UCEM Property Awards 2020 – Our Alumni of the Year nominees: Joe Ellison

Posted on: 2020-10-08

We will be hosting the 33rd UCEM Property Awards on Thursday, 15 October. Due to COVID-19, we will not be able to hold this in person but we will be sharing videos and announcements throughout the day on our social media channels to celebrate the achievements of our nominees and winners.

The event will see a sixth person receive our Alumni of the Year Award since it was added to the Property Awards in 2015.

The Alumni of the Year Award goes to a former UCEM student who has made an outstanding contribution in their early career towards creating a better Built Environment.

We have profiled five nominees for this Award in Jonathan Bayfield, Michelle Dobson, Shane Jones, Vincent Chan and Jodie Ronan, and our final contender for the prize is Chartered Valuation Surveyor, Joe Ellison.

Joe began his studies with UCEM in 2013, undertaking the Diploma in Surveying Practice, before graduating from the institution’s BSc (Hons) Real Estate Management programme with First Class Honours in 2018.

Following graduation, Joe completed his APC and now works for Pinnacle Surveyors as a Chartered Valuation Surveyor undertaking valuations and pre-purchase surveys for both corporate lender clients and private customers.

Joe strives to improve the use of technology within his business and encourages other firms within the industry to use the same system. Joe’s work has improved his firm’s proposition to their lender clients, leading to the company securing a higher amount of work allocation and increasing income, as well as profitability.

Initiatives that Joe developed are now used by other independent surveying firms, allowing them to adopt similar ways of working and reap similar benefits. Joe understands the importance of collaboration within the mortgage and house-buying industry and he works with other industry partners to ensure the advice surveyors provide to their clients remains relevant and useful.

Joe is keen to promote the role of the residential surveyor and has acted as an ambassador to the profession at local schools and at RICS Matrics events.

As an LGBTQ+ professional, Joe has taken opportunities to raise awareness of the need for better equality and diversity within the surveying industry. Joe’s achievements within the early stages of his career have led to him being a finalist in the Rising Star – Product Provider category at the British Mortgage Awards 2019, and the Valuation category winner at the RICS Matrics Young Surveyor of the Year Awards 2019.

Joe commented: “I am amazed to have been nominated for the Alumni of the Year Award! It feels great to have been recognised for my achievements and hard work at such an early stage in my career and I am extremely grateful to my firm for giving me the opportunity to challenge myself. My nomination makes all the late nights and weekends working worth it!”

Reflecting on his time studying with UCEM, he said: “I found studying with UCEM to be challenging but very rewarding. I was taught by inspiring and knowledgeable tutors with practical experience in their subject.

“Studying through online learning whilst working full-time was difficult at times, however, it meant that I could immediately apply my learning to my work. I found the Project module to be the most rewarding as it allowed me to make a practical difference to my firm and the industry.”

Looking ahead, Joe added: “I am excited to continue working with my firm, other surveying firms and other stakeholders within the house-buying process to improve the offerings that residential surveyors can provide to their lender clients and property owners.

“I am keen to improve on technology usage within the industry to provide a better service to my clients. There continues to be a lack of diversity within residential surveying which is something I want to champion, particularly in encouraging younger people, and those in minority groups, to join the profession. To this end, I am also excited to start mentoring and supporting others in their journey to becoming a qualified residential surveyor and valuer.

“I am looking to continue with my studies in the next few years to gain a postgraduate degree and improve my business knowledge. I aspire to climb the management ladder and eventually become an industry leader.”

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and best of luck, Joe!

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