Apprentice Surveyor Review

I am currently placed in the National Valuation team. The national valuation team covers valuation of core asset classes across the country. My day to day role primarily consists of preparing valuation of mostly office buildings however this does extend to other asset classes. This involves inspecting the property, reviewing due diligence, reviewing market evidence, preparing a draft valuation followed by the draft report.

During my apprenticeship I have learned many new skills across both soft and hard skills. These include communication, presentation and organisation skills. I have also improved by report writing ability, investment arithmetic, lending terms, tenant relations and managing client expectations. These skills have allowed me to continue to grow in my role in and prepare me for the roles and responsibilities I will gain upon qualification.

Although impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic I have enjoyed being part of the CBRE apprenticeship scheme. Firstly, the support of colleagues when joining at a young age with no experience was beneficial. In addition to this, during the COVID-19 pandemic the business remained connected and supportive of colleagues during this difficult period and remained transparent.

The course has a very clear structure which is beneficial and allows for effective time management when juggling university and work commitments. The university also provide timelines and expectations for students which is beneficial for time management. In addition to this, UCEM offer a flexible course allowing apprentices to catch up on university work on there study rather than having to attend fixed webinars throughout the week.

There is centrally organised training to support apprentices with soft skills. In addition to this, line managers also receive training centrally to ensure apprentices receive adequate support. Working in a team environment also aids an apprentices learning as they benefit from perspectives and insights from a range of people of different backgrounds and seniority.

After 2 years of being on the programme apprentices will start studying towards their assessment of professional competence (APC) to become a charted surveyor with the RICS. This additional requirement has clear training timelines and CBRE provide an additional structured training course over two years for the assessment. Qualified colleagues also give up time to support and teach apprentices during this period.

The qualification studied part time provides the underlying theory of the work being undertaken. This means that when providing advice to a client or completing work and apprentice understands the different approaches to a challenges and why it is being carried out in a specific way. This is more beneficial then just learning on the job as an apprentice may only learn a single way to complete a task. One of the drawbacks of the qualification is due to the balance of work and university, an apprentice may only learn coursework to the relevant assignments which can limited learning.

There are many extra-curricular activities that an apprentice can get involved in at work. I currently am involved in a tennis club at work. In addition to this there are many sports teams which often compete in a Real Estate industry league. This is a great opportunity to network with professionals from other organizations. Due to the apprenticeships being part of the Next Generation at CBRE which includes graduate schemes, interns and work placements, there is a Next Gen monthly social in addition to other next gen events. CBRE also has a young professionals network which allows the next gen to bring clients to an event hosted by CBRE. This is a great opportunity to network and build client relationships.

Yes

The opportunity to work at a large company and gain exposure to all disciplines of real estate is unmatched. Further to this, due to the size of the next generation programme, there is a large support network of people in a similar situation to yourself which acts as a support network to discuss current challenges someone may be facing.

One of the tips I would give to anyone looking to apply to the CBRE apprenticeship scheme is to highlight where you have gone above and beyond whether that be in prior work, volunteering or education. Highlight these moments with specifics and link these to your soft or hard skills. Also demonstrate interest in the industry and remember as an applying apprentice, you are not expected to have the knowledge of a qualified professional! Lastly enjoy the process!