Navigating Rail Freight, Neurodiversity and the APC Journey with Chartered Surveyor Layla Davey

Summary

In this episode I’m joined by Layla Davey, a Chartered Commercial Surveyor working in rail freight at Network Rail. Layla looks after a huge patch across the South of England, dealing with sidings, open storage, landlord and tenant issues and day to day commercial surveying on the railway. We talk about what rail freight actually involves, the reality of site inspections, and why “read the lease” has become her professional motto. 

Layla also shares an honest account of navigating the APC as a dyslexic and autistic surveyor, diagnosed in adulthood, while working full time and raising two young children. We explore processing challenges, distraction, burnout, lone working safety, and how things like quiet spaces, headphones, reasonable adjustments and workplace coaching can make surveying far more accessible. She is now an RICS counsellor and actively supports other surveyors, especially those who are neurodivergent or juggling family life through the APC. 

Guest Bio

Layla Davey is a Chartered Commercial Surveyor working in rail freight at Network Rail. Covering a large patch from South East London down to Dorset, she manages sidings, open storage and industrial sites, bringing together commercial surveying, landlord and tenant work, lease compliance and on the ground health and safety. Layla came into surveying via a psychology degree and a role in local authority estates, where she discovered a love of leases and problem solving. Diagnosed with dyslexia and autism in adulthood, she completed her surveying apprenticeship, master’s and APC while working full time and raising two young children. She is now an RICS counsellor, with a particular passion for supporting neurodivergent surveyors and those balancing family life with the APC.

Disclaimer
The views expressed in this episode are Layla's own and are not representative of her employer.

What We Cover

• What a Chartered Commercial Surveyor does in rail freight at Network Rail
• Managing sidings, open storage and industrial sites alongside landlord and tenant work
• Lone working on site, safety apps, procedures and the Suzy Lamplugh story
• How Japanese knotweed, asbestos and other risks show up along the railway
• Layla’s route into surveying from a psychology degree and local authority work
• Doing a surveying apprenticeship, a master’s and the APC while raising two young children
• Dyslexia, autism, possible ADHD traits and how they affect processing and focus at work
• Reasonable adjustments for the APC and support available from RICS
• Burnout, sensory overload and the value of workplace coaching and quiet spaces
• Why Layla loves leases, landlord and tenant puzzles, and is now training as an RICS counsellor

Useful Links

Layla Davey LinkedIn 

Suzy Lamplugh Trust 

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