Countrywide Surveying Services (CSS) has launched a trainee surveyor programme and broadened its recruitment drive into Northern Ireland.
The CSS academy is led by Sam Holton, head of trainee development, and Sarah Chalmers-Stevens, head of professional development.
Trainees from a wide range of professional and personal backgrounds are invited to apply, with CSS mandating a minimum of four years’ property experience.
Those with a property-related degree and one year’s experience of property experience will be considered in order to bring a “diverse range of skills, experience and expertise to the business”.
The launch of the programme shows CSS’ “ongoing commitment to nurturing new talent across the UK”.
Matthew Cumber (pictured), managing director at CSS, said: “The success of our trainee programme is a crucial component within our overall growth strategy, and the quality of this qualification journey continues to attract best-in-class talent from a number of different professional and cultural backgrounds.
“This new recruitment drive will allow us to tap into a new talent pool, and we look forward to arming the next generation of residential valuation surveyors with all the knowledge and tools to provide them with a rewarding and fulfilling career within this exciting and innovative sector.”
CSS recently appointed Steve Rayers as its performance director, Martyn Stones as its technical services director and Jonathan Bourke as its director of retrofit.
Anna is currently the deputy editor for Mortgage Solutions and editor for Specialist Lending Solutions. She has worked as a journalist since 2019, having secured her Gold Standard NCTJ diploma from News Associates in a fast-track six-month course.
She started her career as a report at specialist publication The Insurance Insider covering a wide range of areas before joining Mortgage Solutions and Specialist Lending Solutions in 2021.
In her role, she helps put together and structure the news agenda for the day and writes up press releases, reports, interviews, analyses and exclusives across both titles. She also commissions blogs for Specialist Lending Solutions and hosts online masterclasses and in-person events across the business.
She has been shortlisted for three journalism awards, which include BIBA Journalist and Media Awards Scoop of Year Award in 2020, Headline Money Mortgage Journalist of the Year Award (B2B) in 2022 and 2023.
Prior to being a journalist, Anna worked in ecommerce across Snow + Rock, Cycle Surgery and Runners Need websites, and before that worked at specialist financial PR firm Rostrum.
In her spare time, Anna enjoys reading, seeing live music, and cooking for friends and family. When she gets a chance, she also enjoys hiking, skiing and indoor rock climbing.
