Industry Insights: Commercial Valuations in 2025
Commercial valuations are at the heart of the UK real estate market. Whether assessing prime London offices, regeneration sites, or national portfolios, valuation surveyors play a vital role in helping investors, lenders, and developers understand the true worth of an asset.
As we move through to the end of 2025, this segment of the market is evolving fast, shaped by shifting investment flows, growing client demands, and rising data expectations. Here's what surveyors and consultancies need to know.
Who thrives in commercial valuations?
Success in commercial valuations often belongs to MRICS-accredited surveyors with strong analytical skills and a deep understanding of Red Book compliance. However, the field is not exclusive, with many professionals entering from broader real estate or finance backgrounds, including capital markets, investment analysis, and development appraisals.
What truly distinguishes these individuals is their ability to blend technical precision with a keen commercial insight. Leading firms like Colliers actively tend to seek diverse perspectives, recognising that backgrounds in bank lending, portfolio underwriting, or brokerage can provide a robust foundation for a career in valuations. This demonstrates the fascinating array of paths that can lead to such a specialised domain.
Where's the activity?
While London's enduring appeal to global investors in the City, West End, and fringe markets remains undeniable, it's crucial to acknowledge the tangible growth unfolding across the UK's regional hubs.
Cities like Manchester, Birmingham, and Leeds are not merely experiencing, but actively demonstrating, sustained development and robust occupational demand. Savills reported a surge in regional development and investment activity. Notably, the Big 6 regional office markets saw £2.9 billion in transactions in 2024, a 10% increase on 2023 levels, reflecting rising investor confidence outside London.
Furthermore, we observe a clear trend of investors seeking future growth towns such as Milton Keynes, Watford, and Southend-on-Sea, a shrewd move considering their enhanced connectivity and compelling affordability. This diversified landscape offers a wealth of opportunities for those with an astute eye for potential.
Market sentiment in 2025
The UK commercial property market is currently navigating a period of careful recovery. While interest rates seem to have reached their peak, we're observing a return of capital and an increasing demand for high-quality assets. However, this trend isn't universally consistent. RICS data suggests stable national sentiment, with prime locations showing growth, yet secondary assets continue to face pressure. Notably, Central London office demand is significantly outpacing the national average.
Who’s leading the way?
It's clear that the major players continue to hold significant sway in commercial valuations, with their extensive, multi-sector teams. CBRE, for instance, fields 10 specialist teams across the UK, from London right up to Edinburgh, demonstrating their breadth of coverage. However, for those looking at the mid-market or more niche sectors, there are firms that remain incredibly strong, trusted choices.
What employers want
In 2025, the demand for skilled valuation professionals remains robust. Employers are specifically seeking individuals with MRICS and RICS Registered Valuer status, particularly those with a proven history of preparing Red Book-compliant reports and experience on lender panels.
There's a strong focus on portfolios, development land, and specialised sectors such as healthcare and student accommodation. Candidates who can demonstrate expertise across various property types, coupled with the ability to work effectively with institutional clients, are highly valued.
Firms prioritise professionals who can articulate their findings clearly to stakeholders and produce audit-ready reports, ensuring transparency and accountability.
What does a strong CV look like?
In a portfolio valuation role, it pays to show both scale and variety. Employers want to see:
MRICS and RICS Registered Valuer credentials
Red Book-compliant valuation experience
Proficiency in Argus Enterprise and advanced Excel
Exposure to commercial lending, investment, accounts or M&A contexts
Confident client communication and reporting skills
Hiring managers are also increasingly interested in how candidates work with data platforms like EG Radius or CoStar, and how they approach quality control in multi-asset reporting.
Argus Enterprise is still the gold standard for income modelling, and Argus Developer (or EstateMaster) for development appraisals. Employers increasingly want candidates with Excel fluency, cash flow modelling ability, and exposure to tools like Power BI or Tableau for portfolio reporting. ESG understanding and sustainability metrics are also creeping into valuation work, particularly at larger firms.
Do you need international experience?
For most roles, it’s not a requirement, but it helps. With more than 60% of UK commercial investment now cross-border, international clients expect a level of global fluency. Candidates who understand different valuation standards (e.g. IVS) or who have worked with global fund clients are increasingly attractive.