Welcome to the Graduate Profiles Section

He Says : I joined Rider Levett Bucknall as a Graduate in 2007. I carried some construction experience into the business but was startled at how effectively my colleagues helped me develop my skills. I am now a Member of the RICS and am working on our commission to cost manage temporary construction works for the Olympic Games in 2012. I'm really enjoying my role here and feel that I have many opportunities open to me.

Rider Levett Bucknall's London office carries a challenging and diverse workload; our management encourage junior members of staff to develop their skills to meet the needs of our clients. I feel genuinely rewarded for my successes and supported by my colleagues when I need it. My career has now moved on but I feel that the challenges presented by Protégé and subsequently APC training at Rider Levett Bucknall have prepared me well for my future.

Like most consultant offices, Rider Levett Bucknall get together for social beers and various sporting activities. These activities are heavily supported by our senior staff that often show the younger ones up, be it on a push bike or on the dance floor!

He Says : Since joining the Welwyn Garden City Office in 2008, I have spent all of my time working on Tesco stores. Firstly, working on Express Refresh (refurbishment of Tesco Express Stores) where I was initially working under a team of quantity surveyors and finally being the client face of the Programme to now where I am the sole QS on two major store extension projects totalling £22m, and a new Dot Com shopping distribution Centre, worth approximately £13m. All pretty exciting projects presenting their own individual problems and rewards.

In addition, I am just drawing to a close on my MSc in Quantity Surveying from Northumbria University via a distance learning package with just my dissertation to finish off. I can't wait to finish, it has been a long hard slog, with most mornings, evenings and weekends spent with my nose in the book. In addition I am working towards my APC, which is on a bit of a back burner with my course, but I am still recording my days and attending CPD sessions.

Within the office I hold two prestigious titles; Sports and Social Rep and the Environmental Rep. The Sports and Social aspect is a never ending task of geeing people up and encouraging both healthy activities (think half marathons, sky-diving, football matches against our arch-rivals - the London Office) and unhealthy activities (think cake eating, trips to the pub). We try and put a big slant on charity when we do things as an office and we have raised a fair bit of money for our local charity, the Isabel Hospice. On the environmental side, we are big into promoting our environmental credentials in the office. We recycle the majority of our waste, are stingy with air-conditioning (to the delight of the girls and disappointment of the boys) and are just moving onto a green-electricity tariff.

She Says : I've been with Rider Levett Bucknall in the London Office Building Surveying Team for three years. In that time I've become more technically competent, vastly improving my practical skills and knowledge. I have had a wide range of experience and I was given the opportunity to run my own jobs in a range of sectors within a few months of starting. The office and my team are really relaxed and welcoming. Within a month of joining I felt part of the team, and the more recent graduates have felt the same.

After a lot of hard work I became chartered in May 2010. It required a lot of effort and organisation on my part, but my colleagues at Rider Levett Bucknall supported me through the process and gave me assistance when it was needed.

I am the Corporate Responsibility Representative for the London Office, which entails coordinating volunteering and fundraising for charities. I also take part in educational and networking events to meet different people within the industry. Obviously these need to be arranged around workload, so it is sometimes difficult to arrange and attend activities.

The social nights at Rider Levett Bucknall London are good, especially events such as the annual pub crawl (everyone dressed up in all sorts, doing 'challenges' around London). We also have lots of team events and there's always a crowd at the pub on a Friday night (or if there's a birthday, or if someone joins, or if someone leaves, or if we're thirsty).

He Says : Since being a candidate on the very first Protégé I have now been working for the company for two years in the Birmingham office. During this time I have been very fortunate to work on a number of exciting projects ranging from running my own refurbishment projects to working on flagship developments such as Edgbaston International Cricket Ground as well as projects in the Middle East. This has given me a diverse range of experience which is helping towards taking my final APC assessment. The office also has a great social side and we regularly take part in sporting events such as the annual King Sturge Property Triathlon as well organising our own evenings out for a bit of food and drink.

