A Success for Sava's Residential Expo 2024

Last week (Thursday 24th October) Surventrix headed up to Coventry Building Society Arena for this year’s Sava Residential Surveying Expo 2024, bringing the residential surveying community together for a day of learning, networking and career insights – and the energy in the hall was palpable!

Formerly a careers fair aimed at promoting employment and careers opportunities in the sector, this annual event has since evolved to become the largest UK event dedicated to residential surveying, providing technical CPD talks for practising surveyors, a careers conference for those looking for a new challenge, and an exhibition where surveyors and those in training can meet employers big and small.

An Event for the Whole Residential Surveying Community

This year’s Residential Surveying Expo had a full house of exhibitors, with 40 surveying firms and service providers rocking up with their best banners and merch to network with circa 450 attendees. Through the doors, we saw Sava learners and graduates of the Diploma in Residential Surveying and Valuation, seasoned surveyors, business owners and those looking to move into the profession.

Our Top 5 Expo Highlights

1. Topical technical talks
   This year saw a stellar line-up of expert speakers specialising in property care, residential surveying and valuation taking to the stage. Rightmove gave us an insight into the UK property market and what we can expect in the future, valuation expert Alison Stone delved into the complex world of leasehold reform, and the National Association of Drainage Contractors discussed the need for homebuyer drainage surveys. Event sponsors GoReport and Project and Co. also joined forces to bring us a talk on growing a modern surveying business, from the impact of technology to how businesses can stay relevant and competitive in today’s world.

2. Hearing inspiring stories from Sava graduates
   Okay, we might be a little biased, but it’s always exciting to learn more about where our surveying graduates have come from, how joining the surveying profession has impacted their lives, and what career pathway they’ve chosen since graduating. We heard from: Daniel Knight who has found success as an independent surveyor since qualifying in 2023; former pro footballer, Scott Boden, who chose surveying as his post-football career; former estate agent, Natasha Palczuk, who explored life working with e.surv Chartered Surveyors; and, coming from the world of car sales, Ryan Oakes explained how he trained as a surveyor through Sava before landing an exciting role as Head of Sales at surveying software company, Surventrix.

3. The buzz!
   No, we’re not talking about our buzz game…
   …but rather the overall atmosphere in the room. The energy was high, with exhibitors excited to promote their businesses and surveyors taking the opportunity to make those all-important industry connections. The exhibition hall was packed-out with many exhibitors commenting that they were networking non-stop all day.

4. Meeting new firms
   We love seeing familiar faces at the Expo, but it’s refreshing to meet new firms who are looking for an opportunity to promote their brands and attract the latest surveying talent into their teams. Some firms were exhibiting at a surveying event for the very first time and we’re delighted that they chose the Residential Surveying Expo for their first experience.

5. Discovering new technology
   We were lucky this year to have a number of surveying service providers in attendance – some exhibiting and some speaking – providing an insight into:
   > The time and money-saving technologies currently available to surveyors
   > The impact of emerging technologies in the industry
   > What the future looks like as artificial intelligence, drones and other such innovations become more prevalent within the profession.

What’s Everyone Saying About the Residential Surveying Expo 2024?

Feedback this year has been overwhelming, with chatter across LinkedIn continuing into the new week. Here’s what some of our attendees and exhibitors had to say:

“Had a great day at the Sava Expo yesterday, a real confidence boost for a new Sava diploma starter. Looking forward to what the future holds.” – Sava learner.

“Phew! What a busy day at the Sava Residential Expo on Thursday. Non-stop from beginning to end. Happy existing users, enthusiastic newcomers, and students hungry to get started.” – Alan Milstein, Director at Skyline Surveyors.

“Wow, what a day! We did not stop talking and to be in a room full of energy such as today is exactly what this profession is about and I’m excited for the future. Thank you to Sava for putting on yet another incredible event.” – Zoe Baker, owner of Your Surveyors and winner of RICS Young Surveyor of the Year, Residential Surveying, 2022.

“We loved our day at the Sava Expo today! Was great fun catching up with our partners, seeing so many of our clients in person and meeting so many new faces. See you at the next one!” – Jamy Business Support for Surveyors.

A Word of Thanks from the Sava Team

“We’re delighted to have hosted another successful Residential Surveying Expo – an opportunity for the surveying community to connect, learn and grow. But we couldn’t do it without the support of our sponsors and exhibitors who help us to make it a truly unmissable event.

“When learners emerge from the Sava programme as qualified surveyors, the next big step is choosing their career pathway and finding employment. The Expo is a unique event that supports these individuals as they navigate a new professional landscape, and it’s gratifying to see firms from across the UK making the journey every year to engage with our learners, graduates and other surveying professionals.

“Thank you to our sponsors, exhibitors, speakers and delegates for attending the Residential Surveying Expo 2024 – we’re looking forward to doing it all again next year!” – Sava’s Director of Surveying Services, Hilary Grayson.