Associate Chartered Minerals and Waste Surveyor, Maisie Millard and Assistant Surveyor Apprentice, Megan May, both work in Newmark’s¹, Leeds office, within their specialist Minerals and Waste Management team.

Both joined Newmark via the apprenticeship route, yet they have taken different pathways to reach their goals.

Maisie Millard - “The apprenticeship stigma from our school days is so wrong. We cannot advocate enough for the apprenticeship we have taken; it has been pivotal in our career development”.

Maisie Millard – Getting to work without university

Having finished her A-levels in 2017, Maisie’s family and friends expected her to go to university and follow a traditional education pathway. Maisie, however, had different thoughts. With a passion for geography and geology, she did her research on universities but decided to look ahead to what a relatively niche geography degree could mean in the real world of work. What careers could she expect and what rate of progression was achievable? Maisie concluded that she wanted to get to work as soon as possible, to be hands-on and to leave a full-time classroom.

Maisie looked carefully into apprenticeships, ignoring peer pressure and any negative perceptions of what apprentices are.  She quickly discovered that an apprenticeship was a great way to secure a job within an area she enjoyed and, alongside her work, be able to gain a relevant degree, without the cost of going to university.

“When I was leaving school there was an education hierarchy and the expectation of falling into university without a real plan of what came next. I looked at the costs and where university would take me and felt that if I spent the four years in work, rather than solely in higher education, I would be able to progress more”.

When Maisie saw the Level 6 Newmark Minerals and Waste Surveyor apprenticeship opportunity, she quickly knew this was how to pursue her passion for geology and geography and join a respected international business. To gain relevant work experience, not just theoretical knowledge. Rather than get a degree and have to pitch her qualifications to Newmark, the apprenticeship enabled her to secure the company and sector she wanted.

Her apprenticeship provided four and a half years of getting to know the company, working closely with experienced colleagues and high value clients. Her schedule of four days work and one day study did mean that Maisie had to work hard to combine the day job with degree study, but it was a commitment she could see value in.

“I knew I was still getting the degree I would have got at university, but this one was specific to my job role and facilitated by my employer through the Apprenticeship Levy, leaving me debt-free. They had not only invested in me but also invested in my education and knowledge whilst acknowledging the long-term benefits for the business.”

During the four-year apprenticeship Maisie was able to build her professional network, experience quarries face-to-face and gain face time with clients.  

She was mentored internally by experienced people and supported externally by the apprenticeship provider, University College Estate Management (UCEM)², via a dedicated Apprenticeship Outcome Officer. A two-pronged balance that kept Maisie on track at work and in her studies.  

Via her own dedication and the logic of the apprenticeship pathway Maisie was able to further progress to Chartership status and become an Associate within two and a half years of finishing the apprenticeship.  

“I chose the straight to work route to get ahead, with the apprenticeship route playing a key role in unlocking great opportunities.”

Megan May - “I’m proving my worth to my company and achieving career milestones and qualifications at a young age.”

Megan May – Becoming an apprentice after graduating

Megan, however, decided on a different path. After her A-Levels, she did choose university. “It seemed the obvious and only choice for me, as I loved studying and knew little about the world of work. I didn’t really consider the financial side of student loans, as most people were told not to worry about it, as it was a loan that could be repaid over many years, with the potential of it being written off eventually.” 

Megan had a positive university life, giving her more time to really consider how she wanted to use her degree. Once she graduated, she too wanted to more specifically use her earth science interests and saw that the Newmark Minerals and Waste Surveying Apprenticeship would give her the opportunity to work in this field.  

Megan’s Level 7  apprenticeship means she is currently studying for her master’s degree and ultimately chartership, both at no financial cost to herself. As her degree wasn’t RICS accredited, the master’s is the key for allowing her to become a chartered surveyor. 

“Where Maisie has progressed fantastically using her 4-year apprenticeship at Newmark, leading to her being Chartered and an Associate, I am able to do a shorter two-year apprenticeship with Newmark, because of being a graduate and am now working towards becoming Chartered. It’s a similar outcome, via the two routes. Now working for Newmark, I gain the mentorship of my colleagues which I can directly apply to my studies.”

 

“I think we are both ahead of the career curve thanks to the apprenticeship route and its application in our everyday roles. It’s helped us both to be able to build strong relationship networks with clients and to be seen as valuable to the Newmark team,”

So many benefits of apprenticeships

Working alongside learning gave both Maisie and Megan greater financial freedom, moving their lives forward, outside of work.

Now, both in their mid-twenties, they feel that the apprenticeship is the glue between getting the role you want and investing in your knowledge. Maisie’s position as an Associate at such an early age and with Megan soon to follow, has created a strong platform for personal development and career acceleration.

“I think we are both ahead of the career curve thanks to the apprenticeship route and its application in our everyday roles. It’s helped us both to build strong relationship networks with clients and to be seen as valuable to the Newmark team,” says Megan.

The level 6 and level 7 apprenticeships have also offered flexibility, giving them the ability to schedule study around work commitments and research at times convenient for them. For both, it ensured that education fits their career. It is relevant and with a purpose to support the business they work for. It was a great way to reinforce their understanding of the theory by working on live projects.

Maisie has completed, and ultimately Megan will, the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC), in order to become members of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)³. Again, this is funded by Newmark, further highlighting the financial benefits of the apprenticeship route. 

Any regrets on either pathway?

For Maisie, going straight to work and still having to study, she missed the typical “university social life” but was able to still visit friends across the country at weekends.  

For Megan, her “university social life” existed but, post covid, lectures and university life has changed from a decade ago.  Having to work and study is hard, but the goals that can be achieved as a result are worth it.

Maturity and confidence

Another positive outcome for both Maisie and Megan is the confidence that the apprenticeship route and progression to Chartership and beyond has given them. All bases are covered – you have advice and support from the team and mentoring on the degree. There is always an avenue to ask questions, and the result is you become surer of your own abilities and more mature in your thinking.

Final words of advice

Both Maisie and Megan understand that it’s very difficult at 18 years old to understand what careers involve and how you can apply your strengths. “Go for it” is their apprenticeship mantra.

Whilst there is no wrong route into work, an apprenticeship offers a clear pathway into the sector you think is most of interest. Once you are working for an employer in your chosen sector, understanding the specialism you want to pursue becomes clearer. The apprenticeship provides structure and on-going support, enabling personal development.  

Whilst unpaid internships are available and can work short term, being a paid apprentice worked better for Maisie and Megan to be able to afford life and get their careers off to a flying start. Having the underlying security of being employed whilst still gaining higher education qualifications gives real purpose to the learning.

Employers want experience and the apprenticeship gives that, tailor made to the business goals.

Having the apprenticeship via a specialist provider, University College Estate Management (UCEM) and chartership with the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) ensured that serious credentials were added to Maisie’s and Megan’s CV.

Maisie and Megan, despite joining Newmark in two different ways, agree on the value of the apprenticeship, “The apprenticeship stigma from our school days is so wrong. We cannot advocate enough for the apprenticeship we have taken; it has been pivotal in our career development”.

Newmark is currently recruiting apprentices to join the scheme. Details of how to apply can be found at https://www.nmrk.com/en-gb/apprenticeships

References

¹Newmark Property Services – https://www.nmrk.com/en-gb/offices/leeds

²University College of Estate Management – https://www.ucem.ac.uk/apprenticeship-programmes/

³Assessment of Professional Competence – https://www.rics.org/join-rics/rics-member-grades/chartered-member-mrics/assessment-of-professional-competence-apc