Tom, Apprentice Land Agent at Fox Bennet

Tom is currently an apprentice studying the Surveying Technician Diploma and working at Fox Bennet in Leicester as Apprentice Land Agent.

Tom’s story

My parents are farmers so I’ve always had a love for the countryside and been interested in rural surveying. My original plan was to complete my A-levels and go on to University. Unfortunately, I didn’t do as well as I’d have liked in my results and so I started looking out for another option. I got in touch with the Partner at Fox Bennet, a local estate and lettings agency in Leicester, and after a chat, I started doing some work experience with them which I thoroughly enjoyed.

The Partner I had been speaking to told me about UCEM and asked me if I would like to do a sponsored apprenticeship through them. I was delighted and started studying the Surveying Technician Diploma, Real Estate Management pathway, in October 2016 and it’s been brilliant so far. I love that I can easily fit my study around the diverse range of activities that I get to do as part of my job. As part of the apprenticeship, I am given one day a week off as study leave. My employer is really flexible so I work two half days and study for two half days, it’s a really nice way of working. I also really enjoy the monthly training days in London that I attend as I get to meet other UCEM apprentices.

It took me a while to get used to blended learning but I much prefer it now and I think the Virtual Learning Environment is fantastic. I find that as long as I am disciplined with myself then I always have more than enough time to finish my studying during the week.

I love being around people so being out and about with my job really suits me, I’m normally out once or twice a day meeting clients.

I recently spoke to one of my friends who told me that she is really jealous of what I’m doing as she’s gone to a traditional university with no idea about the career she wants to end up in. She thinks I’m really lucky that I’m getting a degree in something that I want to pursue whilst working in the industry I want to stay in. At UCEM you are taught how to act in the real world – it’s real life.

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