My Persian father was a man of many trades – renovating properties, managing flats and running various businesses – and he envisaged his sons taking on prestigious roles such as doctors or lawyers.
But after I completed my GCSEs, uncertainty loomed over my career path. The idea of attending university felt daunting, particularly because traditional classroom learning had presented significant challenges for me.
I was diagnosed with dyslexia and ADHD during my A levels, which explained my ongoing struggle with focus and learning in educational settings.
But while this illuminated my experiences, it also made me feel as though I was fighting an uphill battle. Discouraged by my perceived limitations, I made the difficult decision to drop out of sixth form.
Success at trade motivates new direction
With self-doubt creeping in, I observed my older brother taking a different route, and this inspired me to do the same. I enrolled in college to study a Level 3 course in electrical installation at Keighley College, seeking a hands-on approach that I hoped would suit my learning style better.
I adopted new strategies to manage my challenges, and to my surprise I excelled, achieving some of the highest grades in my class. This new-found success reignited my motivation and instilled a sense that perhaps I could carve out a meaningful path for myself.
After spending three years from 2019 to 2022 working as an electrician, I came to the realisation that this wasn't where I wanted to remain in the long term.
My childhood experiences – helping my father on various building sites – had equipped me with valuable insights, and I felt I had more to offer the industry. Yet I found myself wrestling with fundamental questions: how could I best use the skills I had acquired?
Friendly chat inspires move into surveying
During a conversation with my friend Jake Fraser Green, a chartered building control surveyor, I shared my thoughts and aspirations.
He took the time to outline the qualities needed to excel in surveying. As he spoke, I mentally checked off the attributes he mentioned: responsibility, attention to detail, good communication. Each resonated deeply with me.
Inspired by our conversation, I felt a renewed sense of purpose and promptly sent him my CV, which he forwarded to the human resources department at his workplace.
After successfully navigating two rounds of interviews, I was thrilled to secure a degree apprenticeship with my previous employer, a building control firm operating in the private sector.
Company supports academic transition
However, I soon encountered a hurdle: I lacked the necessary grades to enter the programme directly following an administrative error.
Fortunately, the company recognised my potential and offered to support me through an access course – consisting of a six-month module based on people management – which would pave the way for my degree in building control.
When I shared this news with my parents, their initial reaction was scepticism. At 21, I had a stable job and a promising career – not exactly what they had envisaged, but still commendable.
They voiced concerns about my ability to manage my conditions while returning to study. I reassured them that I was committed to making it work, especially with new medication that had helped improve my concentration.
I felt ready to embrace this challenge and was determined to graduate no matter the circumstances.
Collaboration and passion earn recognition
In the first two months of my role as an apprentice building control surveyor, I discovered a genuine passion for my work. By the third month, I found myself managing my own clients and projects. Everything Jake had told me about the profession and my role rang true.
I was collaborating with experienced surveyors and attending site inspections that varied from single-storey extensions to some of the largest buildings in Leeds and Manchester.
Each experience filled me with excitement and hope for the future. I could truly see myself having a positive impact in the construction industry.
My previous experience on construction sites helping my father, allowed me to navigate challenging situations with confidence.
I was recognised within the company, winning internal awards for my contributions, which reinforced my belief that I was on the right path.
However, just as I was gaining momentum, my journey towards becoming a building inspector faced a significant challenge.
'My previous experience on construction sites helping my father, allowed me to navigate challenging situations with confidence'
Competency requirements present challenges
Being an apprentice as the new Building Safety Regulator was established proved particularly difficult. With experienced surveyors unsure of the way forward, this left me and other apprentices in turmoil.
Additional workload being placed on surveyors to submit portfolios left the apprentices nowhere to turn when seeking help.
With everyone in the workplace focused on preparing portfolios to demonstrate their competency, my education as an apprentice felt sidelined. The lack of support and knowledge started to show.
While I continued to attend site inspections and manage my own projects, my learning and development came to a standstill. I attempted to read various books and teach myself, but it simply wasn't the same as guided learning.
Change of employer confirms ambition
As surveyors began to prove their competency, I observed a lot of movement with many people switching companies as new regulations and procedures emerged, creating an unfamiliar environment.
In September 2024, I was presented with the opportunity to move to Sweco. Although this was an exciting prospect, it also made me anxious as I only had a year's experience in the profession, and I felt as though I was heading into the unknown.
However, with myself and Jake both making the move together, this helped me overcome any nerves and the transition became seamless.
I am now more than a year and a half into my apprenticeship, and my sights are firmly set on achieving my registration as a class 2A building control surveyor with the Building Safety Regulator by March 2025.
The journey has been one of ups and downs, but I'm more determined than ever to succeed and make my family proud.
In my next article, I will be sharing my experience of becoming a registered building inspector as an apprentice within the industry.
Improving inclusive recruitment in surveying
With skills gaps continuing to be a growing concern, employers across the built and natural environment must put in the work to ensure they attract, develop and retain talent from all backgrounds.
Surveying in particular is a profession that is well suited for those with neurodivergent conditions such as ADHD and dyslexia, especially if the understanding and support is in place to ensure everyone can thrive.
In partnership with members and diversity, equity and inclusion experts in the industry, RICS has delivered a robust suite of guidance within the Rules of Conduct.
This is designed to support members and member firms in improving their organisational cultures and ensuring talent from all backgrounds have equal opportunities to enter, develop and succeed in the industry. You can learn more on RICS' Inclusive recruitment webpage.
To find out more about our diversity, equity and inclusion strategy, contact RICS head of diversity, equity and inclusion Sybil Taunton.