The blossoming careers of two young people working for a national commercial property consultancy came under the spotlight in Lincolnshire during National Apprenticeship Week.
Lambert Smith Hampton’s (LSH) Lincoln office played host to University College of Estate Management (UCEM) apprenticeship outcomes officer Debi Gaskin-Palmer who met the company’s three young apprentices.
Alex Clifton and Jack Deakin were recruited as apprentices and are training to become fully qualified chartered surveyors, being supported by LSH as they study at UCEM for degrees in real estate. A former swimming teacher, Alex is now working in lease advisory, while Jack is in the agency team. A third apprentice, Harry Collins, is working in valuation.
Alex, aged 21, said: “I was enjoying being a swimming teacher but I wanted something that would give me a career path. I heard about the LSH apprentice programme and I was delighted when I joined the team at the Lincoln office.
“It is going really, really well and I love my new career. LSH is supporting me while I study for a BCs Honours degree in real estate, and I’m finding it a massive bonus to be learning while I’m working. I’m getting hands-on experience and, for me, that’s the best way to learn.”
The theme for the 12th annual National Apprenticeship Week was: ‘Blaze a Trail’. The week celebrated how apprentices bring new energy and passion into organisations. The aim was to shine the spotlight on apprenticeships as a great path for people at any stage of their career; from those starting out, to those re-entering the workforce, or those wanting to re-skill or change careers.
Debi, from UCEM, shadowed the apprentices to see what a day in their working lives entailed.
She said: “It was a real pleasure for me to spend time with Alex and Jack. In my role I regularly monitor and record the progress and achievements of our UCEM apprentices but seeing how effective, engaged and passionate they are in their jobs and how valued they are within their teams was the best part of the day for me.”
Tim Shaw, office director for LSH in Lincoln, said: “Our apprentices Alex, Jack and Harry are valuable members of the team and I’m sure they will go on to enjoy successful careers in commercial property. There will always be a need for graduates with real estate degrees, and we shouldn’t forget the need to attract more mature candidates with experience of the market.
“However, I am committed to giving more young people, from diverse backgrounds, an opportunity to build a career in commercial property here at LSH through our apprenticeship programme.”
Nationally, LSH is supporting young apprentices who want a career as RICS-qualified chartered surveyors in a range of fields including valuation, agency, rating, capital markets and lease advisory.
