Becoming RICS’ youngest ever chartered professional through an apprenticeship.

Last year, Uwais Paderwala won RICS’ (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) Young Surveyor of the Year Apprentice Award after becoming the institution’s youngest ever qualified professional. RICS, regulate over 125,000 professionals worldwide and last year celebrated their 150^th anniversary, making this quite an achievement. Here Uwais shares his journey into surveying and the benefits of undertaking an apprenticeship.

How did you get into surveying? At school, I always thought I wanted to be an accountant and was looking into an apprenticeship. However, I knew I loved construction and money so I was lucky to come across a quantity surveying apprenticeship with Gardiner & Theobald. I joined them back in 2011 as an apprentice and was one of the first to be part of their Chartership Programme, when it launched back in 2014. Over the space of five years I carried out part time study at Kingston University, whilst working on some fantastic projects with Gardiner & Theobald. After five years of hard work I achieved a First Class degree in Quantity Surveying and then progressed onto my APC (Assessment of professional Competence).

What are the biggest opportunities through working on an apprenticeship? You understand your craft so much earlier. One of my first projects I got to work on as an apprentice helping to do a valuation in the Shard. I was 18 at the time about 60 floors up and had an amazing view of London and it was like wow this is what you work for.

What are the biggest challenges you faced as an apprentice? I won’t lie, the most challenging experience I have faced to date was preparing for my assessment of professional competence and managing work. It required a lot of studying in my personal time and making a lot of sacrifices. However, all the hard work paid off. Not only am I the first of Gardiner & Theobald’s Chartership Programme but I can say I’m the youngest ever qualified chartered surveyor.

What are the benefits of an apprenticeship? Personally, for me, an apprenticeship has had a big impact on my personal life, it has helped me become more disciplined and mature at a faster rate. I have also improved my people skills through networking and meeting professionals in the industry. I have managed to create good relationships with various people from different professions in the industry. But the number one thing is, I have excelled and understood my profession a lot faster. By attending university on a day release program I realised the advantage I had from full-time students by already being exposed to the industry and understanding how theory is applied in practice.

Any advice for someone wanting to enter the construction sector? Don’t be afraid. Accept any challenge that is presented in front of you and see it as an opportunity. There is so much help offered from the industry to help tackle the skills crisis and you get support from your employers as well as the institution. The profession offers exciting opportunities and allows us to be involved in iconic projects through-out the world.

Since winning his RICS’ Young Surveyor of the Year Award, Uwais has become an ambassador for the profession, taking part in the RICS Brathay Challenge and helping further RICS’ future talent offering. The Young Surveyor of the Year Awards – which are now open for entries – celebrate the UK’s most inspiring young surveyors and raise awareness of surveying as a career of choice.