***Sabrina 13.06.24 (Forwarded Questions)

Question 1

Business Planning

Question 2

What do you expect to see in a business plan?

Question 3

What is your company’s 5 year plan?

Answer 3

(Something more concrete that could be in figures e.g. double employees)

Question 4

What is Corporate Social Responsibility?

Answer 4

(strategies encourage the company to make a positive impact on society and the environment)

Question 5

What Corporate Social Responsibility does you company carry out?

Question 6

What types of Statements should a company have on file?

Answer 6

(Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement, Equality and inclusion etc)

Question 7

How does your firm comply with the Modern Slavery Act 2015?

Answer 7

(Group procurement policy defining minimum standards when procuring goods or services
Whistleblowing policy
Training and awareness
Corporate responsibility policy)

Question 8

What is the definition of Whistleblowing?

Answer 8

(The action someone takes to report wrongdoing at work that affects others.)

Question 9

Data Management

Question 10

What is the Data Protection Act 2018?

Answer 10

(UK’s implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation 2016 (GDPR)
Complete data protect system – as well as governing personal data covered by GDPR, it covers all other general data as previously covered by the 1998 Act)

Question 11

What is GDPR?

Answer 11

(General data protection regulation
Relates to personal data
Aims to create a single data protection regime for anyone doing business in the EU and to empower individuals to take control of how their data is used by third parties
Gives people stronger rights to be informed about how their personal information is used)

Question 12

When did GDPR come into force?

Answer 12

(25th May 2018)

Question 13

What are the key requirements under GDPR?

Answer 13

(Obligation to conduction data protection impact assessments for high risk holding of data
New rights for individuals to have access to information on what personal data is held and to have it erased
A data controller decides how and why personal data is processed and is directly responsible for GDPR
‘Data accountability’ ensuring that organisations can prove to the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) how they comply with the new regulations)

Question 14

What happens if you breach GDPR? What is the penalty?

Answer 14

(Data security breaches need to be reported to Information Commissioners Office (ICO) within 72 hours where there is a loss of personal data and a risk of harm to individuals
An increase in fines up to 4% global turnover of the company or €20m (whichever is the greater))

Question 15

What are the 8 individual Rights under GDPR?

Answer 15

(Policed by the ICO
1. Right of access
2. Right to be informed
3. Right to rectification
4. Right to erasure
5. Right to restrict processing
6. Right to data portability (to use for their own purposes)
7. Right to object
8. Rights to automated decision making and profiling (as undertaken by insurance companies)

Question 16

Under GDPR, would you be able to transfer personal data you hold outside of the UK?

Answer 16

(GDPR restricts transfers of personal data outside the European Economic Area (EEA), unless the rights of the individuals personal data is protected in another way)

Question 17

What is the Freedom of Information Act 2000?

Answer 17

(Gives individuals the right of access to information held by public bodies)

Question 18

What does the Freedom of Information Act 2000 require of public bodies?

Answer 18

(Public body must tell any individual requesting sight of information whether it holds it
Normally the public body is required to supply it in 20 working days in the format requested
It can charge for the provision of the information)

Question 19

What are the exemptions from the Freedom of Information Act 2000?

Answer 19

(Contrary to the GDPR requirements
It would prejudice a criminal matter under investigation
It would prejudice a person’s/organisation’s commercial interest)

Question 20

what is an NDA?

Question 21

What are the implications of siging one?

Question 22

Communication and negotiation

Question 23

How would you prepare for a negotiation?

Answer 23

(Agree your client’s objectives and negotiating strategy before starting the negotiations
Detailed research and preparation
Deciding what points you can concede on and which are non-negotiable
Understand the other party’s position
Develop a partnership/collaborative approach, rather than an adversarial approach
Walk away when you need to)

Question 24

Tell me about a time when you had to demonstrate effective negotiation skills?

Question 25

Tell me about a time when you had to demonstrate effective communication skills?

Question 26

What makes effective communication?

Answer 26

(Clear
Concise
Complete
Courteous)

Question 27

What key skills are useful for effective teamworking?

Answer 27

(Listening – to other people’s ideas
Discussing – team members to ask questions and interact
Persuading – individuals to consider their positions
Respect – treating team maters with respect and support their ideas
Helping – to encourage team work
Sharing – information to create a positive team environment
Participating – ensuring all team members get involved
Communication – have effective communication skills to allow team members to work together
Reflection and identifying strengths and weaknesses)

Question 28

What are key ways to improve collaboration in a team?

