RICS

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors works to enforce the highest international standards for the development of land, construction, real estate, and infrastructure. It is one of seven operational members of the Joint Contracts Tribunal, playing an integral role in the development of legal documents relating to construction, most notably, the family of forms. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors works at a cross-governmental level to deliver a singular standard for numerous international bodies to adhere to. Its predominant focus is ensuring safety and prosperity within the construction marketplace, with the aim of benefiting all. The RICS was initially founded in 1868 following a meeting of 49 surveyors in London. It then received a Royal charter in 1881. Since then, it has grown enormously to cover multiple territories with its standardised protocols. Regional offices exist in the United Kingdom, China, Singapore, Sub-Saharan Africa, North America, Brazil, Australia, the Middle East, and across mainland Europe. As of 2018, there were qualified RICS professionals in almost 150 countries, with over 125,000 RICS accredited trainees worldwide. The majority of RICS professionals are based within the United Kingdom, but large numbers also reside in Australia, mainland Europe, and Hong Kong. In 2014, RICS played an integral part in the development of International Ethics Standards for construction.