Congratulations to our apprentice surveyor Jenny Jackson for passing her degree with flying colours.

Jenny, who works in our commercial department, has been studying Estate Management at University of Estate Management in Reading on a distance and online learning platform.

The four-year degree course focussed on all aspects of estate management from lease renewals to planning policy, commercial property management to law and urban estate management to property economics.

Alongside her studies Jenny has been working full time which she said has been helpful to gain a practical understanding of the subject.

She said: “I am delighted and really proud to have passed as it’s been hard work especially working full time! Mark Treadwell and the team here have been brilliant though and so supportive which really helped.

“As part of the course, there were quite a number of essays, dissertations and assessments to work on before I had my final exams so it was full on right from the start.

“The course itself covered everything to do with estate management whether residential or commercial. Some of the aspects of it related closely to my job here and I was able to learn by doing rather than reading a text book which put things in to context.

“The degree has given me a great qualification but it’s also made me realise I want to focus on valuations and lease and rent renewals as they really interest me and I learned so much about them.”

Although Jenny has now finished her degree, she’s not resting on her laurels as she still has the small matter of finishing her RICS Assessment of Professional Competence (APC).

She said: “Studying for the APC is also quite hard work but I am aiming to finish this in a year’s time and then I’ll be a fully qualified surveyor which I am really looking forward to.”

For the time being though Jenny says she’s grateful she can now have her weekends and evenings back.

She said: “I’m looking forward to spending time with my family and friends and am actually going on holiday to Florida which will be a very welcome break.”

Sheldon Bosley Knight’s commercial director, Mark Treadwell said: “Jenny has worked extremely hard and diligently over the last two years on her degree. She has blended it very well with her day-to-day work.

“The technical knowledge she has gained from the academic work will go hand in hand with the practical experience and knowledge from her work here in the commercial department. 

“Clients can be assured the service and advice they will get be top quality.”