LinkedIn: Morgan Penny MRICS | LinkedIn
1: Congratulations on launching the new RICS Matrics Shropshire committee. What inspired you to get involved?
I have always found the RICS Matrics community to be a great way to meet other professionals, build connections and learn from people at different stages of their careers. Having attended a number of Matrics events myself through Matrics Birmingham, I could see the value that having a strong local network can provide.
Being based in Shropshire but working in Birmingham, I felt there was an opportunity to bring more of those benefits closer to professionals in the Shropshire area. I was therefore keen to get involved in launching the new Matrics Shropshire and creating opportunities for people to meet, learn and build their professional networks locally.
Having recently achieved Chartered status myself, I also wanted to give something back to the profession and support others who are at the start of their own careers or working towards their APC as Matrics Birmingham was very influential in me passing the APC process.
2: What are your ambitions for the Matrics Committee over the coming months and what would you like to achieve in the future to support early career professionals?
Over the coming months, the main focus is to establish a strong and active local Matrics community in Shropshire. We want to create a varied programme of events that offers something for everyone, from networking and social events to technical sessions, site visits and APC and career development support.
One of the key ambitions for the committee is to make RICS Matrics Shropshire an accessible and supportive network for early career professionals. We want to bring together surveyors and other property professionals from across the region, helping them to make connections, share experiences and learn from one another.
In the longer term, I would like to see the committee become an established part of the professional community in Shropshire and provide a platform that genuinely supports people throughout the early stages of their careers. It would be particularly rewarding to see people who attend our events gain confidence, expand their professional network and, ultimately, go on to achieve Chartered status and support the next generation of professionals themselves.
3: Looking back on your own career journey so far, what piece of advice would you give to someone who is just starting out in the profession today?
The main piece of advice I would give is to say yes to opportunities and get involved. When you are starting out, it can sometimes be difficult to step outside of your comfort zone, but some of the best opportunities to learn and develop come from taking on new challenges and meeting new people.
I would also encourage people to build their professional network early. Attending events, getting involved with professional organisations and speaking to people from different areas of the industry can open doors and provide valuable advice and support throughout your career.
If you are looking to complete the APC process, then I would always recommend looking for a business that provides good APC support and ensures that you are guided through the process.
Finally, don’t underestimate the value of asking questions. No one expects you to know everything when you are starting out, and learning from the experience of others is one of the best ways to develop. The profession has a huge number of knowledgeable people who are often willing to share their experiences and help others progress.