COP28: the good, the bad, and the ugly

In this guest article, UCEM’s Jessica Gordon-Calvert gives her personal reaction to the fallout from December’s international climate conference. By Jessica Gordon-Calvert, Sustainability Education & Engagement Officer From an outsider’s…

How apprenticeships can upskill your workforce for the future

Apprenticeships can be the solution to the built environment's growing skills gap. Here's how. As the built environment grapples with top-level challenges like climate change, population growth and economic uncertainty,…

Giving the construction industry a second chance: a Q&A with UCEM Apprentice Jodi-Ann Morgan

What does the built environment need to do to improve diversity and representation? We sat down with apprentice quantity surveyor Jodi-Ann Morgan to find out. The built environment has significant…

Forty apprentices and counting

Mark Winsor, Talent and Development Manager at Lambert Smith Hampton, believes younger generations will play a crucial part in helping the built environment overcome the challenges of sustainability, diversity and…

12 sustainable alternatives to traditional concrete

Concrete, the second most-consumed substance in the world behind water, is also one of the most damaging to the environment. Here are 12 sustainable alternatives. The sector-wide push to realise…

Back to UCEM for a Master’s after 20 years

Leanne Conroy, a Surveyor at Vail Williams and current Master's degree apprentice with UCEM, thought apprenticeships were just for people straight out of school. Name: Leanne Conroy Job role: Surveyor…

From building enthusiast to real estate professional

Dontae's long-standing interest and passion for property has led him to launch an exciting career as a Junior Flexible Office Consultant at Workthere. Name: Dontae Francois Job role: Junior Flexible…

From admin assistant to trainee building surveyor

"My plan was never to go into surveying, but I’ve fallen into the industry and now I’m doing something that I absolutely love.” Name: Sophie Ollerton Job role: Trainee Building…

A fourth-generation bricklayer-turned-surveyor

Adam Stride, a Building Surveyor and UCEM apprentice, is looking forward to continuing to explore the world of property and surveying with Savills in the coming years. Name: Adam Stride Job…

Seamlessly switching employers mid-apprenticeship

"This apprenticeship has changed a lot in my life and done really positive things for me, so I’d like to be able to pay that forward to other people.” Name:…

Working, earning and studying simultaneously through an apprenticeship

Jodi-Ann Morgan, Junior Cost Consultant with Arcadis Consulting and winner of UCEM's Apprentice of the Year - Undergraduate award in 2024, has thrived on the apprenticeship model and the ability…

From 100-hour weeks in utilities to quantity surveying

Jack Bradshaw, Trainee Quantity Surveyor with Cooper & Hall Limited, has successfully transitioned from the utilities industry to an exciting career in the built environment. Name: Jack Bradshaw Job role:…