From dog walker to Savills apprentice - agency reveals latest recruits

Savills has welcomed its first intake of residential apprentices with seven individuals hired by the business to study and work within sales teams.

They join 100 others already at the firm undertaking a range of apprenticeships including building surveying, town planning, IT and finance.

The programme will see the participants complete a Junior Estate Agent (level 2) Apprenticeship in order to acquire the fundamental skills associated with residential property sales such as data registration, valuing and marketing a property, conducting viewings and how to receive and progress an offer. 

Along with on-the-job learning, each will receive training from an external provider and will be independently assessed through scenario based tasks, professional discussions and a portfolio of their work.

The residential apprentices will be based in London offices in Westminster, Hackney, Islington, Canary Wharf and Northwood, as well as the Savills York and Bath offices. Before joining Savills, their former professions included working as a fruit and vegetable market stall trader, beauty therapist, teaching assistant and dog walker.

Meanwhile this week - which happens to be National Apprenticeship Week - applications open for an autumn intake of residential apprentices. Since launching an apprenticeship programme in 2014, more than 15 divisions across the UK business have one or more apprentice, 55 of whom are based in regional offices with the remainder in the capital.

Liza-Jane Kelly, London residential director at Savills, comments: “We are delighted to be welcoming our first specialist residential apprentices to the business. All bring with them relevant customer-facing experience and excellent foundations upon which to build a successful career in property and all impressed our interview panel with their energy and excellent communication skills.”

Serena Phillips, professional apprenticeship manager at Savills, adds: “Over the past eight years the Savills apprenticeship programme has gone from strength to strength and we are delighted that our residential teams will be helping to create the next generation of the real estate’s workforce. Creating a diverse and talented workforce is central to our recruitment and by opening a second intake later in the year, we will be able to welcome and support the career development of more new entrants to the industry.”