VOA can give you the best possible start to a rewarding career in Chartered Surveying - plus a lot more besides.
You would be joining the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) at an exciting time as we work to the next revaluation is to be delivered in 2023. This means that we have just over 2 years to value every office, shop and industrial property in England and Wales along with everything from airports to zoos.
Our graduate scheme has an enviable reputation with assessment of professional competence (APC) success rates, which are amongst the best in the UK.
For those working on our graduate program we will provide:
There would be plenty of variety in your work during your training and after. You could be valuing a small shop one day, then be involved in a national infrastructure project such as the HS2 railway link. We’re confident no one else can give you this range of experience.
After you have qualified we continue to provide learning and development opportunities, including a minimum of five working days training per year. We also provide access to Continuous Professional Development (CPD) resources and participation in Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) activities.
Many people we have supported through our graduate scheme have quickly progressed into senior management or technical roles after their qualification. There are new opportunities becoming available all the time. As we also form part of the Government Property Profession and Civil Service, you would be able to take advantage of wider development opportunities. So not only do we support you towards achieving MRICS status, we ensure you continue to develop your career into the long term.
The VOA offers a competitive national graduate salary of £25,750 per annum (£29,000 in London) and a Civil Service Pension. You would work a flexible 37 hours a week, so you can enjoy your time both in and outside work. We are also keen to hear from you if you are a graduate surveyor who is already part qualified or recording APC in aligned pathways such as;
If you have achieved, or on course to achieve a 2:2 or better in one of the RICS-accredited degrees:
or
If you have achieved, or on course to achieve an MSc in Real Estate.
If you are graduating by 31 March 2021, please apply here for the Graduate Valuation Surveyor April intake. The closing date for applications is 9 November 2020
If you are graduating by 1 September 2021, please apply here for the Graduate Valuation Surveyor September. The closing date for applications is 27 November 2020
Please note that currently we have opportunities for Graduate Valuation Surveyors only. Building surveying, quantity surveying and minerals surveying opportunities will be available at a later date.
Please note that we use the Civil Service Jobs portal to assist the graduate application process. You can register to create an account at Civil Service Jobs and set your profile to send ‘job alerts’ for when the application process becomes live.
If you have any questions about the graduate scheme, please contact us at developmentteam@voa.gov.uk.
Although I did a law degree, I knew I wanted to pursue a property career as I’d particularly enjoyed my land law module. I also had a personal love of architecture, which I find incredibly interesting and beautiful. I delved a little deeper trying to find an area I would enjoy. That’s when I came across the property career opportunities open to you in the Civil Service as well as the excellent employee benefits and pension.
My route into the Civil Service has been via the Valuation Office Agency (VOA). The VOA is known amongst students as one of the best employers in progressing the RICS Assessment of Professional Competence (APC). Not only have they given me the variety of work essential to passing my APC, but the mentor support from highly experienced colleagues has been excellent too.
My experience in working in the Civil Service has been thoroughly enjoyable - it has a fantastic work-life balance and an extremely supportive culture. For example, during my recent pregnancy, I unfortunately suffered terribly with morning sickness and other related illnesses that prevented me from sitting my APC. Although I was forced to delay my final interview, the support I had from the agency, my line manager and work colleagues was incredible. I have subsequently been successful at APC interview and have become a new mother as well - 2 life-changing events in one year!
My time at the moment is dedicated to my young family and those nearest and dearest to me. As well as a 4-month old baby, I have two dogs and I am really enjoying taking some time out. But I’m also looking forward to the next stages of my Civil Service career including the possibility of doing a PhD with Birmingham City University.
I would wholeheartedly recommend working for the Civil Service.
I joined the Agency in October 2017 as a mature Graduate, having completed my MSc in Commercial Property Management at Liverpool John Moores University back in 2008. I had a genuine interest and passion in valuation surveying and also an awareness of the Agency’s high pass rate for Graduates sitting their APCs (Assessment of Professional Competency), so it seemed like a great fit.
It very quickly became apparent why the VOA’s Graduate Scheme is so successful. I found the level of training and support to be very comprehensive. Having previously been a Graduate Surveyor with a different employer, I was reassured by the contrast in my experience, the VOA has is a much greater focus on equipping Graduates with the tools they need to pass their APC.
The work a Graduate is exposed to is both extremely varied and interesting. I always felt trusted with an appropriate amount of responsibility. I had my own reasonable caseload early on and received constant support and guidance that allowed me to progress my cases whilst learning at the same time. My first role was within NDR (Non-Domestic Rating) and within the first few weeks I shadowed my supervisor during inspections of a huge Masonic Lodge, a hand car wash and various offices and shops. Following this, I rotated to the District Valuer Services (DVS) where the work continued to differ. I assisted in Development Viability studies, took possession of land for HS2, valued portfolios of a variety of properties for IHT (Inheritance Tax) and CGT (Capital Gains Tax) purposes and carried out a Red Book Report on a Mosque.
I passed my APC in May 2020 and look forward to a long career with the Agency. I would strongly recommend the Agency’s Graduate Scheme to any aspiring valuation surveyors who are looking for a varied career.
Published 18 November 2016
Last updated 29 October 2020 + show all updates
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