Trainee surveyor Review

On a day to day basis, I manage retail parks on behalf of numerous clients. I also get involved on the management of a few mixed use schemes. I liaise with landlords and tenants, review leases, make accounting decisions and update accounting systems, draft and maintain service charge accounts, visit sites and complete monthly and quarterly client reports.

I have learnt loads of new skills. I have greatly developed my skill in how to liaise effectively with different types of people, whether that be colleagues, clients or tenants. I have developed my knowledge of office 2013 and have become highly competent in excel. My eye for detail has dramatically improved.

I love that I have the opportunity to complete my degree as well as work full time. When I left 6th form, I still had no idea what I wanted to do but I knew that it wasn’t the right time for me to go to university. Savills gave me the opportunity to work and to study at the same time. Although this is an amazing opportunity, it can also be extremely difficult to get a good balance between work, studying and social life, especially when assignments and exams are due.

The programme that I am undertaking is extremely well structured. Semesters are set out over a 23 week period which is given to you a week before starting each module. You currently undertake two modules at a time. I have a set day a week where I study. There have been a couple of administrative organisational issues however these have been resolved fairly quickly.

My employer is always offering support where support may be necessary. There isn’t a huge amount of involvement my employer has been able to have with my degree currently as the topics I have studied do not particularly relate to my specific department within my company. When needed, colleagues have always chipped in to help review my work or answer any questions I have not known the answer to.

I receive a huge amount of support from my training provider. I have quarterly meetings set up with an allocated apprentice coordinator who will discuss any issues I am having with my degree and any ways that they can be resolved. To date, I have not had any significant issues so have not really had to tap into this resource.

My qualification gives me a complete understanding of the various roles within my field of work and helps me to better communicate with other colleagues within my sector. Not only does it help me to communicate with colleagues, it also help with the understanding of various other firms and roles within property.

My work carry out many social activities and networking events throughout the year with other apprentices within my company, colleagues and apprentices outside my company. There is a committee to organise events for apprentices within my company and we regularly get together to discuss how we are getting on and whether there is any support required.

Yes

Savills is an amazing company to work for with various opportunities to develop that you may not be able to get elsewhere, especially at a smaller property company. Savills can give you the experience in various different sectors, without having to leave the comfort of your own office. The wide array of knowledge in Savills is key to succeeding within this industry.

Work hard, play hard. The more hours you put into studying and working, the more you will get out of your career but you also need to ensure you are getting out and networking with colleagues and other individuals and making the connections you need to progress your career within the future. Networking is key.