58| INTERVIEW
Name: Michelle Atkinson Position: Owner, Michele Atkinson Surveying, and RICS Member
Q: Did you plan to get involved in the Construction Industry? Originally I wanted to be an architect but my final year studies at secondary school did not work out as well as I wanted and needed. As it turned out that was the best thing that happened to me as I enrolled at Dundalk Institute of Technology on their two year Construction Studies Course and then onto their Diploma in Building Surveying. Both courses were very practical in outlook and the lecturing staff were excellent. These two factors combined gave me a sparked a keen interest in building pathology and building conservation. I then completed the final year building surveying degree course at Birmingham University with a First Class Honours degree specialising in Building Conservation. Q: How did you start off? I knew that good work experience as early as possible was important. I took a year out from college and
joined Hamilton Osborne King (now Savills) in Dublin. The exposure to the property market there in the mid 1990s was valuable and the experience really helped seal my degree qualification. Once I completed my degree in Birmingham, another great position with Lambert Smith Hampton allowed me to continue building a superb platform of experience and helped galvanise my Chartership.
enjoyable challenge to date! Q: What was the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
Q: What have been the highlights of your career so far?
It needs hard work but bears great opportunities! Getting experience is key to help enhance ongoing studies and to increase employment opportunities after qualification.
There have been several – no two days are the same in my job which is great! I had a fantastic year of secondment with Northamptonshire Police Property Department and another with British Telecom, both while working in LSH. Undertaking the pre-acquisition survey of 160 Piccadilly and 1 Leicester Square in London’s West End also feature. Back here in Belfast, the relocation of the Belfast Telegraph to their new Clarendon Road office both under budget and within programme has been my most
Not so much a piece of advice but rather a motivator – ‘the comeback is always stronger than the setback’ Q: What would you say to any students considering a career in construction?
Q: Do you think the Construction Sector needs more support from Stormont? Absolutely! I am aware of the work that Dr Patrice Cairns, Northern Ireland Policy Manager for RICS, and other RICS representatives undertake at local government level. Their constant efforts to engage on
policy issues with the Departments of Communities and Finance and Strategic Investment Board are made more difficult by the current start / stop action of our local government and if that continues it will be very concerning for the local economy. Q: What needs to be done to help the Construction Sector? Clearly the sector needs more investment. While there are some worries about house prices and the UK economy in general, financial stimulation from government is needed to encourage further investment. This investment needs to extend to our education sector to ensure a rapid increase in the number surveying graduates. And there are huge merits in apprentice schemes which also need financial support. Q: Tell us something surprising about yourself… I recently bought a scooter……hard hat swapped for a helmet!
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