
Under a hot sun on an archaeological dig, Robert Brown once spent hours crouched inside an earthy trench, carefully brushing centuries of soil from a fragment of the past.
The work demanded patience, attention to detail and curiosity about how structures and civilisations had come to exist. Yet while the discoveries fascinated him, Robert began to realise that archaeology might not offer the long-term professional path he was seeking.
“I was looking for something with a bit more of a practical application and, fortunately, I found building surveying. As we've learnt, there's lots of opportunity there.”
Today, Robert, 27, is a graduate of the Building Surveying degree apprenticeship programme at the University of the Built Environment, funded by his employer PRE Surveyors, a multidisciplinary building services SME founded 15 years ago.
His story reflects a broader shift in how young professionals are entering the built environment sector. Degree apprenticeships, which combine employment with academic study, have grown rapidly across the UK.
According to the latest UK Department for Education, degree-level apprenticeships represent one of the fastest-growing routes into professional careers.
Figures for the 2025/26 academic year so far (August 2025 to October 2025) show:
• Degree apprenticeship starts increased compared to the same period last year by 12.8% to 28,740.
• Starts in Construction, Planning and the Built Environment increased by 9.3% to 16,470 since the same period last year.
Apprenticeships vs full-time university

Working alongside Robert is Joshua Upson, 25, now in the first year of the same apprenticeship.
While Robert’s preference for an apprenticeship developed after experiencing the traditional university route, Joshua arrived at the decision from a different starting point.
At 18 he had considered university, but the idea of moving directly into full-time academic study did not feel right.
“I just think at the time I would never have actually been mature enough to make myself do the work on my own,” he said.
When he later decided to pursue building surveying, the apprenticeship pathway offered a practical solution.
“I could earn a living whilst still getting a degree at the end.”
For Robert, who had already experienced full-time university study, the apprenticeship model offered something he had previously missed: a clear connection between theory and real-world practice.
Although he enjoyed the academic side of archaeology, the structure of university life often felt disconnected from professional application.
“Originally, I was doing full time when I was studying archaeology but the dynamic of it didn't really suit me,” he said. “It felt like lots of voids in the day.
“With the apprenticeship route you're filling that void with the practical work.
“Before it was like, you're being thrown all this material, you're given all these books to read, but then at the end of the day you're sat there saying, ‘well, how do I apply this?’. Whereas with an apprenticeship you could have a lecture on a Tuesday and come in on the Wednesday and that content is in your relevant area, you're being able to practice it and earn money at the same time.”
That integration of academic knowledge and professional experience is widely recognised as one of the major strengths of degree apprenticeships. Research by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) has found that apprentices often demonstrate stronger workplace readiness because they are applying theoretical learning in real time.
Earning while learning
The financial dimension is another major factor shaping students’ choices.
Graduates in England face high debt levels, with average debt for the 2024 cohort reaching approximately £53,000 upon entering repayment, driven by the £9,250 tuition fee cap and living costs. While the fee cap was frozen, UK Government 2024 data shows debt frequently exceeds £40,000, and is projected to rise further due to upcoming inflationary increases.
Degree apprenticeships present a different model. Apprentices are employed and paid by their organisation while their tuition fees are covered through the employer’s apprenticeship levy or co-investment scheme.
Both Robert and Joshua say this financial structure played an important role in their decisions.
Joshua said: “Looking back, I’m glad I didn't do [the traditional full-time university route] because otherwise we'd have an extra 40-50 grand of debt which we never signed up for.
“An apprenticeship made sense because I could earn a living whilst still getting a degree at the end.”
For many students, this ability to graduate with both a degree and several years of professional experience can create a significant advantage in the labour market.
Benefits for the employer
While apprenticeships clearly benefit learners, they also play an important strategic role for employers.
PRE Surveyors has supported 12 apprentices through to MRICS qualification over the past 15 years. The company currently has three building surveying apprentices progressing through their training.
“For us”, said CEO Jason Antill, “apprenticeships are a strategic investment in people and in the continued growth of the practice.
“They are an important part of how we build the future of our business and contribute to the wider surveying profession.
“As an SME consultancy based in Soho, London, we see apprentices not simply as trainees but as long-term members of the team who will help shape the next generation of surveyors.”
For smaller firms in particular, apprenticeships can offer a sustainable way to develop talent internally.
SMEs represent 99.9% of UK businesses and employ 60% of the private-sector workforce, according to the UK Department for Business and Trade. Yet many smaller organisations face challenges recruiting experienced professionals in competitive sectors such as construction and surveying.
By investing in apprentices, companies can develop skilled staff who understand the culture and values of the organisation from the beginning.
“They also play a valuable role in staff retention,” Jason said. “When apprentices begin their careers within a supportive environment where training and development are prioritised, they are more likely to remain with the organisation long term.”
Jason also sees apprenticeships as a way of strengthening the profession itself.
“For PRE Surveyors, apprenticeships are not just about recruitment,” he said. “They are about investing in the future of the profession and ensuring the next generation of surveyors has the skills and experience needed to succeed.”
Why work with University of the Built Environment?
The University of the Built Environment has been running apprenticeship programmes since 2016 and has developed a model designed specifically for working professionals.
As a fully online university specialising in the built environment, the University allows apprentices to study flexibly alongside their employment, removing the need to relocate or attend campus-based lectures.
Every apprentice is supported by an Apprenticeship Outcome Officer (AOO) who provides guidance throughout their studies. Meanwhile, the University’s Business Development Team works closely with employers to ensure apprenticeships run smoothly.
This partnership approach is something Jason particularly values.
“The University provides strong support for both students and employers, making the process of taking on apprentices straightforward and well structured.”
See: Eight reasons you should launch an apprenticeship scheme with the University of the Built Environment
Growing as professionals

