Building Surveyor Apprentice Review

I am a Building Surveyor Apprentice working for Savills (UK) Ltd. I am currently based in Oxford and I am working within the Architectural Design/ Building Consultancy team, specialising in architectural design. Day-to-day I take measured surveys of any type of property and structures, ranging from listed city walls to Victorian factories. I then take these surveys and create elevation, section and floor plan drawings on AutoCAD. In some cases I even create 3D drawings. I work very closely with contractors that are completing works on the sites I am working on and ensure that I make regular site checks to monitor progress. I also curate heritage and design statements that will guide many of my projects through gaining planning permission.

I have always been passionate about architecture and when I was in school I often tried to generate drawings that an architect may use themselves. Since joining Savills these skills have been matched with a knowledge of regulations and standards, this has allowed me to grow my skill of drawing buildings and structures. I have gained knowledge in property and construction from both my course and work. I now notice certain aspects of many buildings that I come across on a daily basis, whether it be within work or outside of it. I can see areas where my skills are lacking and areas where I have existing skills that can only improve when mixed with the working world.

Despite being nervous about being able to cope with the sudden change in daily hours spent working from school to work, I am yet to feel a day go slowly. So much happens day-to-day and I am always being presented with new tasks or exciting projects. I am lucky to be in a position where I am meeting clients in both an office and out of office space, which is exactly what suits my personality. I enjoy meeting new people that can help me to grow within the industry and getting out of the office on such a regular basis keeps me in a happy mind-set. The employees of Savills that I have met so far have been incredibly welcoming and all have made an effort to help me and I try to do so for them. This keeps working relationships very healthy. I do not believe I could be happier in another position.

I work from 8:45 to 5:45 for four days a week, with one day in the week being dedicated to my course and study. This works well for me as I can spend enough time ensuring that my work is of a high-quality, but my study is also gaining enough attention to not fall in quality. I also spend one day a month in a lecture scenario meeting with tutors face-to-face which is very useful when completing a course largely done over the internet.

My employer has been nothing but supportive. I am being offered opportunities to work on new projects, meet new people and gain help and guidance on a very regular basis. My team are all willing to let me help them in any way they can and they are all very willing to help me in return. My line manager likes to keep updated on my progress and from sharing this he will guide me to completing work at the highest standard, both in study and at work.

My course is a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) which means my work is largely completed over the internet. This means that I cannot meet with my tutors on a regular basis, but they are always willing to get in contact over the phone or through email. This creates a relaxed yet productive environment where I know that the support from my tutors is there when I need it.

Although I believe that I learn best when doing something, which is why I chose to go down the apprenticeship route, it can be crucial to sit down and study what I am doing day-to-day to grow my knowledge and improve what I do. The extra understanding gained from the qualification can make things a lot clearer on-the-job, especially when it has been studied before.

There are plenty. Due to the size of Savills there is always someone who shares an interest with you. I myself like rugby and have joined in on some of the rugby training sessions with another office, which has been a great way to make friends within the company and also learn what else the company can provide. There are numerous networking events that I am invited to. I try to get to as many as I can because I believe that in my position it is crucial to gain allies within the workplace and constantly be learning. I also consider myself to be a good communicator and so I see networking as something to enjoy and not a chore.

Yes

Despite only joining the full-time working world less than a year ago, I can tell that Savills is one of the most welcoming companies in the country, if not the world. Almost everyone I have spoken to about my apprenticeship within the company has said how much opportunity sits within the company for its employees and I am often presented with new and exciting tasks. Savills clearly know how to train their employees and how to ensure that all employees are happy, which I believe to be the most important factor of working.

Be honest when asked questions about your skills and knowledge. No one expects you to be an expert at such a young age and pretending to know something you don't will only backfire in the long run. I also believe that Savills employ people not just for their expertise and potential in a working sense, but they are searching for people who are genuine and easy to talk to. There is no point being awkward and hard to talk to in a workplace, so be friendly and natural around anyone, even those who have a lot of control and power across the company.