National Apprenticeship Week: Savills highlights success of employment scheme in West Midlands

The annual week-long celebration highlights the values and opportunities that apprenticeship schemes bring to businesses across the country.

Since launching the scheme in 2014, Savills has supported apprentices across more than 15 divisions, including Rural & Projects, Residential, Valuations, Property Management, Building Consultancy, Development and Operations.

In the Rural & Projects team at Savills in Telford, four of the people who have benefitted from the apprenticeship scheme are Jack Warrilow, Elena Hayward, Ross Hemming and Travis Smith. Amber Wynn is also six months into her  apprenticeship in the Telford residential sales team.

Jack, who joined Savills Telford as an Apprentice Surveyor, spoke of his experience as an apprentice.

He said: “The ability to learn in a real-world setting, apply my knowledge practically, and work towards my Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) qualification without student debt made it the ideal choice.”

Ross, who also joined the team as an Apprentice Surveyor, adds: “I tried University, but found the format did not suit me. I knew I wanted to obtain a degree and found apprenticeships from there. Being able to work whilst being provided a debt free education relevant to my career was a very attractive option for me.”

Employees in the programme have the opportunity to gain the experience, training and support they need to build a fulfilling career in real estate. Participants are able to combine on-the-job training with studying to obtain a nationally recognised qualification in their chosen field.

Elena currently works as a team assistant in the Telford Estate Management team. Once she has completed her apprenticeship, she will be progressing to a rural surveyor apprenticeship. 

She commented: “The apprenticeship route has given me the opportunity to develop professionally and access a career that I might not have considered otherwise. Without the exposure and support from my team, I wouldn’t be in the position I am today, and I’m grateful for the internal social mobility opportunities that come from working at Savills”.

Travis, who is also in the Estate Management team, adds: “Being an apprentice at a well-established firm like Savills has given me valuable opportunities to connect with other young professionals in the property sector, which is essential given the significance of networking in this industry.”

 Rhydian Scurlock-Jones, rural director and head of office at Savills in Telford, said:  “The apprenticeship scheme offers excellent hands on experience for those who want a direct route into the real estate industry. As a business, we work hard in attracting employees from diverse backgrounds and this programme further allows us to bring in a wide range of talent. It is a joy to see those involved across our rural and residential teams in Telford thrive in their roles and a pleasure to be able to nurture talent and see these bright young people progress in their careers.”

Savills was ranked first in the real estate industry for Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers for 2023-2024.