ASPIRING chartered surveyors in the region will have careers advice on their doorstep from this week when the RICS opens its first office at Northumbria University.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) will open for business from Thursday at its office in the School of the Built Environment, at the university.

The 124th president of RICS, Steve Williams, will carry out the official opening.

Mr Williams is the leader of an organisation that has 110,000 members worldwide, including 2,700 in the North-East.

Jennifer Welch, regional director of RICS North-East, said: "As the first RICS regional office at a university, this is a very significant moment for the region and will enhance our reputation for producing top class professionals."

"It clearly makes great sense for us to work closely with the school, which is one of the biggest and best of its kind in the country.

"The North-East, however, offers a wide range of college and university courses that can lead to a qualification in surveying, and students from across the region are welcome to visit us for careers advice."

A recent RICS report identified a long-term shortage of quantity surveyors.

The report said that as many as 4,000 extra quantity surveyors were needed to meet proposed Government housing targets.