THE exams are over and many young people in Northern Ireland are deciding what to do next with their careers.
For those who have completed A-Levels, decisions will have been made about whether to go to university or college or whether to pursue another career option. One such option is a degree-level apprenticeship.
But of course, apprenticeships are not just for young people. They are available at a range of skills levels, from level 2 (GCSE equivalent) to degree (Level 6) and even masters (Level 7).
Employers are setting up apprenticeship recruitment schemes alongside their existing graduate recruitment schemes, but many others are using apprenticeships to develop existing staff and take advantage of the funding available.
RICS has been at the forefront of apprenticeships, promoting them as another way into the profession alongside more traditional academic routes. For a job as varied as surveying the apprenticeship gives excellent hands on experience to learn the wide range of skills required to succeed.
In England, the Chartered Surveyor Degree apprenticeship and the Surveying Technician apprenticeship have been a real success story. We want to learn from that experience and translate it to Northern Ireland.
Why is this important?
The numbers in England speak for themselves. There have been 1,037 apprentices start the Chartered Surveyor Degree apprenticeship in 2018/19, growing from just 69 in 2015/16. There have also been 564 apprentices start the Surveying Technician apprenticeship since 2015/16 with many progressing on to start the Chartered Survey Degree apprenticeship.
Importantly, RICS research shows that this growth has not had a negative impact on full-time degrees, which have also seen some growth in numbers over the same period.
It’s perhaps not surprising that the Chartered Surveyor Degree apprenticeship is so popular. Not only does it meet the needs of a wide range of employers, it is also linked to the relevant professional body and importantly for the apprentices and their employers, leads directly to chartered status.
Apprenticeships provide an additional route for employers to improve their skills base, boost productivity and grow their business. Apprenticeships can help employers address a range of key recruitment challenges, including diversifying their staff base and overcoming key hurdles associated with an ageing workforce.
Opting for an apprenticeship route into the industry offers the chance to get your foot in the door, gain invaluable work experience and skills in your chosen field, whilst learning the theory side of the job, which leads to valuable qualifications.
Despite the significant rise in the number of people coming into the profession through surveying apprenticeships in England, RICS is not being complacent; as an organisation, RICS is working closely with providers to ensure that the delivery of apprenticeships is of the highest quality. We are also working with employers, both large and small, to help support those who are looking to employ their first apprentices.
We strongly believe that this is a route worth developing further in Northern Ireland. Employers and potential and existing employees could have lots to gain.
Susan Mason is head of RICS in Northern Ireland. RICS is the principal independent body representing professionals employed in the land, property and construction sectors. In Northern Ireland, the organisation represents over 3,000 cross-sectoral members comprising of chartered and associate surveyors, trainees and students.