The Protégé campaign is still one of the best things I have ever done. It was such as unique experience and it pushed and tested you in ways which you would never be able to experience in standard interviews. The fact you go through the experience with fellow graduates has also given me a network of contacts and friends throughout the company. It is also great fun to meet up every year and welcome the new Protégés into the company.

She Says : I originally studied Architecture at The University of Sheffield and have more recently completed a Building Surveying degree conversion course at Sheffield Hallam University part time sponsored by Rider Levett Bucknall.

I have been with the company for over two years now and I am currently working on a variety of building surveying projects for Royal Mail. The work I am involved in is very varied with quite a lot of time spent out of the office on site visits and meeting a range of people including clients, contractors, other surveyors and suppliers. I am enjoying the level of responsibility and the support from my team is fantastic. I get to see projects through from start to completion which is providing valuable experience for my APC.

The Protégé scheme is a great idea and I think it will help raise the profile of construction as a career path and encourage more people to get involved. I found it a challenging but enjoyable experience. The fact that Rider Levett Bucknall put so much effort into the recruitment process gave me the impression that the company values its employees and is careful to choose the right mix. It gave me confidence that Rider Levett Bucknall would be a good company to work for, and this has proved to be true. Rider Levett Bucknall provides great support and encouragement to its graduates with excellent opportunities for career progression.

He Says : I completed my degree in Building Surveying at Reading University in 2008 and have now been working with RLB London for over two years and looking forward to sitting my APC in May 2011. As a graduate I have had exposure to some really interesting projects and that has helped me feel the progression I'm making from graduate towards chartership. To name a few, I have been involved in the refurbishment of listed buildings in both Hyde and Richmond Park, the refurbishment of a listed Gymnasium building at the University of Greenwich, and a wealth of commercial estate works for Brixton/Segro plc. Such a wide range of exposure and continued support from my APC supervisor and councillor mean I feel more than ready to sit my APC next May.

Rider Levett Bucknall has been a very easy company to settle into and a good social side helps negate some of the long hours. I enjoy getting involved in all the sporting (and socialising) occasions which as well as including the useful football/cricket games, has included a 700 mile charity run from the Vatican City to Monaco, involving 7 guys from Rider Levett Bucknall running 100k each in 5 days. Something I can't imagine having done if I had joined any other company.

I enjoy working alongside other graduates from Protégé years and the connection you have with the other guys from your year's intake. There's a great atmosphere at Rider Levett Bucknall which has helped me become very settled in the two years I have already worked here.

He Says : In my role as a building surveyor in the Rider Levett Bucknall Birmingham Office I've been lucky enough to be involved with some great projects which have really made a difference to my level of knowledge and understanding which is contributing to my forthcoming APC. Working with Rider Levett Bucknall on Sandwell council's £90million 'Decent Homes' scheme has allowed me to feel like I can help make a change in the community and inspired me to get involved with the Birmingham Community Foundation's Fundraising committee, which Rider Levett Bucknall chairman David Bucknall is also a member of. I have also been lucky enough to work with one of the firm's biggest clients, Tesco and Royal Mail, and am currently lead consultant on a portfolio of projects for Royal Mail.

Through working for Rider Levett Bucknall I have been able to further my sporting and professional ambitions. The flexible, relaxed team at the Birmingham Office have allowed me to fit my strenuous triathlon and ultra-running training programme around my work, plus more recently my commitments to the RICS Matrics. Undoubtedly I would have struggled to do this elsewhere in the industry. RLB sponsored me in the 2007 Ironman70.3 World Championships and have also recently supported the 225th Anniversary Cycle around all of the offices in the UK.

Protégé is a great way to start working life as all of the new starters go through the testing process together and there's nothing like a familiar couple of faces around to help you settle in. When I started I already knew a number of my peers, my seniors and other people around the office, it made the whole thing a lot more comfortable than just jumping in at the deep end!

