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,…

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:…

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:…

Encouraging existing staff to upskill

"The apprenticeship scheme has enabled more women to enter the industry on a level playing field.” Name: Paul Pratten Job role: Associate Director Company: Quadrant Building Control Paul is Associate…

Fostering diversity and facilitating social mobility through apprenticeships

"You can’t be a good representative of an organisation if you don’t get the support equally from UCEM. For me the relationship works so well at both ends because both…

Championing apprentices from the technical team

“The apprenticeship route gives an opportunity to people who wouldn’t previously have thought of construction as an option, whether that’s surveying, sustainability, or contracts." Name: William Tobin Job role: Senior…