What did you go on to study after The Radclyffe School?
After completing my time at TRS, I continued my education at the Oldham Sixth Form College. I studied science, math, graphics, and three-dimensional art. After completing my two years, I continued my education with an additional foundation year in art at Oldham College before starting my studies in architecture at Leeds Beckett University.
After a year of studying architecture in Leeds, I understood the requirements for success in the sector and the current career success rate at the time. It was the recession, and things didn’t seem promising!
I fell back in love with construction after taking a year off to work on the Oldham leisure Centre with Willmott Dixon. I discovered that building surveying was growing and had many of job opportunities. I therefore made the decision to begin my studies in building surveying at the University of Salford, which is much closer to my home than Leeds was. It took me a while to find my feet than other students but I eventually got there!
What does a typical day in your job look like?
Currently I am the senior building surveyor for the Bruntwood Scitech Manchester portfolio. Everyday presents different issues! Think of it like a doctor for a building! Sometimes I could be diagnosing water ingress/damp issues and some days working on a building refurbishment. I have completed major internal fit outs for Bruntwood and worked with other prestigious clients such as Autocab, Octopus Energy, Accenture and Disney for their Manchester headquarters as well as retailers such as Federal coffee shop!
What do you enjoy most about your job?
Everyday is different! I’m not sitting at my desk all day and I have the flexibility to manage my own time! I like challenges and love problem solving where I can! The building surveyor’s role is varied, working on numerous building types, across locations and with different clients. Being a building surveyor provides an opportunity to be a part of large projects and see the process of buildings being repaired, restored or working on preventative measures. It can be wholesome seeing your issues rectified or projects completed!
How did your experiences at The Radclyffe School help you with decisions on your future goals?
I really enjoyed the creative side of art and design and technology in school! I realised I was more of a hands on person than academic. I then became fixated on Architecture without realising if that was me as a person or not! For years I felt like I had wasted time however now looking back at it, I realised that this was part of my journey and has helped me become what I am today! Funnily enough, I now manage big architectural firms for my projects!
What is your favourite memory of life at The Radclyffe School?
There will always be a few that I will remember from time to time! Football at lunch was always the go to! and Chester zoo with the art class was fun too!
What advice would you give a Radclyffe School learner looking to study/work in the same field as you?
Getting your first graduate building surveyor job is as challenging as it is exciting. Not only are building surveyors in high demand; this is a highly rewarding career that offers great mobility, specialist knowledge and a promising starter salary compared to other jobs on the market. If you are more of a numbers person, I highly advise quantity surveying! Maybe shadow a surveyor during the 6 weeks holidays and speak to people within the field. I wish I did this for Architecture. Don’t get me wrong, I still have a massive love for architecture. I just now look and experience it from a different angle!
What advice would you give to learners coming up to their final 2 years at The Radclyffe School and making decisions about their future?
It could be a good idea to start looking into and studying potential areas of interest; it takes time to figure out what you enjoy exactly, but there’s no harm in working in one field and figuring out the specifics afterwards! Utilise your final two years of school to gradually make yourself ready for a little bit of additional work since college and university will be upon you quickly!
Describe your time at The Radclyffe School in 3 words
Fun
Memorable
Wholesome
