‘Where do you see yourself in a year’s time?’ If this question was posed to me last year, I don’t think working for Vickery Holman as a Graduate Building Surveyor while doing a Masters, an APC and an Apprenticeship at the same time would have even made it into the top ten replies. Training towards being a Chartered Building Surveyor was a dream I all but gave up four years ago when I had the superior luck of graduating in the middle of a global pandemic.
Since my very first day (which was spent at Dartmoor Zoo!) I have been overwhelmed with the level of support, encouragement and kindness at Vickery Holman, it’s a far cry from the previous three years I spent working on yachts as a carpenter. In six months alone I have travelled all over the Southwest for inspections and surveys, assisted in project monitoring and reinstatement cost assessments, created plans for disability adaptions and spent entire days at the pub, albeit for dilapidations claims.
A large part of my time is also spent on party wall matters and building disputes, while working alongside my mentor Dennis, his guidance and patience as I have essentially had to adjust to a whole new way of thinking and working with this career change has been second to none and I can’t believe I ever found him scary during my interview.
Along side my work I have also been given the amazing opportunity to continue my education through Vickery Holman. I started my Building Surveying MSc with UCEM in March with the added bonus of an Apprenticeship, while getting the ball rolling for my APC. This means that I can devote a portion of my working week to study surrounded by people who are experts in their respective fields.
In the last 6 months I have gained a sense of confidence in myself and optimism for my future that I didn’t previously have. I know what I’m working towards now, and I no longer have to wonder where I will be in a year’s time.