She Says : I originally studied History at Liverpool University, followed by a Masters in Commercial Building Surveying at Liverpool John Moores University. The Protégé assessment day was extremely demanding and challenging; it tested everything that you would be bringing to your employer but in a fun way through presentations, interviews, psychometric tests, a live networking event and role plays. It also provided you with the opportunity to view the Birmingham head office and meet many of the Partners of the other offices who were part of the assessment day team. After my degree I opted to join the Building Surveying team in Manchester, starting in June 2007.

I have been part of my Building Surveying team for three years now and I have worked on a range of both local and national projects. Each project provides me with an increasing level of knowledge and experience which is essential for my personal growth and development in order to become chartered. In relation to the APC, Rider Levett Bucknall offer guidance as well as both internal and external training seminars, however, it is down to the graduate to keep the diary up to date and accurate which can be a bit time consuming and often overlooked!

Within the Manchester Office there is plenty going on, whether it is evening nights out, go karting, lunches, or breaks such as the annual camping trip/skiing trip; further to this there are the individual team nights out which never fails to be a fun night.

He Says : I graduated in Building Surveying at Liverpool John Moore's University in the summer of 2010. In the November of my final year I attended an open evening in the Manchester office, which gave me a valuable insight into Rider Levett Bucknall, the Protégé campaign and a chance to talk to graduates and a Partner of the Building Surveying team. The campaign started with a telephone interview, which was testing but enjoyable and following this I was invited to attend an assessment day in the London office. The different tests, presentations and interviews offer you the chance to show the company your ability in a variety of ways that relate to a normal working scenario. In typical Rider Levett Bucknall fashion after a tough day of work, a few quiet (or not so quiet) drinks followed.

Since starting in the Manchester office in July I have been working on a number of projects and been given a lot of responsibility from an early stage. After a week I was out surveying buildings and writing reports for Manchester University, I am currently working on the redesign of an animal unit for Greater Manchester Police and I am about to start a program of surveys for the Ministry of Justice. Rider Levett Bucknall is very supportive in helping you attain chartered status through the APC, through different seminars and sessions, and I am on course for my final assessment in 2011, having 12 months APC Diary from a sandwich placement.

It's not all about hard work though, on my second day I was already out on an office social with the Building Surveying Team, which resulted in some good laughs the next day and helped me to settle in straight away. The office is a great place to work, managers aren't hidden away in some office, they sit at a desk like anyone else and are more than happy to have a chat about whatever is on your mind, or answer any query. There are regular social events, everyone is friendly and there is always a bit of craic which all contribute to a great working environment.

Part of being a successful Protégé applicant is the reward of a short "working" holiday. In October, I am heading to China, to work in the Hong Kong and Shanghai offices for a few days, after which I will attend the World Expo before travelling to Beijing to do a bit of site seeing. After all there is no point travelling all that way and not having a bit of fun! Rider Levett Bucknall is fully supportive of this, even as far as recommending some drinking establishments!

She Says : I originally studied Management and Spanish at the University of Southampton, later followed by an MSC in Building Surveying at London South Bank University. Having been employed at Rider Levett Bucknall for over a year now I have been lucky to work with a number of interesting and high profile clients. Projects include a number of residential refurbishments as part of the Better Buildings programme for the Royal Parks and extensive Fire Precaution works for the University of Queen Marys.

Throughout the last year I have been able to work alongside a number of senior surveyors which has given me the opportunity to learn from a range of different experiences further enhancing my own development. At Rider Levett Bucknall there is also a strong focus on training and achieving RICS chartership. Every week each graduate in the department is assigned a seminar topic which they present to the department followed by a Q&A session. This alongside on-going support and regular APC review meetings with my supervisor has proven invaluable to my professional progression.

Right from the outset I was made to feel really welcome and part of the team almost immediately. The balance between work and play at Rider Levett Bucknall really helped me to get to know everyone in the team and socialise with other departments you may not normally work with day to day. Starting with other Protégés that have been through the same gruelling selection process really connects you from the beginning!

