Dexters highlight that it is National Apprenticeship Week this week, which highlights how apprenticeships help individuals to build the skills and knowledge required for a rewarding career. This week-long celebration of apprenticeships, with the theme of ‘Build the Future’, showcases the impact apprenticeships can have on communities, local businesses and regional economies and how they all benefit as a result.

This year Dexters is planning to enrol 100 new apprentices to the Dexters Academy, in addition to the 90 currently enrolled. Over the last four years 150 apprentices have qualified through the Academy.

New Dexters recruits will be joining a firm with 70 offices across the capital, including 12 in Prime Central London, a well-managed business which is one of London’s only major residential estate agencies that is a firm of professional Chartered Surveyors, regulated by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

Minister for Apprenticeships and Skills, Gillian Keegan, is keen to drive home this message saying: “Apprenticeships are a fantastic way to learn while you earn, opening up new and exciting career paths that can transform lives. It’s been a tough year for everyone, but we want the theme for National Apprenticeship Week 2021 to be a springboard to look ahead to how apprenticeships can futureproof workforces and boost careers”.

As the UK’s first and only ’employer provider’ in Estate Agency (accredited by the Department of Education) Dexters is fully supporting this Government initiative. Dexters apprenticeships are part of our ‘career for life’ culture, demonstrating our commitment to professionalism within our industry and attracting, retaining and developing the best talent in the industry.

Let’s hear from some of our recently qualified colleagues who share their experience of the scheme and Dexters Academy.

JO COX – Head of Tenancy Management – North, City & East

How did the Dexters Academy apprenticeship support you in achieving your current role?
The apprenticeship worked well alongside my usual workload, so it was never a distraction and allowed me to do my normal work without adding undue pressure.

What are the main skills you learnt through the Dexters Academy?
I learnt how best to prioritise my work and how to help organise my team so that they can work to their fullest potential. It has helped me to set measurable targets which, although challenging, are 100% achievable.

What do you like about being a Manager at Dexters?
Every day is completely different! I enjoy overseeing my team and helping them with their own career progression. Being able to set realistic but challenging targets and then smashing them to show how far we have come. Building great working relationships within the team and our local offices. Building a good rapport with our Landlords and Tenants. Our job role is constantly changing, whether it be through new legislation or our own processes changing, so we’re constantly learning.
KEVIN RUSSELL – Manager – Shepherds Bush Lettings

How have you made the most of the coaching and development available to you?
I often speak with our coaching and development team if I have a query regarding any of our processes or current legislation. I take a lot away from the training days put on at the Academy, it is always good to learn from others and share my own knowledge. During these Covid times I am able to refer to coaching notes on the intranet and also use progression ticksheets.

How did the Dexters Academy apprenticeship support you in achieving your current role?
The Academy helped to further my knowledge with respect to all the legislation applying to the lettings market, there is a lot of it. This gave me the confidence to perform my job role knowing what I was saying and doing was correct and appropriate.

What are the main skills you learnt through the Dexters Academy?
Communication and organization, the ability to expand in detail on lettings related queries from either landlord or tenant and a broader knowledge of the business which I am able to pass on to colleagues.

ZHORA BARREIRA – Manager – Canary Wharf Lettings

Why did you join Dexters?
From the start, Dexters made it clear that career progression is a big part of the culture. This appealed to me as I was willing to work hard and take opportunities to progress. The working culture is also fun, with quarterly team meetings and summer and winter company conferences.

How have you been able to support any Dexters Academy apprentices in your office?
Having joined the company with no previous experience in property, I’ve been able to share my first-hand experience of learning the industry. I have been able to share real-life examples of various scenarios to encourage development and confidence. As I started out as a Trainee Negotiator, I understand what the team feels and goes through, I love leading them in a way that I know will motivate them and help them to progress.

What are the next steps in your career within Dexters and how can the Dexters Academy support you with?
Next steps are gaining further experience in my management position, reaching my personal targets and working with the team to help them reach theirs. Beyond that, using the invaluable knowledge I have gained through the Dexters Academy and working closely with my Director to take the next steps to my further promotion.

GABRIELLA ORBERT, Sales Manager, Bloomsbury, who completed the apprentice course says: “When I first heard about the Apprenticeship scheme I was really keen to be involved and was quickly signed up by the Academy. During the course I learned so much, which I now incorporate in my every day work. I feel it’s been a great help in my career progression within the company.”
GEORGE STEER, Sales Manager, Chiswick says: “I started on the apprenticeship scheme at the Dexters Academy shortly after joining in 2017. The most useful part of the course was analysing my sales experience up to that point and then learning to adapt and hone my techniques to make me more effective. This has been of great benefit to myself, my customers and my clients. I’m focused now on achieving the NFOPP qualification, with the ultimate aim of RICS after that.”

The Dexters Academy specialises in not just Estate Agency skills but also professional qualification programmes for Estate Agency sales and lettings and for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Currently about half of our entire workforce is training for one qualification or another.

CEO Andy Shepherd comments: “Dexters is the only UK Estate Agent that has employer provider status and we are passionate about investing and training our people and do everything we can to support them so they can spend their careers with us. At a time when we hear reports that other London agents are closing offices and going online, cutting staff and slashing training budgets, Dexters is doing the opposite and instead we are growing through investing in our offices, bringing on new apprentices and maintaining our Dexters Academy through remote learning and socially distant practices.”

For further information on DEXTERS visit: www.dexters.co.uk