Commercial property agent Innes England has welcomed five ambitious young professionals on the firm’s popular graduate scheme and placement year programme, bringing the total number of professionals on the current scheme to nine.
Every year the firm recruits the very best young talent in the property industry and supports them through a structured Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) training scheme to become fully-qualified chartered surveyors and members of the industry body, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
Innes England’s APC programme has a strong success rate with 90% passing first time and graduate surveyors continue to progress their careers with the firm. Furthermore, the agency’s latest staff retention figures were listed at 90% in comparison to peers in the industry reporting a comparable average of 83%.
The new graduates Sam Hall, Hasan Ali, Harriett Dexter and Oliver Taplin have joined Innes England and Vicky Gray has commenced a placement year.
Sam Hall, aged 22, selected Innes England as the agency to complete his APC over a London firm because of its reputation in the Midlands.
He explained: “I know a lot of graduates who wanted to go straight to London, but there are a lot of other brilliant practices that offer graduate schemes. I know the Nottingham area really well, making it the ideal location to kick-start my career in the agency team.”
Hasan Ali, aged 22, has joined Nottingham’s building surveying team. He added: “Innes England appealed to me because of its young talent. The firm is also quite up-and-coming, having been voted the region’s most active agent for 10 years in a row. I’m keen to achieve my chartered status as soon as I can and ultimately grow with the company.”
Originally from Nottingham, 24-year-old Harriett Dexter has returned to her home town to join Innes England’s professional team. “I’ve already been working on lease renewals and valuations which has been great experience so far,” she said. “Every month everyone involved in the scheme meets to discuss different topics and share ideas; the level of support and guidance is just what I wanted.”
Oliver Taplin, aged 25, joins the management team in Derby. He said: ““I’m exposed to a client’s large portfolio, dealing with property management, rent reviews and lease renewals. I’m really enjoying the range of work I’m getting involved in and Innes England’s support is invaluable towards growing my experience and eventually becoming chartered.”
After completing two weeks’ work experience at the business last summer, Vicky Gray has joined the Nottingham team for a year’s placement within the professional team.
Vicky said: “I choose to come back to Innes England during my placement year because everyone was so welcoming when I came for work experience initially. Once I’ve completed my sandwich course at Nottingham Trent University, I hope I can come back as a graduate and complete my APC with the agency.”
Laura Jardine, surveyor and APC Counsellor, explained: “Our graduates benefit from regular mentoring and on-the-job experience in all aspects of a commercial property agency. It’s important that we encourage those interested to help boost the number of surveyors coming into the industry.
“Three of our graduate surveyors are key members of industry boards and property network groups; Laura Hibbs has been elected to the RICS Matrics UK board, Joe Reilly has been appointed on the Emerging Talent committee and Ross Whiting is now part of NPS Futures.
“This is a fantastic achievement for them all and highlights how quickly our graduates can progress their career.”