He Says : The Protégé process was a rigorous yet rewarding one. This was capped off with a presentation at the RICS headquarters in London which proved to be a great opportunity to meet all of the graduates from previous years as well as David Bucknall himself. By this point I was itching to get started in my role as a Building surveyor in the Birmingham Office. Upon commencement I was immediately made to feel part of the team and Rider Levett Bucknall were more than accommodating in helping me relocate.

Since joining I have enjoyed a good level of responsibility for my experience level, with the knowledge that I can turn to anybody in the team for added support. This is a great confidence builder and will definitely help me preparing for my APC when it comes around.

Although I am still within my first two months with Rider Levett Bucknall I have experienced dealing with a variety of large clients such as Royal Mail and Gloucestershire County Council. I have also had the pleasure of being exposed to a variety of projects ranging from a listed building with severe fire damage to the failure of a car park due to burrowing badgers.

Finally, and equally as importantly, I cannot fail to mention the social aspect. In the short time I have been here I have been involved in a couple of memorable (or not so) team nights out, as well as the inter-office bike ride from Birmingham to Bristol…well…Tewkesbury. I am currently planning my visit to the Rider Levett Bucknall office in Phoenix where I will try to find the right business/pleasure balance by adding a stop off in Vegas!

He Says : The Protégé day is not for the weak; I cannot remember a time when I was quite so mentally exhausted.

I was very fortunate to be given the opportunity to work on the 2012 Olympics. My current location is the Barclays headquarters in Canary Wharf where I have been assisting the rest of the QS team with venue estimates and cost planning; currently I am working closely with the procurement team as new suppliers are taken on board and contracts finalised.

On my floor alone there are around 400 people and it is all open-plan. In such an environment it is important to realise the value of relationships; having the ability to talk to people is essential as it is very much a people orientated business. The opportunity to meet professionals from all disciplines has been unparalleled and is great for learning as if there something I do not understand there are a number of people whom I can ask.

My experience of Rider Levett Bucknall so far has been very positive. The people I have daily contact with are approachable and supportive, even though they are always busy. They understand I am at the start of my career and will take the time to explain things. This is a vital aspect of career development and Rider Levett Bucknall do appear to live up to their hype.

For me it is important to be able to have a laugh with those you work with and it seems almost everyone here agrees. We have weekly team ‘meetings' at the pub, at the end of the month we have a fancy dress pub crawl which is going to be completely embarrassing, but I think that is the point, and during the summer I played Q Golf and cricket with the London boys for the first time. But no matter what you are doing it always seems to end in the pub.

Ultimately Rider Levett Bucknall is what you as an individual make of it. I believe they will give me a very solid start to what will hopefully be an interesting and rewarding career.

She Says : I completed the Protégé experience during 2007 whilst attending University for my second year. I was completing a Building Surveying BSc sandwich course, requiring me to have an industrial placement between my second and third years.

The Protégé experience was rather intense, however the exhilaration at gaining a place at Rider Levett Bucknall, then Bucknall Austin (before we went global), was a great feeling as the entire process was a challenge.

I was placed within the Manchester office's Building Surveying team, whom were all very welcoming and patient with my many questions. Initially I started out shadowing other surveyors and I enrolled for my APC, but then by the end of the year I had started my own projects to manage. There is great team camaraderie, and in addition to working life the social gatherings we had were great fun. Whilst at Manchester I worked on various projects which included working for British Transport Police, MOD, Cheshire Police, Greater Manchester Police, Manchester University and Manchester Metropolitan University.

Towards the end of my placement which was initially supposed to be 11 months, I spoke with the HR Manager about what I was going to do before I went back to University and I informed her I was going to be staying in London for six weeks. RLB then arranged for me to transfer to the London Office for those six weeks, which was great. Once I completed my placement year Rider Levett Bucknall offered to sponsor me through my final year of University which was fantastic.

Whilst completing my final year of Uni I found out un-expectantly that I was pregnant, although a huge shock, stressful and tiring, I happily managed to complete my degree with flying colours.

This particular time was rather stressful and I was concerned that my career hadn't even started before it was finished... However, I spoke to the HR Manager who was extremely understanding and we discussed my options and agreed that after I completed my degree I would come and work for a few months, then take maternity leave and return after that.

