​As a graduate entering the built environment sector, you’ll face a range of choices as you shape your early career. One of the most important considerations is whether to pursue chartership. Historically regarded as a benchmark of professional excellence, gaining chartered status with a recognised body can have a significant impact on your development, credibility and career opportunities.

But in a modern, fast-moving sector, where skills, technology and employer expectations are constantly evolving, is chartership still relevant? And if so, when should you start thinking about it?

At Carrington West, we support hundreds of early-career professionals each year in securing roles in engineering, planning and surveying. Here’s what you need to know about the heritage, value and real-world importance of becoming chartered.

The Heritage of Chartership

Chartership has deep roots in the built environment professions. It represents a formal recognition of technical competence, ethical standards and commitment to continuous learning. Professional bodies like the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT), and the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) all award chartered status through a structured combination of work experience, assessment, and ongoing professional development.

In many sectors, it remains the gold standard, demonstrating that you meet the industry’s highest expectations.

Why Chartership Still Matters

From our experience at Carrington West, and consistent feedback from clients and professional bodies, chartership still plays a central role in professional advancement:

1. Career Progression and Credibility
For permanent roles in particular, chartered status remains a clear advantage. Ashleigh Waterhouse, Consultant in our Town Planning team, explains:

“Almost all hiring managers we speak to for permanent planning roles will ask whether a candidate is chartered. It’s a mark of professionalism and progression, it shows the candidate is serious about their career.”

In the rail engineering sector, expectations follow a similar pattern. Emily Atkins, Senior Consultant, who specialises in placing engineers into rail design consultancies, notes:

“For Principal Engineers and above, chartership is a must for permanent employees. For Senior Engineers and below, it’s not always a deal breaker, but showing that you’re actively working towards it can really help. It gives clients confidence that the candidate is committed to their professional development.”

2. Client and Employer Confidence
Chartered professionals are trusted by employers to deliver advice and make decisions that are compliant, considered, and up to standard. Gaining chartership helps position you as a safe pair of hands.

3. Higher Earning Potential
Professionals with chartered status typically command higher salaries, and are often eligible for more senior roles. According to published benchmarks, chartered engineers and surveyors consistently earn more than their non-chartered peers over the course of their careers. Emily Atkins, further adds;

“In the consultancy world, it stands to reason that if you have that rubber stamp against your name a consultancy can in turn have you work on their clients’ projects with confidence that you will meet industry best practice, and in turn the rate they will charge for your work will reflect that.”

4. Global Recognition
Chartered status is widely recognised by employers around the world, which can be beneficial for professionals seeking international experience or working with global teams.

When Chartership Is Less Important

That said, the importance of chartership can vary depending on the type of role and the nature of the employer.

Ben Hitchman, Principal Team Leader specialising in contract planning roles, offers this insight:

“In the contract market, chartership is less frequently requested. Many candidates do have it, but more often than not, the hiring manager doesn’t require it. Experience, availability and practical know-how are usually prioritised in temporary assignments.”

This highlights a key consideration for graduates: your decision may depend on whether you’re pursuing short-term flexibility or long-term career progression.

Advice for Graduates: Why You Should Plan Ahead

Even if chartership isn’t essential for your first role, planning for it early in your career is a smart move. Most professional institutions, such as RICS, RTPI and CIHT, offer graduate membership routes that help you log experience and prepare for assessments from the outset.

Here’s why you should consider starting your journey early:

• Structured development: Chartership frameworks offer a clear roadmap for learning and skill-building.

• Mentorship opportunities: You’ll gain access to networks of experienced professionals and support.

• Stronger CVs: Employers value evidence of structured career planning and commitment to CPD.

• Greater mobility: Whether you stay in one role or move across specialisms, chartership keeps doors open.

Is chartership still relevant in 2025? Absolutely! But how important it is to your career depends on your sector, your aspirations and the types of roles you want to pursue.

For graduates in engineering, surveying and planning, our advice is clear: start exploring chartership options early, even if you’re not ready to commit just yet. Speak with your employer, look at the pathways offered by professional bodies, and talk to your recruiter about which employers will support your development.

At Carrington West, we help professionals at all stages of their chartership journey. Whether you’re looking for a contract role to build experience or aiming for a permanent position with development support, we’re here to guide you.

If you’d like help planning your next step or understanding what chartership could mean for your future, contact one of our consultants today.