Join a small Chartered Surveyor firm β trading for over 30 years and now operating nationally as the leading UK brokerage house selling land based intangible assets and creating & selling natural capital and environmental credits.
We're looking for an ambitious rural surveyor β qualified, graduate or apprentice β to join our small, forward-thinking and creative team. This is a varied role combining traditional land agency with cutting-edge work in natural capital and environmental markets, alongside the chance to train towards your professional qualifications. We want someone who enjoys variety, technology, brokerage and problem-solving, and who wants to help shape a forward-thinking business while building their career.
Working closely with the founder, you'll gain early client contact, real responsibility and a high level of support from day one.
About us
Based in Exeter, we provide local and national traditional land agency services with a reputation for excellence, and we are a leading independent environmental credit creation project manager and broker in the UK. We work across the rural surveying, natural capital and environmental sectors, helping landowners and farmers through:
- Estate management, farm and land sales, and valuations
- Planning, ecological and forestry advice
- Landlord & tenant, and rent reviews
- ELMS, BPS and SFI claims
- Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), Carbon, Nutrient Neutrality (NN) and Water Abstraction Licences
- BPS Entitlements (Wales, Scotland and NI)
The role
Your responsibilities will include:
- Solving problems and professionally presenting options and solutions to project owners
- Leading/supporting the negotiation of sales through to exchange of contracts and completion
- Managing our panels of solicitors, foresters, water technicians and ecologists
- Following the natural capital markets and writing about them
- Supporting specialised projects such as expert witness work, woodland creation, and BNG, NN & Carbon creation projects UK-wide
- Giving expert advice and presentations, online and in person, on cutting-edge natural capital policy
- Assisting with rolling out AI and refining data collection systems
- Carrying out professional land agency fee work
About you
You'll be someone who:
- Has the ability to distil complex projects into understandable, concise terms
- Has excellent organisational and communication skills
- Is confident with everyday business software (email, spreadsheets, shared documents)
- Has strong attention to detail
- Is self-motivated and works well independently and in a small team
- Is interested in technology and AI
- Is comfortable speaking with clients and stakeholders
Who we're looking for
We welcome applications at three levels:
- Qualified β a recently qualified or experienced rural surveyor, ready to become an integral part of our team.
- Graduate β you'll have completed, or be studying for, an RICS-accredited rural degree (full or part-time).
- Apprentice β about to begin an RICS-accredited rural degree, learning on the job with a high level of support.
Our trainees since 1992 have a proven track record of achieving chartered status as rural surveyors (RICS) and agricultural valuers (CAAV), while enjoying genuine challenges and early responsibility (see "Join Us" for testimonials).
What we offer
- Work directly with the founder, with real responsibility from day one
- Broad-based training across all areas of traditional land agency, without over-specialising too early
- Early client contact and the chance to build long-term relationships with farmers, landowners and developers
- Rare expertise in fast-growing environmental markets, and hands-on work with the latest AI tools
- Significant opportunities for career development and advancement, with support towards RICS and CAAV qualification gaining a wide range of experience across the competencies required.
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Rural Surveyor β Qualified / Graduate / Apprentice in Exeter employer: Townsend Chartered Surveyors
Townsend Chartered Surveyors is an excellent employer for aspiring Graduate Rural Surveyors, offering a supportive and collaborative work culture in the picturesque setting of Exeter, Devon. With a focus on professional development through the RICS APC pathway, employees benefit from hands-on experience in diverse projects, early client engagement, and a structured salary review process that rewards growth and achievement.
Contact Details:
Townsend Chartered Surveyors Recruitment Team