Two award nominations – with a neurodiversity diagnosis in-between
Posted on: 22 January, 2025
Toby Vowels, Assistant Building Surveyor at Rider Levett Bucknall, hasn’t looked back since shifting to a career in building surveying and overcoming a serious back injury.
Name: Toby Vowels
Job role: Assistant Building Surveyor
Company: Rider Levett Bucknall
Toby is a two-time nominee for the Rising Star award (a rare accomplishment!), and he’s had an eventful year between his first and second nominations.
He was invited to a neurodiversity screening by the disability and welfare team at UCEM in 2024, which flagged the possibility that he could be dyslexic. This is something Toby had suspected for a number of years. He then pursued a formal assessment, which confirmed dyslexia along with ADHD.
Toby only wishes he had been diagnosed when he was at school: “I struggled for years. I muddled through but academia has not been my best friend, and over the years there’s been a number of apprenticeships and courses that I have dropped out of.”
One of these previous courses was a carpentry apprenticeship that Toby started after completing one year of sixth form. It wasn’t his first choice: “I wanted something more office-based but the lack of higher education made that difficult.”
It would take several more twists and turns before Toby found his way to a degree apprenticeship that would enable him to train as a surveyor.
Toby’s route to Rider Levett Bucknall and UCEM
Toby moved into estate agency where he enjoyed learning about valuations and dealing with buy-to-let investors. After that he tried his hand at construction recruitment, where he dealt with building surveyors, project managers and quantity surveyors.
It was during his time in recruitment that Toby started talking to surveyors, understanding more about what they did and gaining awareness of other routes into the industry.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Toby acquired a Higher National Certificate (HNC), while still working full-time – and before realising he had dyslexia and ADHD – so that he would be able to access higher education in the future.
A marathon runner, Toby was immobilised by a back injury for several months in 2022: “I ran the marathon in April, and by September I couldn’t even tie my shoelaces. I was bedridden for months, and when I went back to work my employer was just horrible about my return. It gave me the push I needed to quit my job, and look to the future.”
While travelling in South East Asia, Toby decided to look for a role in a company that could enrol him on a building surveying apprenticeship degree. He took to Linkedin, answering every relevant job ad he could find, and reaching out to all his contacts and former clients. “I reckon I got around 200 rejections before a building surveyor partner at Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB) saw one of my posts and offered me an interview which I did while in Bali! I started a few weeks after getting back to the UK and I haven’t looked back.”
Committed to learning
From day one, Toby was determined that his learning experience at UCEM was going to be different.
“I dropped out of my A levels. I dropped out of my carpentry apprenticeship on the NVQ side because there was a lot of written work. I dropped out of an NVQ in sales because there was a lot of written work, and I really didn’t want to drop out of this apprenticeship because surveying and being in construction is what I’ve wanted to do for years. It’s what I live and breathe.”
For this reason, when UCEM’s disability and welfare team sent invitations to all students to take part in neurodiversity screening tests, Toby seized the opportunity to learn more about himself.
When the screening results showed a probability of dyslexia, UCEM and RLB co-funded the formal private assessment that also saw Toby diagnosed with ADHD.
“There’s a lot of peace that comes with understanding why my brain works the way it does,” says Toby.
Toby is now also able to access further practical support with his studies, which he sees as fundamental in achieving his goal to complete his apprenticeship at UCEM and progress within RLB.
Advocating for apprenticeships
Like most apprentices, Toby has a busy schedule balancing work and study, but he makes time to support and inspire the next generation:
“I’ve supported several work experience and summer placement candidates. Whether through discussing apprenticeship routes, sharing insights into various projects, or accompanying them on-site visits, I’m committed to encouraging the next generation of surveyors. Outside of RLB, I’ve also participated in university open days and school talks to inspire and guide aspiring professionals.”
Toby feels there is a lack of awareness outside of the sector of the various white collar careers that are available in the built environment.
“You see Bob the Builder on TV, but you don’t really see representation of the white collar roles, for example cost management.”
A two-time nominee
Toby has been nominated for the Rising Star award for the second year running: an achievement which has gone a long way towards tackling the imposter syndrome that can sometimes rear its head: “I’m not an emotional person but I did have an emotional response to being nominated for the second time. It shows I’m doing a good job, and I’m valued by those around me. And it makes me want to keep going and prove I can do more.”
Learn more: From admin assistant to trainee building surveyor
Toby has an interest in historic buildings: “I love historic buildings, I love the defect analysis and looking at the history behind it and understanding why a particular building is being preserved. I’m actually doing a project for my course on the apartment block that I live in, which used to be a shipping warehouse. When it’s finished, I’m going to give a copy to everyone who lives in the building. My landlady has even asked to read it!”
