Opportunities to join the surveying profession through a Chartered Surveyor Degree Apprenticeship are being significantly expanded, thanks to changes introduced by the Chartered Surveyor Trailblazer Apprenticeship Group, in collaboration with IfATE (Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education) and academia.

Access to degree level surveying apprenticeships, and the ability to earn while learning, will now be opened up to include the holder of any undergraduate degree.

The key change is that the apprenticeship standard has been expanded to include all levels of RICS accredited qualifications – undergraduate, PGDip and Masters; the previous apprenticeship standard recognised only undergraduate degrees.

This will widen access to degree-level surveying apprenticeships to those on non RICS accredited degree courses allowing them to undertake an RICS-accredited postgraduate programme and the APC to achieve Chartered status – MRICS.

This gives employers in England the opportunity to recruit from a more diverse pool of graduates, including those with non-surveying-related degrees, and to receive funding through either the Apprenticeship Levy for large and medium employers or through Government Apprenticeship funding or Levy Transfer for non-levy paying, smaller employers.

This funding is up to the maximum amount of £27,000 per apprentice, to include the accredited qualification and the RICS APC.

Given the impact of covid-19 on the economy, and the commitment from the Prime Minister to open up apprenticeships to all, this change offers a golden opportunity for young people to take up a career in surveying and make a real and lasting difference to their community.

Chris Welch FRICS, Chair of Trailblazer group, Partner, G&T said:

“Historically, G&T’s intake of graduates has consisted of 50% non-cognate degree holders from a variety of backgrounds, bringing to the firm a different set of skills and knowledge.

“The change in the surveying apprenticeship standards will enable us to widen the pool of talent further and inspire an even more diverse group of graduates to enter the profession.

“Working closely with regulated partner universities, G&T will be utilising Levy funds to support apprenticeships at this level, with a high level of cost savings per academic year.

Sean Tompkins, Chief Executive, RICS said:

“These important changes to the Chartered Surveyor Degree Apprenticeship aim to inspire graduates qualified in broader disciplines to choose a surveying career ensuring we recruit the brightest and the best talent into the profession whatever their background.

“The changes to the apprenticeship standard encourage employers of all sizes to put a wider group of graduates through the APC and to recruit graduates from non-surveying degree programmes to increase diversity of graduates entering the surveying profession”

The Trailblazer group is made up of the following firms and RICS – Gardiner and Theobald (as lead employer), Axis Europe, CBRE, Cushman and Wakefield, Faithorn Farrell and Timms, Fisher German, Savills, Transport for London, Turner and Townsend, Valuation Office Agency with Christina Hirst FRICS as Project Manager.