Having made friends in the London office I kept in touch throughout my maternity leave and attended some social gatherings which were very important for me in order for me to feel included. I have now returned to work and am very happy, with my little urchin now being one year old. Life is now akin to a naval logistics operation but it is all working out well and I am getting back into the swing of things. I am again working towards my APC having completed my diary during my placement year and confident I should be sitting this sometime in 2011. Currently I am working on our Royal Mail framework being predominantly directed by a Senior Surveyor as well as helping on school condition surveys for Southward Council.

My experience as a whole with Rider Levett Bucknall has been very positive, the people I work with are very friendly and down to earth and the support I have been given have been fantastic both personally as well as career wise.

He Says : I joined Rider Levett Bucknall (then Citex Project Services) in 2001 as a Graduate Building Surveyor in the London office after graduating from Herriot Watt University, Edinburgh with a first class honours degree in Building Surveying. I received excellent training and project experience on the Nationwide Building Society, Royal Mail and Lambeth School commissions over two year period which lead to me to achieve MRICS status October 2003. Throughout this period I was constantly supported and encouraged by the senior management team.

I continued to work in London for another two years before relocating to the North West where I was offered a Senior Surveyors role in the Manchester office.

I was promoted to Associate in 2007 and now nine years into my career I have recently been promoted to Partner and manage the Building Surveying unit in Manchester. I have a team of 12 surveyors and each year have supported the Protégé scheme taking on at least one Graduate. This year I have one Protégé sitting their APC (November 2010) followed by two more scheduled for May 2011.

My graduates are the backbone of my team providing a much needed service. They are of an extremely high calibre and constantly keep me on my toes. They are all incredibly ambitious and we give them as much support as they need but also give them the responsibly they deserve. They are extremely driven individuals and they never fail to deliver what they set out to achieve.

He Says : As one of the youngest candidates in the first Protégé recruitment campaign in 2007, I was successful in securing a 12-month work placement within the Sheffield office, where I recorded a full year's experience in my APC diary.

After completing my work placement, Rider Levett Bucknall provided sponsorship for the final year of my degree and even agreed to a delayed return to employment so I could take a six-month trip around the world!

Fully rejuvenated following a year of continuous study and late nights in the university library, I joined the Manchester office as a Graduate Building Surveyor in February 2010. From the offset, the confidence and experience I gained from my placement year and the challenges faced during Protégé 2007 proved vital in my professional development as I returned to work in my home town.

Now, 18 months into my APC diary, the level of responsibility I am gaining continues to escalate parallel to my experience as I take both supportive and lead roles with some of our key clients. Frequent meetings with my supervisor and the internal APC seminars provided by Rider Levett Bucknall keep me on course for my final assessment in 2011. The extra study and time dedicated to the APC is hard work, but the office social side of things more than makes up for it!

He Says : Since joining Rider Levett Bucknall on the Protégé scheme as a Graduate Quantity Surveyor in May 2011, I have already had the pleasure to work on some challenging yet exciting projects with a variety of different team members and clients. Gaining experience in such important projects has helped me develop not only in my technical ability as a Quantity Surveyor, but also socially. I have only been here a short while, however the down to earth nature of my colleagues has made it feel like I have been here a lot longer!

I am working as part of the residential team, gaining first hand exposure to many large scale projects with high profile clients. The typical values of these schemes are well over £10m! This exposure is also helping me gear towards taking my APC, as well as the number of courses run by Rider Levett Bucknall in order to better us all. These courses give us a great chance to meet the graduates from the other offices around the country.

The new impressive London office is a great place to work. There is a strong working environment in the office to achieve aims and targets for a number of demanding clients, but the culture is also very friendly - you can speak to anyone about anything. The hot-desk policy works very well, as it enables everyone to interact with different people on a daily basis.

