Sarah Hogg, Partner at StephensonsRural, reflects on three young people beginning their careers with us.
One of the things I enjoy most about rural surveying is that no two days - or career paths - are quite the same. The countryside is changing quickly, and issues such as food security, renewable energy, nature recovery, development and infrastructure are bringing both new challenges and exciting opportunities.
That is why the CAAV’s Route to Rural initiative matters. Our profession needs good people from all sorts of backgrounds - school and university leavers, people looking for hands-on experience and those considering a complete change of career.
Here at StephensonsRural, James, Amelia and Joanna are great examples of how there is more than one way to get started.
James: bringing farming experience into practice
James grew up on his family’s farm in North Yorkshire, so he already understood many of the day-to-day realities rural businesses face. After completing a BSc (Hons) in Agri-Business Management at Newcastle University, he joined us as an Apprentice Rural Surveyor in 2025 and has recently completed his MSc in Rural Estate and Land Management.
Amelia: learning on the job
Amelia joined us in spring 2026 as a Junior Surveyor, straight after her A-levels. She has also just started a degree apprenticeship in Rural Enterprise and Land Management at Harper Adams University. For Amelia, this means learning at university and then putting that knowledge into practice at work - a brilliant way to gain experience, confidence and a degree at the same time.
Joanna: gaining valuable experience through a placement year
Joanna recently joined us as a Trainee Surveyor for her placement year while studying at Harper Adams University. It is a great chance for her to discover what rural practice is really like before graduating - connecting her studies with client work, exploring the variety of the role and finding the areas that interest her most.
Three people, one growing profession
James, Amelia and Joanna are all at different stages and have taken different routes, but they have something important in common: they are learning through a mix of study, real experience and support from the people around them. It is exciting to watch them grow in confidence and bring fresh ideas to the team. There is so much variety in rural surveying - from valuation, estate and farm management to environmental projects, renewable energy, infrastructure and development. With so many competing demands on land, we need thoughtful, practical people who want to help rural clients find the right way forward.
If you are thinking about a rural career, my advice is simple: talk to people in the profession and try to get some work experience. We are always happy to consider requests, so please do get in touch with us.
You can also find plenty of useful information through the CAAV’s Route to Rural initiative.
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