For Robert, the apprenticeship route has shaped not only his technical knowledge but also his personal development.
“From working 9 to 5, you're learning to organise your time. When I did university the first time you're waking up at, say, 11 in the morning, and you don't really know what to do with yourself,” he said.
“Within the first year of working full time, you feel a bit more capable, not just in work, but outside of work.”
Joshua highlights another advantage: the ability to combine academic study and industry experience within a shorter timeframe.
“If we did go to university,” he said, “we'd do three years of learning but then we'd have to do another two years doing a graduate programme.”
The apprenticeship pathway compresses that journey.
“It puts it all in one and we can fast track it almost,” he added. “It shaves a year off the whole process, which I think is very beneficial for me.
“I felt like I was kind of a bit behind everyone else because they've already got a degree and they're climbing the ranks. I wanted to get a degree as quickly as possible and also learn the field as quickly as possible. So, this was the best route.”
Learning within an SME
The scale of an SME also creates a different learning environment compared with large corporate firms.
Jason said: “Some apprenticeship schemes rotate trainees between departments every few months, which can limit continuity of learning. At PRE Surveyors, apprentices develop their skills through repeated exposure to projects, allowing them to build confidence and a deeper understanding of the work we do.”
He added:
“As an SME, our apprentices are exposed to a wide range of surveying activities rather than being confined to a single specialism.
“They work across different aspects of the business and gain experience on real projects from an early stage.”
Networking and professional confidence

Working in a smaller organisation can also create valuable opportunities to build industry relationships.
For Robert, this exposure has been transformative. When he first entered the profession, he describes himself as naturally quiet and reserved.
“I came out of university very much still a very shy, timid person. With archaeology it's lots of being on your own. You're sat in a hole. Sat in an office.
“Jason gives us an opportunity to have a few hours out of a day to go to an event. You're put on that front line, speaking to people, meeting clients, meeting contacts.
“It definitely helps with confidence and something you wouldn't get from university, where you wouldn't be going to all these networking events with other professionals your age.
This is quite a huge benefit, because networking brings in business and then business builds your career.”
Advice for future apprentices
Both apprentices encourage prospective students to look closely at apprenticeship routes when planning their careers.
Robert said: “Having experienced both methods of university, I couldn't recommend it more.
“You're having a chance to put your foot in the door in an industry of your choice.
“You have confidence, you have experience, you have education.”
Although their journeys into surveying have been different, both apprentices reach the same conclusion: apprenticeships allow students to build real careers while studying for a degree, gaining professional experience that many graduates only begin to acquire years later.
Find out more about the University of the Built Environment’s Apprenticeship programmes.
Discover more stories and case studies from our students, apprentices and alumnus.