One of my favourite aspects of working at Rider Levett Bucknall is of course the social events. There is always something going on, whether it be 5-a-side football, a fancy dress pub crawl, bowling and curry nights at Brick Lane, office drinks every month and many more. The list goes on...

He Says : During my penultimate summer holiday at University I was fortunate enough to gain Work Experience at Rider Levett Bucknall for 3 months. I had heard only the highest of praises surrounding the firm and the high regard in which it is held within the industry. After a thoroughly enjoyable, rewarding and valuable 3 months experience in which my expectations where far surpassed, I realised Rider Levett Bucknall was the place I wanted to join after graduating.

As soon as the Protégé scheme 2011 opened I made my application. The overall process was a challenging yet rewarding experience and comprised of - initial application, phone interview, mental arithmetic, English test and an assessment day. It must be noted in what seems to be a true Rider Levett Bucknall practice after a hard day's work (the Assessment Day) we all finished in the pub for a drink... or two...

I was fortunate to be accepted as a Protégé and after graduating from Reading University in July 2011 I started as a Graduate Project Manager in the Birmingham Office. My experience to date has been fantastic, and has reiterated that the industry's perception and my own of the firm is well deserved.

I am currently working on three projects - a 5* Hotel in Exeter, the conversion of two derelict barns into a pub in Gloucester and Works on multiple Train Stations across the UK. I have had support in applying for and undertaking the initial steps to obtaining my Professional Chartership qualification with the RICS.

Furthermore, it must be noted it is certainly not all work and no play, with social events within my team and the wider office a regular occurrence. In my 3 months, there has already been the "RLB Bash" where all UK employees gathered at Warwick University for a chance to catch up with fellow colleagues around the UK over a meal, evening of drinks and some rather interesting "moves" on the dance floor.

He Says : I joined the Manchester office as a Graduate Project Manager in July 2011 after graduating from the University of Salford with a first class honours degree in Building Surveying. The Protégé competition was unlike any other interview process I have ever experienced consisting of a series of tests, presentations and interviews and culminating in a full day assessment at the London office. The process may seem daunting but provides a great platform to demonstrate your abilities and was in fact strangely enjoyable - although this view may not be shared by all!

Since starting work I have been involved primarily in retail developments working on behalf of large investment funds. The amount of responsibility I have been allowed to take on in the early stages of my employment has provided a satisfying challenge and senior colleagues are always happy to provide assistance and guidance as required. Rider Levett Bucknall place a strong emphasis on the development of graduates and I have been impressed with the amount of support and encouragement provided to put me on track to pass the APC and achieve chartered status as soon as possible.

The Manchester office has a relaxed atmosphere and although everyone works hard everyone also appreciates the need for a bit a laugh. On the social side there are plenty of opportunities to get involved with nights out organised for various reasons - new starters being a prime example!

In my opinion Rider Levett Bucknall is a great place to work and provides all the support and opportunities needed to really move your career forward.

He Says : The Protégé scheme is one unlike any other I have come across; it seems we are only recruited if we possess the qualities that match the Rider Levett Bucknall attitude and basic technical skill. Getting in is the hardest process I have been through - all other graduate application processes I have been experienced seem relatively easy in comparison. More importantly, they ensure from day one that you start building experience – I was working on my first project within five hours!

The projects are varied, and it is down to the individual to ensure they take from each project something to benefit your technical development as well as other skills. I have now worked with three different major clients, on numerous projects and helped put bids together for the unit. I have just started on a project for a new client, helping deliver a nationwide project with new ideas and work styles that will enrich my competence and ability. All of the protégés are expected to take their own development seriously and attain Chartership accreditation; I have already taken part in my full Prince 2 Project Management course. I have been assigned a mentor and line manager whose aim seems to be to make me extremely competent at my job quickly and efficiently. There are numerous training days, with workshops and CPD sessions lined up to keep you extra busy. I am hoping in future to take part in one of Rider Levett Bucknall’s international placement programmes, where a Protégé is sent to a business unit in another part of the world to learn and experience how other teams carry out their role and hopefully bring back more ideas and more innovations from other market sectors.