Why Blackbird?
Blackbird is a name chosen with purpose and pride. Inspired by Paul McCartney’s song, (although dare we upset Beatles fans by saying we love the Beyonce version more), it speaks to empowerment, resilience, and new beginnings, values that shape how we work.
Independent by design
As a proud Black-owned business, the name nods to the freedom and responsibility of building something of our own. It reminds us to approach every project with courage, care, and a commitment to creating opportunity.
A watchful, practical spirit
Like the bird that gives the name its strength, we bring acute observation, adaptability, and steady judgement to every inspection and report.
Client-centred empowerment
We aim to give clients clarity and confidence: practical, evidence-led advice that frees people to make better decisions about their homes, investments, and disputes.
Rooted in integrity
Our values—technical excellence, transparency, and fair-minded collaboration—shape everything we do and reflect the dignity behind our name.
Blackbird is more than a brand; it’s a promise to work with precision, empathy, and purpose, helping people and places thrive.
Building lasting relationships founded on trust, integrity, and professionalism.
🖤 Meet the Two Fellows Behind Blackbird
At Blackbird Property Surveyors Ltd, leadership is more than a title, it’s a commitment to excellence, integrity, and community.
As Fellows of their respective professional bodies, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (FRICS) and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (FCIPD), Learie and Nicola bring a depth of expertise and ethical clarity that underpins every instruction.
Together, they lead with a watchful eye and a shared vision for a surveying practice that’s as empowering as it is technically robust.
Learie Gonsalves
BSc (Hons), FRICS
Technical Director
Learie is a Chartered Building Surveyor and Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (FRICS), with over 20 years of experience across residential, commercial, and public sector projects. His portfolio includes iconic buildings in Leicester and landmark commissions such as the Palace of Westminster.
Known for his technical depth and precision, Learie leads Blackbird’s Building Surveying service lines with a client-first ethos rooted in quality and professionalism. As a Chartered Fellow of RICS, he brings sound professional judgement, and a commitment to the highest technical building surveying standards — ensuring every instruction is delivered with clarity, integrity, and purpose.
You can follow Learie’s reflections, technical insights, and stories from the field on his blog: Adventures in Property Surveying — a thoughtful look at the challenges and triumphs that shape the built environment.
Nicola Gonsalves
FCIPD
Commercial Director
Nicola is a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD and a senior business leader in people strategy and transformation, with over two decades of experience across retail, logistics, and healthcare. She has built high-performing people management teams and led large-scale programmes focused on organisational change, workforce engagement, and leadership development, always balancing commercial clarity with human impact.
At Blackbird, Nicola leads our Property Development service line, a dynamic new chapter for the business, driving strategic planning, brand development and growth. A recently qualified Interior Designer, she brings her people problem-solving expertise into the world of property, combining commercial thinking with a strong eye for design and detail.
Nicola believes great property should do more than look good. It should work beautifully, perform efficiently and feel right for the people who use it. Her strategic approach to development brings together functionality, design, client experience and commercial performance, creating spaces that are considered, purposeful and built to thrive.
Together their leadership ensures Blackbird remains operationally smooth, commercially viable, and culturally inclusive, with every cog turning in service of a reputable surveying practice that’s built to last.
Helping People and Places Thrive
At Blackbird, our purpose goes beyond property. Helping People and Places Thrive is at the heart of what we do, and that means being part of the communities around us.
We’re proud to partner with Caribbean Collective, supporting its work to bring people together, celebrate Caribbean culture and create positive opportunities within our local community. We believe strong communities are built through connection, collaboration and opportunity, and we’re delighted to play our part in supporting an organisation that shares those values.
For us, this partnership is about more than giving back. It’s about building connections, celebrating community and helping create places where people can feel they can thrive.
🎾 When They’re Not Surveying…
Beyond the clipboard, Learie is a passionate advocate for increasing diversity within the surveying profession. He regularly collaborates with local colleges and universities to inspire the next generation of surveyors. When he’s not on site, you’ll find him curating his vinyl collection or DJing in the kitchen — often with a nod to his favourite soul and reggae classics.
Outside of work, Nicola is all about the family and recharges through running — fast enough to earn the meals she loves to cook, followed by a glass of wine and a good Netflix binge.
Together, Learie and Nicola are a formidable force in business — and a hilariously beatable duo on the pickleball and badminton court. Every Tuesday night, they’re happy to be outplayed (and out-laughed) by anyone brave enough to challenge them.
Our People
Blackbird Property Surveying Ltd is committed to creating meaningful employment opportunities within the community. Passionate about diversity and inclusion, we aim to ensure our growth benefits people from all backgrounds. Every role within the organisation contributes specialist expertise to deliver property development projects efficiently, on time, and within budget — while upholding the highest quality and regulatory standards.
Chartered Surveyors
Blackbird Property Surveying Ltd will engage qualified Chartered Surveyors or partner organisations as required to deliver professional commissions and maintain the highest industry standards.
Administration
Our business relies on a strong foundation of administrative support, including bookkeepers, accountants, and office administrators. While some services are already in place, continued growth will create new opportunities for skilled individuals to help plan and organise company activities.
Property Development Partners
Our success depends on collaboration. We will build a diverse network of professionals, including architects, construction managers, and contractors, to deliver high-quality, efficient, and compliant property development projects.
Emerging Talent
To support growth and our social responsibility commitments, we will partner with local educational institutions to nurture emerging talent through work experience and placement opportunities, helping shape the next generation of property professionals.
Learie Gonsalves, FRICS, and Nicola Gonsalves, FCIPD, bring together a powerful fusion of technical expertise and strategic commercial leadership, a partnership that underpins Blackbird Property Surveyors Ltd’s commitment to excellence.
Learie’s depth of knowledge in building surveying, grounded in the highest professional and ethical standards of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, is complemented by Nicola’s strength in strategic people leadership and commercial insight. Together, they ensure that Blackbird works in effective partnership with other organisations, aligning technical delivery with strong relationship management to achieve outstanding client outcomes.
This dual lens, technical and people, enables Blackbird to maintain a watchful eye on every aspect of service, building trusted collaborations and laying the foundation for long-term success.