IN A CHALLENGING JOB MARKET BANKS LONG & CO INVEST IN DEVELOPING THEIR TEAM
Banks Long & Co Director, James Butcher, has extended the company’s staff training programme to further develop their team. James Butcher said, “Like many businesses we are finding it challenging to recruit quality candidates at the pace we need to. One of the ways we combat this is to continually invest in our existing team, who have really impressed us with their motivation and desire to develop their skills and careers with Banks Long & Co.”
Following the successful launch of a Graduate Training Programme just over 6 months ago, which has so far supported the development and career progression of three colleagues, Banks Long & Co have now made a commitment to expanding training and development opportunities to an additional three colleagues to support their career progression.
The programme initially set up and delivered by Banks Long & Co’s experienced team of consultants and surveyors, has so far provided practical experience and training within Building & Cost Consultancy, Development & Investment Consultancy, Management & Professional Services and Commercial Property Agency. The programme has allowed graduates to rotate between each division of the organisation, obtaining valuable experience prior to taking their Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) and gaining RICS accreditation.
Harry Hodgkinson, a Nottingham Trent University graduate, has been part of our Graduate Training Programme from the beginning, starting with the Commercial Property Agency division and recently completing his 6 month rotation within our Management & Professional Services division. During the programme so far, Harry has obtained experience working alongside Associate Director Sarah Pettefar, managing client portfolios for South Kesteven District Council, North Kesteven District as well as many private organisations. Harry will now be rotating into the Valuation Department for the next 6 months of his training programme. Harry Hodgkinson said, “The Graduate Training Programme has helped me progress further with my APC, increase my confidence and professional development. This level of training is invaluable, working alongside the experienced team at Banks Long & Co provides an excellent fast track to help me improve my skillset and industry knowledge.”
Fellow graduate Harry Collins from the University College of Estate Management has also been on the programme since its creation. To date Harry has been working within the industrial/office agency side of Commercial Property Agency. Harry said, “The Industrial/office agency has been an exciting market to work in over the past 6 months. Working within this department has allowed me to have exposure at every level across letting and sales, this has significantly broadened my knowledge and experience within the surveying field. The experience I am gaining each day is giving me an excellent position to progress towards my APC at the end of this year.”
The third graduate who has been benefitting from the programme is Will Nuttall from Bishop Grosseteste University, who has recently moved from the Commercial Property Agency division, focusing on Retail/Leisure to the Management & Professional Services division following his first 6 month rotation. Will said “The Graduate Programme is fantastic in enabling me to progress my career. The practical experience I am getting combined with the Masters I am about to start is invaluable.”
With the ongoing success of the Graduate Training Programme, Banks Longs & Co have made a further commitment to invest in the development of the team, which has included several colleagues being enrolled onto Lincoln College courses to support their growth in areas such as Marketing and Business Administration.
Yasmin Lord, Lincoln College student, is one of those colleagues benefitting from the opportunity. Yasmin said “Being able to undertake a Marketing Assistant Level 3 course at Lincoln College has been an excellent way to progress my career and start a new role as Marketing Co-Ordinator with Banks Long & Co. The flexibility offered to me by my workplace and College has allowed me to create a focused study schedule that sees me on track to complete my course within the minimum allotted time.”
Molly McDougall, a Lincoln College student, is also about to complete her Business Administration course. Molly commented “I started my apprenticeship with Banks Long & Co in April 2021, since then I have been fortunate to have gained experience in different areas of the business. I have acquired valuable insight into property management and a more detailed understanding of property valuations. Being able to work in this environment whilst progressing towards becoming a qualified business administrator is the perfect way to learn! Many of my colleagues have invested their time to support my learning through the programme, which will soon see me achieve a Level 3 qualification.”
As the programme of training continues Banks Long & Co hope to provide more colleagues with development opportunities so that our team have pathways to further their career.
We will update this blog again in the coming months so that you can join us in celebrating the achievements of Will, Harry, Harry, Yasmin, Molly and the team.