Answer 28

(Establish team goals
Communicate expectations
Encourage cohesion between team members
Leverage team member’s strengths
Recognise and encourage collaborative behaviour)

Question 29

What is unconcious bias?

Answer 29

(Learned stereotypes that are automatic, unintentional, deeply ingrained, universal, and able to influence behavior)

Question 30

How can you prevent unconcious bias?

Answer 30

(Training to make people aware of their own biases to help manage them)

Question 31

H&S

Question 32

What is a hazard in a risk assessment?

Answer 32

(Anything that has the potential to cause harm (e.g. a wet floor))

Question 33

What are then FIVE steps of a risk assessment?

Answer 33

(1. Identify hazards present
2. Identify people at risk from the hazards e.g. employees, contractors, visitors
3. Evaluate the risk, considering the likelihood and severity of any accidents. Existing controls in place should be identified and evaluated
4. Record the findings on a suitable form
5. Review the risk assessment regularly)

Question 34

What is a method statement?

Answer 34

(Document that details the way a work task or process is to be completed
Outlines the hazards involved and a step by step guide on how to do the job safely
Details the control measures introduced to ensure the safety of anyone who is affected by the task or process)

Question 35

What FOUR points must be contained within a companies Health & Safety policy?

Answer 35

(1. A policy setting out the organisations commitment to Health and Safety
2. Details of the organisation’s Health and Safety structure, with roles and responsibilities for organising Health and Safety
3. A risk assessment setting the risk within the workplace and the preventative measures in place
4. Details of the planning, implementation of the Health and Safety Policy and control measures)

Question 36

What was the Hackitt Review?

Answer 36

(Led by Dame Judith Hackitt, reported in May 2018
Independent Review of Building Regulation and Fire Safety, called “Building a Safer Future”
Made over 50 recommendations for changes to ensure a more robust regulatory system)

Question 37

Provide some of the examples of recommendations made under the Hackitt Review?

Answer 37

(Upgrading building standards and guidance
New regulatory body (a single joint competent authority) to regulate and check fire and structural safety in high rise residential building
Involving residents in fire safety procedures
Clear responsibilities for on-going life safety management for buildings
25
Q
What was banned in September 2018 to improve fire safety?
A)

Question 38

Conflict Avoidance, Management And Dispute Resolution

Question 39

What can you do to try and avoid conflict?

Answer 39

(Clear, concise and careful drafting of the contract or lease and associated documentation
Understanding what could go wrong or how misinterpretation between parties might arise
Managing all parties’ expectations by understanding their objectives and clearly communicating these, as well as implementing ‘early warning systems’, including serving of appropriate notices
Negotiating contractual obligation carefully and transparently will help to avoid later conflict or at least enable their efficient resolution
Keeping good records with a sufficient level of detail can often help to resolve conflicts before they escalate)

Question 40

What are some of the main processes available in resolving disputes?

Answer 40

(1. Negotiation: problem-solving efforts of the parties themselves
2. Mediation or conciliation: third party intervention which does not bind the parties to a decision but assists them to resolve difficulties
3. Adjudicative processes: an outcome determined by a third party, such as litigation or arbitration)

Question 41

What are the advantages of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)?

Answer 41

(Speed – takes less time than lengthy court proceedings following the Civil Procedure Rules)

Question 42

As opposed to Litigation

Answer 42

(Informality – outside a court
Greater opportunity for negotiation
Cost – less money spent on professional fees for litigation
Confidentiality)

Question 43

What is mediation?

Answer 43

(Neutral mediator who facilitates discussions between the two parties to explore whether a solution can be found
A confidential and informal process
Mediation is usually conducted on a ‘without prejudice’ basis
Mediator has no decision-making authority and cannot impose a resolution upon the two parties
RICS Guidance Note on Mediation, 2014)

Question 44

Is the mediator able to impose a resolution on the parties?

Answer 44

(No)

Question 45

What is arbitration?

Answer 45

(Arbitrator appointed in a quasi-judicial role in accordance with the Arbitration Act 1996
Parties are bound by the decision
Can order a hearing or consider written representations
Will have specialist knowledge in the subject area
Cannot be sued for negligence but their decision can be over-ruled by the Court of appeal on a point of law only
Offers a fast, cost effective and confidential solution to a dispute
Surveyors can act as an arbitrator having passed the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators exams)