Apprenticeships provide great career development opportunities, taking you from the first steps in your chosen career right through to postgraduate qualifications. 

Emma Wade joined us eight years ago. She is studying for a BSc Building Surveying Degree Apprenticeship at the University of Wolverhampton. 

“As a child I wanted to be an architect but I lost sight of that for a while. I didn’t go to university and there was a part of me that regretted that. 

“I joined our customer services team and from there, became a voids and lettings officer. One day I saw an opening for a trainee asset surveyor. When I was told that it would involve studying for a degree, I couldn’t believe it. Now, I am in a job that I love, with support to learn.  

“When I finish my degree there will be some more studying before I can put the RICS letters after my name as a fully-fledged Chartered Building Surveyor. 

“It’s hard work combining my job with a degree, but I have already been able to develop in my career. In 2020 I completed my training to become an asset surveyor and the following month I was promoted to senior building inspector. Now I manage technical inspectors in my team, looking after 6,000 homes in our growing property portfolio.  

“My role has changed as my ambition has grown. It feels good to work in an environment where people believe in me. They want me to succeed and when I have been ready for more responsibility, the opportunities are there. I’ve also got the satisfaction of working for an organisation that wants to make a positive difference to homes, lives and the community where I live. 

 “Housing Plus Group has believed in me, invested in me and helped me to develop my career.”