Auctioneering and property services industry turning to apprenticeships to fill skills gaps

Estate agents and property services are increasingly turning to apprenticeships to fill skills gaps as their industry grows. That’s according to City of Dublin Education and Training Board (CDETB), which today (26.05.21) launched an impact report on its Auctioneering and Property Services Apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships provide a two-year, work-based learning programme for people seeking careers in auctioneering, estate agency, property management and property letting.

Last year, 86 apprentices were hired by auctioneering and property services through the CDETB apprenticeship. In the first five months of 2021, up to 70 apprentices have been recruited, signalling much higher demand from the industry than in previous years.

Benefits for Employers

Until 30^th June 2021, employers can avail of a new government package that offers a €2,000 payment to take on an apprentice, and a further €1,000 in the second apprenticeship year.

Commenting today, Sandra Harvey-Graham, National Programme Manager for the Auctioneering Property and Services Apprenticeship at CDETB, said apprenticeships offer a cost-effective way for employers to recruit, as well as a fast-tracked route for employees to gain their PSRA licence.

“By taking on an apprentice, employers cut down on recruitment and training costs and also receive a direct financial incentive,” she said.  “Furthermore, through our apprenticeship, all four categories of the PSRA licence are fast-tracked: apprentices can gain their full professional licence within only two years, so they can begin adding real value for their employers very quickly.

“Since we launched the Auctioneering and Property Services Apprenticeship in 2018, we have had an overwhelmingly positive reaction from employers. They are strong supporters of the programme because it attracts high-quality participants – the majority of apprentices have previous professional experience and graduate with a distinction. Our employers also feel the apprenticeship model builds loyalty and trust, resulting in a high retention rate when apprentices complete the programme.”

CDETB is urging auctioneers and property services looking to grow their business to take on an apprentice this year. Interested companies can find out more at: https://auctioneeringapprenticeship.ie/employeers/.

Background to the Apprenticeship

The Auctioneering and Property Services Apprenticeship is an ‘earn and learn programme’, combining on-the-job training with academic study. The two-year programme is coordinated by CDETB and delivered through Ballsbridge College, Cork College of Commerce and Galway Roscommon ETB.

231 apprentices from 17 counties across Ireland are currently in training or have graduated from the programme since it was launched in 2018.

The impact report launched by CDETB today highlights the positive experience of employers involved in the Auctioneering and Property Services Apprenticeship. Key findings include:

• 93 per cent of employers would participate in the apprenticeship again.
• 96 per cent said the apprenticeship achieved the outcomes they anticipated for their organisation.
• 96 per cent also said the apprenticeship is an effective way to train apprentices for future job opportunities in the industry, with the fast track to attaining the PSRA licence in all four categories in two years.

Employer Experience

Katie McGarvey, Head of Compliance at DNG Group has participated in the Auctioneering and Property Services Apprenticeship since 2019 and recommends the programme for other employers in the industry.

Ms. McGarvey said: “We have had a very positive experience participating in the Auctioneering and Property Services Apprenticeship to date. Having an apprentice has meant we have filled urgent gaps in our staffing, cutting down on lengthy recruitment processes. The side-by-side learning experience for the apprentice lends itself well to the property and auctioneering industries, and means that – after the two years – our apprentice is a high-value, fully qualified member of the team.

“We look forward to training new apprentices this year and for many years to come under the Auctioneering and Property Services Apprenticeship.”

 

Download the 2021 Impact Report here: Auctioneering and Property Services Apprenticeship Impact 2021

City of Dublin Education and Training Board (CDETB) is the co-ordinating provider for the national Auctioneering and Property Services Apprenticeship which was formally launched on 11th April 2019 by by Joe McHugh TD, Minister for Education and Skills. The first intake of apprentices began the programme in September 2018 in Ballsbridge College of Further Education and Cork College of Commerce. At the launch Minister McHugh spoke about how apprenticeships are not just about qualifications but are also about gaining life experience which is highly valued by employers.Yvonne Mulligan, apprentice in Ballsbridge College described it as a super course and very beneficial. She said it requires a lot of hard work and dedication but that it has given her great confidence. Carol Hanney, Chief Executive ofCDETB, spoke about the historic role of apprenticeships in education and of the importance of being in the forefront of the development and delivery of new programmes.

 

The national Auctioneering and Property Services apprenticeship is a two year apprenticeship programme aimed at school leavers and mature applicants who wish to follow a career path in Property Services. Apprentices are employed in Auctioneering, Estate Agency, Property Management and Property Letting Firms.

 

Learning takes place in the company where the apprentices work four days per week and they attend college one day per week. In addition to achieving a QQI Level 6 certificate in Auctioneering and Property Services, on completion of the programme the apprentice will be eligible to apply for a Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA) licence. Apprentices are paid a salary and the off-the-job education is government funded.

 

The apprenticeship was developed in response to a shortage of trained personnel in the sector as many staff left the sector due to the recession and approximately 400 licensees retire each year. Ballsbridge College has been providing a QQI level 5 auctioneering course for many years and has well established links with employers in the sector. The college was approached by a number of companies in 2015 who proposed the development of an apprenticeship program as a way of addressing the shortage of qualified staff. A consortium steering group of employers was formed to support the development and roll out of the programme consisting of Sherry Fitzgerald, Knight Frank, MFO The Property Professional, DNG, Savills, Allen Jacob, Lisney and REA Ed Dempsey, the CEO of Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA),as well as the two professional bodies the Society of Chartered Surveyors (SCSI) and the institute of professional Auctioneers and Valuers (IPAV). City of Dublin Education and Training Board was appointed as the Co-ordinating Provider and Cork Education and Training Board joined the Consortium Steering Group in 2017.

 

The apprenticeship programme was validated by QQI in July 2018 and apprentices commenced the programme in September 2018 in Ballsbridge College of Further Education and Cork College of Commerce. Due to employer demand, the apprenticeship programme will be rolled out in Galway City for the first time in September 2019 and two new groups of apprentices will commence the programme in Dublin and Cork.