CBRE is launching a UK apprenticeships scheme, which it says is the first of its kind in the property sector.
The scheme will offer a route into an industry that has traditionally recruited only university graduates.
It will initially offer 10 young people the opportunity to study and work towards becoming a fully qualified chartered surveyor.
CBRE will work with the Chartered Surveyors Training Trust on a nationwide search to help identify candidates for the programme. The scheme will run for six years and will combine learning on the job with formal training.
Successful applicants will start in September and will study for an NVQ and BTEC in surveying.
On completion of the first two years, CBRE will sponsor the apprentices on an undergraduate course for a further three years, where they will attend university one day a week and study for a BSc in Real Estate. This will enable the apprentices to take the APC in their final year and ultimately become a fully qualified chartered surveyor and a member of the RICS.
CBRE UK managing director Ciaran Bird said: “I started in the industry at 16, and I’m very passionate about offering young people the kind of opportunities that I have had. We are always looking to attract talented people into CBRE and this apprenticeship programme will provide an alternative route into our profession to aspiring, career-orientated individuals, irrespective of their background.
“We also hope that this scheme will bring further diversity to our industry and that we can lead the way in opening up career opportunities within the property sector by offering a unique chance to learn and develop skills in a global firm.”
Christina Hirst, chief executive, CSTT, added: “It is important that businesses continue to invest in the next generation of employees, particularly in these difficult economic times, and it is great to see CBRE making this investment. Through offering these apprenticeships we can ensure that the company has the skills needed to meet future demands and address current skills gaps and at the same time provide once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for deserving young people.”
London mayor Boris Johnson welcomed the scheme. He said: “Apprenticeships are vital to help young people gain the skills and training they need to prosper in a career and to play an important role in boosting economic growth. It’s wonderful news that CBRE has committed to a scheme which will open up opportunities to a career in the property sector, an industry in which London leads the world. This is a commitment to create and invest in the next generation.”
samantha.mcclary@estatesgazette.com
