From sixth form to first class honours

For National Apprenticeship Week 2022 we're hearing from degree apprentice students. Michael studied Building Surveying with ARU, and is now a Chartered Surveyor.

Growth in RICS accredited Chartered Surveyor Apprenticeships has flourished in the last few years and now we are seeing the positive impact for both the apprentices and their employers. Here is just one story.

Home grown talent

One of ARU’s first building surveying degree apprentices Michael Smith joined Munday + Cramer on their inaugural Degree Apprenticeship scheme in 2017, following on from his sixth form studies and a work placement opportunity. Michael saw his apprenticeship as fulfilling his ambition of becoming a Chartered Building Surveyor.

Fast forward to 2021, Michael graduated with a first-class degree in Chartered Surveying and has gone on to engage in a wide variety of areas within the firm, including peer-to-peer mentoring, taking part in pre-Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) challenges and starring in a “You’re Hired!” event made in conjunction with the DfE and RICS. His employer Lee Hatfield said, “Seeing Michael graduate with the highest honours is great to see, and testament to his hard work, as well as the support he’s received from his mentors and peers at Munday + Cramer and ARU.”

Michael said, “The degree apprenticeship has provided me with vital years of experience whilst gaining my qualifications. Now with 4 years’ experience in my company, I have gained a vast amount of knowledge about my industry, allowing me to have a key role within the business.”

Michael’s apprenticeship experience

Michael chose the degree apprenticeship as he wanted to pursue a long-term career after finishing 6th Form. He said, “A degree apprenticeship meant that I could start my career straight away, but also achieve a degree and be paid for learning.”

During his apprenticeship Michael said, “Whilst completing each module of the course, I was able to relate key information and topics into real work practice. You then have a greater understanding of the topics because you’re practising them daily.”

“I have been supported to work in the most effective and productive way that suits my role and the business. I have been able to work independently due to the trust that has been gained between myself and my employer.”

Michael‘s top tip for aspiring apprentices. “Seek work experience and placements to get a feel for what you like. Before I started my career as a building surveyor, I had an aspiration to pursue a career in engineering. I had four placements in engineering companies and one placement at Munday + Cramer. Following my experience at Munday + Cramer I knew I wanted to pursue a career in surveying/construction which I had never considered before.”

Michael now has higher ambitions from when he started thanks to the confidence and knowledge gained from his degree apprenticeship. “Now I have graduated, my aim is to complete my APC to become a Chartered Building Surveyor. After achieving my accreditation, I aim to become a director of a Chartered Surveying Practice.”

We wish Michael every success in the future.

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Published to mark National Apprenticeship Week 2022, and its theme Build the Future.

To find out more about becoming an apprentice visit Work and study with degree apprenticeships. Or, if you're looking to hire an apprentice visit Degree Apprenticeships for employers.