As part of a new surveying services hub, loss adjustor QuestGates will soon be introducing a new subsidence claims development academy.
To ultimately be based within its Northampton office, the idea is that the hub will provide valuation and validation expertise as well as projecting managed perils, while supporting third party property and tree root liability services.
“The present COVID-19 crisis means that all of our staff are home-based but we are planning for a safe return to offices,” said Dave Clare, head of surveying services at QuestGates. “Given the lack of volume of claims in this sector in recent years, subsidence had become a forgotten peril. Our engineers and surveyors responded well during the 2018 surge of claims utilising advances in digital technology and our existing strong, committed and highly technical team but, the biggest learning for me is, that as an industry, we cannot continue to rely on an ever depleting resource.
“Fortunately, the QuestGates board fully supports investing in our future talent, having already successfully introduced an apprentice scheme into our property division. With the growth we have experienced following our excellent surge performance and a proactive recruitment programme to add to our subsidence expertise prior to the current crisis, the time feels right to go back to basics with attracting, developing and growing new subsidence talent. I for one have been hugely encouraged by the demand for development from new recruits and the desire of our team to grow and nurture others, much like which we all benefited at the beginning of our careers.”
As part of the introduction of the new academy, QuestGates has doubled its current subsidence team and brought in a host of qualified engineers and graduates, as well as claims handlers and construction professional apprentices.
Managing director Chris Hall now hopes that they can gain on the job learning and undertake loss adjusting qualifications.
“We seek to retain the best and it is vital we utilise that expertise within our business to bring new talent on,” he said. “I firmly believe that our new subsidence claims development academy will see QuestGates ensure that it has a team of highly skilled subsidence experts to meet growing client demand long into the future.
“With this latest development, our Northampton office is increasingly becoming a central hub of technical excellence, housing our highways engineering specialists, third party tree root experts and other surveying services, as well as the new members of our subsidence team.”
