In our second post to mark National Apprenticeship Week, we caught up with Josh Hewitt, our first Apprentice Surveyor, who sits within our Property and Asset Management team. Six months into the role, Josh has offered us a window into his day-to-day and journey into property – over to you, Josh…
Taking a different route
After completing sixth form, Josh was unclear about which route he wanted to pursue, finding traditional routes to qualification less appealing. He’d always been interested in pursuing a career in property, however, so began researching alternative paths, soon coming across the idea of an apprenticeship.
“It made the most sense: the combination of working while also achieving professional qualifications would let me put my knowledge into practice on a day-to-day basis, so I took the leap.”
Building a skills toolkit
Josh’s interest in property both inside and outside the workplace positions him well for the role: in his free time, he and his brother have renovated a couple of properties together.
“And on top of that, the industry-specific skills I pick up in the classroom bolsters my understanding and learning on the job – all while I reap the benefits of earning. The apprenticeship has been invaluable and I’m looking forward to continuing to progress, gaining a greater understanding of the property industry as I learn.”
The rewards of the job
The apprenticeship has allowed Josh to experience an array of projects firsthand – and he’s only 23.
“A client of ours acquired a new retail portfolio, which taught me a lot about working with retail. It has its own specific challenges in comparison to standard commercial property management. It’s a really exciting opportunity, and challenge, to be involved in.”
After reflecting on his past few months in the role, Josh offered some advice to those considering an apprenticeship:
“Studying while working a full-time-job can be a lot if you find it difficult to stay on top of your workload. So I’d consider your learning style and what suits you best. If you are an organised person who has a willingness to learn, an apprenticeship can be a great pathway.”
For Josh, this means balancing his time between work, college, and his personal life. We’re pleased to hear that amongst it all, he still finds time to maintain his sporting interests – and impressive golf handicap of 3!
You can read part 1 of how we’re celebrating National Apprenticeship Week here: https://htc.uk.com/news/national-apprenticeship-week-part-1-dan-wear/
