Chartered Surveyors, Bruton Knowles, has appointed Martin Westwood as the newest in-house recruiter within the Human Resources team to bolster the firm’s efforts to bring in additional talent.

Martin brings a wealth of experience to the role, having worked in the recruitment sector for over 20 years, both internally across a variety of companies and sectors, and also in an agency environment. Most recently, he was a Recruitment Manager at the Mears Group, working with stakeholders to meet the staffing requirements of the housing and social care provider.

Across the building sector, there is a huge skills shortage, with 50% of construction companies struggling to find surveyors. According to the most recent Construction Industry Outlook, the problem is not just restricted to this technical sphere.

Martin commented: “Part of the challenge we face is not just about identifying the right people, it’s also about understanding prospective candidates’ ever-changing expectations and requirements. Across the marketplace, good quality surveyors are in very high demand and so they expect a tailor made offering commensurate with that position.”

Martin reports to HR Director, Neil Young FCIPD, who also shares Martin’s passion for finding the right people for the job and provides strategic support across the business to implement the graduate, placement, apprentice and technical engagement programmes.

Neil commented: “It’s great to have Martin on board with his abilities to source, attract and hire candidates for open positions. We’re always on the look-out for a variety of people at different stages of their career, from graduates emerging with geography degrees or experienced surveyors looking to broaden their area of specialism.”