Case Study

Feb 2010 - Case study for vocational route in to surveying

Hannah Amey, DipSurvPract Property,
Business & Regulatory Services
Hampshire County Council

The traditional route into Chartered Surveying is through many years of study with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors that ends with the sought after ‘Chartered’ status.

But there are other routes that can lead to a job in surveying, only without the chartered status.

Hannah Amey, who works for Hampshire County Council, took the vocational route. Her official title is “Estates Assistant” but the work itself is general practice surveying.

She took an apprenticeship in surveying through a pilot programme that ran in the South East. This included studying for a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) level 3 in Surveying and Property Management and a Diploma in Surveying Practice.

“The NVQ took two years, although it could have been done much quicker,” she says. “My organisational skills weren't very good and that’s one of the things I learned from the course – that better organisation makes life so much easier.

“It was also useful at setting the standards of how I should carry out day to day work, and I learnt about things that I might not have got experience in.”

Hannah studied the apprenticeship part-time while continuing her day job in the council's surveying department. This way she was able to get crucial support from work colleagues along the way.

“The course was flexible. I had to submit short accounts of cases I'd managed, along with supporting evidence to my assessor. This was done online. My assessor would meet with me regularly for talks to check progress and there was also a workplace assessment.”

Hannah does not officially hold the title of surveyor because she did not take the degree route.

“However, my role of Estates Assistant does the same work as surveyors, just on smaller projects. So in essence I am working as a surveyor - mainly in general practice which includes landlord and tenant work. I now have experience under my belt and professional people who I am happy to approach for advice.”

Hannah enjoys her work and with increased confidence is being given increased responsibilities.

“I would definitely advise others to go down the vocational route in to surveying - the experience and advice you get from professionals is invaluable.”