We caught up with Hollie Stevenson, one of our trainee surveyors to find out about her career journey to date....
What inspired you to pursue a career in surveying? I have always had a keen interest in property from a young age. I always remember watching TV programs like “A Place in the Sun” with my mum, thinking “it would be so cool if that was my job!” I have a fascination for how the built environment is planned, measured and managed, and I have always enjoyed problem solving and working with tangible results. I find that surveying is the perfect blend of analytical thinking, social interaction, and practical application. Having an opportunity to contribute to meaningful projects while engaging with a variety of people made the profession particularly appealing.
Can you share your academic background and how it led you to this field? I studied an MA (Hons) in Business Management and Real Estate at the University of Aberdeen, where I began to gain in-depth knowledge of the built environment. I learned about a wide variety of subjects including valuation, principles of measurement, investment vehicles, finance, and sustainability in the built environment. I learned about both residential and commercial property at university, however it was commercial property that really interested me throughout my time there.
How did you secure your internship with FGB? I was searching for a summer internship, similar to those that my university peers were applying for and came across FG Burnett. I emailed Graeme Nisbet to query whether this sort of program was on offer, and after submitting my CV, I was invited to an interview. The process was simple and very welcoming, and after interviewing I was invited to take up my role as Undergraduate Intern on a part-time basis throughout my university term and over the summer break. I greatly appreciated the opportunity to be able to work with the company on a long-term basis, as opposed to only over the summer on a fixed term contract.
What were your main tasks during the internship? During my internship, I attended property inspections, measurement surveys, undertook property viewings with interested parties, gathered comparable property data, and communicated initial enquiries with more senior members of the team. I also shadowed more senior surveyors with report writing, and assisted with the creation of Marketing Reports, Valuation Reports, and Business Rates Proposals.
What did you find most challenging, and what did you learn? Initially, the steep learning curve of the difference between university, (where it is very theory based, with limited hands-on experience), to the workplace, (where property visits and inspections are happening every other day), was a lot to take in. However, this became a very valuable learning opportunity, and I quickly discovered that nothing beats hands-on experience. My internship helped me to understand the real-world application of what I was studying at university.
How did your internship shape your move into a trainee surveyor role? My internship gave me a valuable insight into the day-to-day operations of the business, along with getting to know my colleagues and familiarising myself with current instructions. Because of these points, transitioning into a trainee surveyor role felt like the natural next step, and I felt I could hit the ground running, contributing more meaningfully on a full-time basis.
What support or training helped you settle into the role? I was provided with a support network of experienced colleagues from day one. I felt I could approach any one of my colleagues and was never made to feel like there was such a thing as a stupid question!
What does a typical day look like for you now? There is no such thing as a “typical” day for me. I have a great mix of office based and non-office based work, ranging from meeting with clients for coffee and a catch up, to visiting sites under construction. No two days are exactly the same, which I think is one of my favourite parts of the job- it never gets boring.
What types of projects are you involved in? I am currently involved in primarily agency disposal work, specialising in offices and development opportunities. I am also involved in a number of acquisition instructions, and some valuation too.
How are you continuing to grow professionally? I am in the process of undertaking my Assessment of Professional Competence, with a view to becoming a Chartered Surveyor in Autumn 2026. I also regularly attend networking opportunities to grow and maintain my network of professional peers.
What advice would you give to those thinking about an internship in surveying? Do it! Take every opportunity to gain hands-on experience within the industry, it is the most valuable thing I have done professionally so far. Ask questions, be curious, reliable and show a genuine interest. An internship is a perfect time to absorb information, to learn and to grow as much as possible.
What helped you stand out and transition from intern to trainee? What helped me stand out was being proactive, demonstrating a willingness to learn, and showing initiative during my internship. Building relationships and showing that I could add value to the team also helped me transition into a trainee role.
What are your goals as you continue developing in your career? My short-term goal is to continue building my expertise and work towards my professional accreditation of MRICS. In the long-term I’d like to take on more responsibility, take on larger projects, and potentially specialise in a particular facet of surveying. We will have to wait and see!
For more information on internship opportunities with FG Burnett, contact: info@fgburnett.co.uk