Profile: Ashley Bowles
Course: BSc(Hons) in Estate Management
Job: Surveyor
Employer: Starkeys Commercial, Bradford, UK
Why CEM?
The College was picked by my employer as it would allow me to work in the office four days a week, contributing to the bottom line, while gaining workplace experience to complement my studies. The other day was set aside as regular study leave for the completion of assignments and revision tasks.
Why distance learning?
Distance learning was very beneficial to me as it allowed me to earn a wage at the same time as furthering my education. While this might not be the traditional model for an 18-yearold, I found I didn’t miss out on the all-round experience – instead, I found the face-to-face revision teaching helpful as it gave the feeling of being a ‘real’ student for a few days, living on campus and making good friends who became a part of my support network.
The course
The degree course was picked primarily as a route to becoming a chartered surveyor and member of RICS (as an academic element required to complete the APC process). My role encompasses commercial property sales and lettings, property management and valuation work; as such, the course content was highly relevant to the job itself, as well as my professional aspirations. It has helped me day-to-day as I have been able to take on more and more responsibilities and apply the course content to real-life situations.
The benefits
In respect of being able to make the best of my career opportunities I am now in a position where, at just 22 years of age, I already have four years’ invaluable experience gained from working in the commercial property sector, as well as a respected qualification. By contrast, those who chose to attend full-time university courses would only just be starting their career at this point, so I see myself as well ahead of the fi eld in this regard. As an added bonus, completion of the degree also secured me a significant pay rise.
The support structure
I was lucky to have a great deal of support from my employer as, not only did they fund the course, but they also gave me time off to complete assignments and additional study leave around exam time. I was also able to seek advice from colleagues whenever necessary. Consequently, I would advise anyone looking to complete a CEM BSc to try to gain employment in the field, or at least work experience, as the practical application of the subject matter greatly aids understanding and assimilation of the topics. I found it helpful to keep to a relatively strict schedule for completing the various assignments; otherwise it would have been easy to fall behind. That said, a good structure does make the course manageable.
The future
At the moment I am working on completing the APC process and still have a number of months to go, so my main focus lies in taking on extra responsibilities at work in order to meet all of the necessary competences. All being well, I should become one of the youngest ever members of RICS, which would be a very proud achievement.