Fergus Russell

SENIOR CONSULTANT AND CHARTERED SURVEYOR

Specialist expertise

• Land rights and compensation claims

• Utilities and renewables

• Estate management

Tell us about your career journey

Having graduated with a degree in Rural Land Management from the Royal Agricultural University, I started work with Carter Jonas LLP as a rural consultant. In 2015, qualified as a rural surveyor from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, specialising in agriculture, access rights and compensation, land use and diversification and estate management. I have worked as a rural surveyor for the last 10 years, holding posts in northern England and Scotland with a focus on utilities, renewables and estate management.

Why did you come to work at SAC Consulting?

SAC Consulting is a well-established organisation with a strong reputation amongst farmers and landowners across Scotland. I wanted to become part of a forward-thinking consulting team to provide robust, fact-based advice across the industry.

If you could do anyone else’s job, who would it be and why?

I have a huge amount of admiration for the accredited farm advisors at SAC Consulting, who work alongside organisations like RSABI providing help and support to farmers. Supporting farmers and their families through challenging times is a very worthy reason to go to work.

What work (in your current role) are you most proud of and why?

Most of my work currently is representing landowners who have been approached by large utility and energy developers who are looking to secure legal rights over land. It can often feel like a case of David and Goliath, so it is essential to make sure the landowners’ interests are well looked after while maximising the opportunity for them. I take a lot of pride in providing client-specific advice and ensuring appropriate commercial terms are in place for facilitating developers with their often-lucrative projects.

If you had one wish to better the industry, what would you wish for?

wish more people would understand the importance of eating good quality, locally produced whole foods. The connection between diet and health is often discussed, but there needs to be a greater understanding of the economic link between them. When you factor in the national health costs associated to eating poor quality food, you realise we are paying much more for our food than the price shown on the shelf. We need to reduce the cost to our healthcare system by eating better quality, healthier food and, in doing so, increase the money available to subsidise and support British farming.

Get in touch: fergus.russell@sac.co.uk