National Apprenticeship Week 2025: Skills for Life

National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) is a time to celebrate how apprenticeships help individuals of all ages to develop future-ready skills and rewarding careers.

It’s the 18th year of this week-long campaign by NAW, which acknowledges all those who contribute to the success of apprenticeships and skills across the country – from employers, training providers, parents, schools, colleges, universities, End Point Assessment Organisations (EPAOs), ambassadors and related skills programmes; to the apprentices themselves.

That’s why we chatted to Surveyor Matt King, who is currently part-way through his Degree Apprenticeship with us at the University College of Estate Management (UCEM).

Matt began his property career at Vail Williams in 2021 when he started out as a Project Administrator in our agency team, before quickly progressing to become a Referencer in our business rates department.

At the time, Matt didn’t have a property qualification, and didn’t know that an apprenticeship was an option, until he received career advice whilst at Vail Williams, as he explains.

How did your Apprenticeship journey begin?

I wasn’t initially aware that a Degree Apprenticeship was an option, but with career advice from my mentors at Vail Williams, I explored this route towards property qualification with the University College of Estate Management (UCEM).

I started my Degree Apprenticeship with them in Spring 2024 and became a Surveyor on rotation at Vail Williams in January 2025.

As a mature student who had already been in employment, one of the key benefits of the Degree Apprenticeship was being able to earn and learn at the same time.

This really stood out for me and felt like the most beneficial way to achieve what I wanted – a formal qualification in property, whilst continuing to be able to pay the bills!

What are your ambitions after you have completed your Apprenticeship?

I have enjoyed being able to rotate across several property disciplines during my time at Vail Williams, which has given me a taste for a variety of property specialisms.

Whilst I haven’t decided on my preferred pathway yet, having just finished the first year of my degree, these rotations have played a vital role in helping to guide me on where I can flourish best in my future built environment career.

What skills for life are you learning throughout your Degree Apprenticeship and time at Vail Williams?

Being able to apply what I am learning in theory at University, in a practical way at Vail Williams, is absolutely invaluable.

One of the most valuable skills I have learned is in the technical side of things – skills such as statistical analytics which plays an invaluable part in market knowledge and assessment, lease advice and more.

However, there are a host of desirable skillsets that I continue to develop as my apprenticeship and career progresses – from soft skills such as communication, time management and report writing, to embracing new technology such as AI, which is already well established.

Finally, and perhaps most simply, is the skill of attention to detail. This is absolutely a skill for life and something which clients really do appreciate. It is core to providing excellence of service and is also a skill for life outside of work too.

What is the most important skill for a career in property?

For me, I think the most important skill for a successful career in property is being able to be open minded to new experiences and opportunities.

Property careers involve a lot of change and variety, and you need to be open and agile to that.

I have been fortunate to have been able to inspect a wide variety of properties in the short time I have been with Vail Williams, and long may that continue. No day is the same, which makes this industry and the career ahead of me incredibly desirable.

For more information about degrees in real estate, construction, surveying, sustainability, architectural design, and urban planning, click here.