News

A former apprentice has qualified as a Chartered Surveyor and Registered Valuer, after seven years training.

Bromsgrove resident Hayley Miles, who works for Worcestershire-based commercial property consultancy GJS Dillon, has passed her APC (Assessment of Professional Competence) to become a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

Becoming a Chartered Surveyor is generally regarded as a key milestone in a property surveyor’s career, opening up new professional opportunities and job prospects.

For Miss Miles it is the reward after a five year part-time degree in Real Estate at Birmingham City University, where she achieved first class honours, and two years vocational training at GJS Dillon, first in the sales and letting department and latterly in the professional services and valuation team, under the supervision of Bill Fellows, GJS Dillon Director and 40 year veteran of commercial property consultancy.

Starting as an apprentice with Solihull Council at the age of 19, Miss Miles worked in office based commercial property roles for a number of Midlands councils, including Worcestershire County Council, for some years before deciding to go to university to qualify as a Chartered Surveyor.

She says: “I had seen surveyors out and about looking at properties which I dealt with in the office. I wanted a role where I too could leave the office to inspect and advise on property, but to do that I needed to become a Chartered Surveyor.”

Although she has taken what is still a non-traditional route to qualify, Miss Miles would recommend it. She says: “I’ve worked throughout my training, earning a salary, so I left university debt free and I’ve been able to balance family life and work life with the qualification process.

“Working for GJS Dillon for the past two years has been particularly valuable in allowing me to pass my APC. I’ve already carried out more than 300 property inspections and valuations under Bill’s supervision which has boosted my professional knowledge and expertise. Now I have qualified I am going to continue to focus on commercial and residential property valuations and to expand my knowledge of building surveying working with GJS Director Jonathan Mountford.”

Mr Mountford, Head of GJS Dillon’s Professional Services and Valuation department, says: “GJS Dillon is a firm which very much believes in playing its part in training the next generation of property professionals, so we are delighted that Hayley has qualified. She was already a valuable team member before achieving her Chartered status, but we now expect her to play an even fuller role in the future success of the firm.”