Property and development entrepreneur, Stephen Ashworth FRICS Chairman and CEO of Crystal Hurstwood in Manchester – a privately owned investment company – has been appointed as the new Chairman of the RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) North West Regional Board.
Less than 20% of surveyors in the UK are Fellows of the RICS – a recognition of a surveyor’s significant career achievements and passion for developing the profession across the land, property and construction sectors – and Stephen is one such professional who has achieved the esteemed status for going above and beyond in his role and for the wider profession.
Over the past 20 years Stephen has grown Crystal Hurstwood into a £140 million commercial investment and house building group. Today, the company services over 600 commercial customers occupying a range of office, industrial, leisure and retail property, and continues to build high quality homes.
Keen to help industry talent develop, Stephen has also established a successful graduate scheme in the business which supports student members in achieving chartered status of RICS. He is also a volunteer mentor for surveyors in senior role’s looking to become chartered through the RICS’ senior professional assessment.
Stephen replaces Matthew Fedigan, Director of Domec Professional Services in Liverpool as Chairman of the RICS North West Regional Board. His responsibilities will include leading the committee – comprising of ten chartered surveyors – in delivering a range of objectives and initiatives to set and improve standards across the region’s land, property and construction sectors, and encourage more young and diverse talent in to the industry.
Furthermore, as part of RICS’ 150th anniversary this year, the Board are also responsible for encouraging property firms and professionals in the North West to get behind a campaign – known as Pledge150 – which aims to deliver funds for property industry charity, LandAid to deliver at least 150 bed spaces by December 2018, for young people at risk of homelessness.
With over 30 years’ experience in the property industry (both in the commercial and residential sectors) Stephen has an extensive business network and knowledge across a vast range of areas, from sales and lettings to acquisitions and development, which will prove instrumental in his role as Chairman of the RICS North West Regional Board.
On his appointment, Stephen Ashworth said: “Our region’s land, property and construction sectors continue to face many challenges. But as Chairman of the RICS North West Regional Board, I am looking forward to representing the interests of the region’s property professionals, and together with the knowledge and expertise of our experienced Board members, deliver a range of initiatives that will have a positive impact on our industry and profession, as well as our local communities.
“The Pledge 150 campaign is also an important initiative in helping to combat homelessness, so myself and the committee will work hard to raise as much as possible to go towards this worthwhile cause.”
The Pledge150 campaign is open to all property industry professionals and upcoming Pledge150 fundraisers include an ‘It’s a Knockout’ challenge in Manchester on 14 September, which will see teams battle a series of inflatable assault-course challenges in a bid to be crowned ‘It’s a Knockout Champions.’ An abseil down Chester Cathedral on 14 October is also planned to help raise funds.
