Jim Castle graduated in 1979 with an Honours Degree in Building, followed by a five year within the construction industry. In 1984 he moved into professional practice, later becoming a full member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). His later work has mainly concentrated on building surveys and professional negligence, becoming an expert witness in 2009. In the same year Jim became a lecturer at the School of the Built and Natural Environment working within the Building Surveying programme.