Name: Zara McGregor
Job title: Chief UAS pilot, Plowman Craven
What I do: I work across drone operations, surveying and aerial data capture. My role involves planning flights, carrying out risk assessments and making sure everything we do complies with CAA regulations. I also help keep procedures up to date, support tenders and project planning, and split my time between the site and the office.
Why I got into the property industry: I’ve always had a genuine appreciation for architecture, buildings and how things are constructed. The built environment fascinates me because there’s so much more to it than what you see from the outside. Getting behind the scenes of iconic buildings and structures, and working in places the public would never normally access to, is something I find really interesting. I considered studying architecture at university, so in a way I feel like I’ve found a bit of a cheat code into the industry. I get to understand buildings from a completely different perspective, combining my interest in the built environment with technology and UAS.
How I did it: I entered the industry through a two-year geospatial technician apprenticeship at Dudley College, where I achieved a distinction. My first role gave me experience in railway surveying, both on site and in the office. From there I moved into measured building surveys, CAD and drone work before joining Plowman Craven in 2025. Picking up experience across different areas has definitely helped me.
My first proper job: My apprenticeship was my first proper job. I worked on railway surveys, gaining experience on site and processing the data back in the office. It gave me a really good grounding in how a survey works from start to finish.
The biggest challenge I’ve encountered to date: One of my biggest challenges has been being taken seriously and making sure my voice is heard. I’ve always put myself forward for progression and tried to prove my ability, but at times that effort hasn’t been recognised or has been taken for granted. That can be frustrating and make you question why you keep pushing yourself. There’s also the reality of working in environments that can still be very male-dominated. I generally just crack on, do my job and let my work speak for itself. If something crosses a line, I’ll call it out or make it clear that it isn’t acceptable. I’ve learned not to let it distract me from what I’m there to do.
The biggest misconception people have about the property industry: That you need multiple university degrees, qualifications and impressive titles after your name to have a successful career. Qualifications and professional accreditation are valuable, but there are also routes to gaining them while you work and build experience. For me, practical experience, curiosity and a willingness to learn can be just as valuable as what’s written on your CV.
My biggest bugbear about the industry/the one thing I would change: Sometimes the industry makes itself seem more complicated than it needs to be. There’s a lot of jargon and an assumption that people should already know certain things. I’d like to see it become more accessible, particularly for younger people and those entering the industry for the first time.
Where I’d like to be in five years’ time career-wise: I’m open to seeing where the industry takes me rather than having one rigid five-year plan. I can see myself flying less and spending more time teaching and supporting others. I enjoy showing people how to carry out building surveys using UAS and helping them understand not just how to fly a drone, but how to use it effectively as part of a wider inspection process. I’d also love to gain offshore experience. The more challenging and unusual the environment, the more interested I tend to be, so hopefully in five years I’ll have a few more stories about flying in places people wouldn’t expect a drone to be.
Who I’d invite, living or dead, to a dinner party: Cleopatra. I’d be fascinated to hear about ancient Egypt and her dynasty, particularly how the pyramids and other incredible structures were viewed at the time and the planning that went into them.
What I do in my downtime: I love travelling and seeing new places, working out, buying clothes and exploring new areas of London, where I currently live.
My advice for someone just starting out: Try to get experience with different companies, teams and types of projects. Everyone does things slightly differently and you learn a lot from seeing other approaches. There are also more routes into the industry than you might realise. I came in through an apprenticeship and the practical experience has been really valuable.
My motto/mantra: Everything happens for a reason. I try to keep that in mind when things don’t go the way I expected. You can’t always immediately see why an opportunity hasn’t worked out, but those moments can often lead to somewhere better or teach you something you wouldn’t otherwise have learned. It’s important to shift your mindset in tough times.
