A number  of estate agencies in Essex have taken advantage of the Government-backed apprentice programme, and introduced training places for young people.

 

Under the standards set by the Estate Agency Apprenticeship Pathway, apprentices train for 12 months, mixing direct work experience with studying for the NVQ Level 2 qualification.
 

They also gain a certificate in one of the specialities, such as lettings management. On successful completion, they gain a full-time contract.
 

Beresfords, one of the largest independent estate agents in the county, took on its first apprentices in 2010.
 

This year it is expanding the programme, with opportunities in its Billericay, and Chelmsford offices. Paul Beresford, Beresfords’s chairman, said: “We found our apprenticeship scheme has been hugely successful in attracting bright, young, talented people to the profession, who would have previously never thought of choosing estate agency as a career.”

 

Three young people who completed the Beresfords apprenticeship programme are Shaun Bull, Domani O’Mahoney and Brandon Crouchman.
 

Brandon, who is 19 and part of the marketing team, was put off university because of the high tuition fees.

 

He said: “I wanted a career that allowed me to earn money while I trained, rather than having to incur a mass of debt with no guarantee of a job at the end of it. The apprenticeship offered me the freedom to explore a variety of roles and expand my skill set.”
 

Since completing her apprenticeship last October, Domani, 20, a trainee negotiator has continued her studies, and is now aiming for NVQ Level 3. This will give her membership of the National Association of Estate

Agents. She said: “During my training, my colleagues and assessor were there to advise me whenever I hit road bumps and thanks to their guidance, I now have the confidence to grow into my new role.”

 

Shaun, 22, now a senior negotiator, always wanted to work in property. He said: “The apprenticeship allowed me to get my foot in the door, and provided a clear path for progression with the company. It gives me something to aspire to on a daily basis.”