Johnnie Longmore of Portsmouth is Mountjoy’s first apprentice to take on a Degree Apprenticeship. Johnnie joined Mountjoy as an Apprentice Estimator in 2017 as part of a one-year course with Highbury College studying for a BTEC in Construction and the Built Environment. Following his year’s course and time in the Estimating team, he is now ready to learn about the role of Quantity Surveying alongside a degree course with the University of Portsmouth. Johnnie is “looking forward to the challenge of the degree” and the chance to become a Chartered Surveyor, following in the footsteps of his Uncle from whom he was inspired to be a Surveyor.
Quantity Surveying BSc (Hons) with the University of Portsmouth is a 5-year degree apprenticeship, spending one day a week studying for the degree and the other four in work. The course is being funded by Mountjoy as a training levy and covers construction design and Building Information Modelling (BIM). It will help development of knowledge about dispute resolution, planning law, project management, problem solving and property economics. Each year there will be 4 modules – two with classroom teaching, one by distance learning and one practical (requiring time in the field). Johnnie will be required to keep a log of all his work and experience across the 5 years. A key benefit to the course is the eligibility to register as a Chartered Surveyor with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors at the end of the course following a final assessment by the RICS board.
Omar Lakhssassi, Business Development Executive for the The University of Portsmouth said “It’s a pleasure for the University of Portsmouth to be welcoming Mountjoy to our Chartered Surveying Degree Apprenticeship programme. It’s great to work with a local business that is passionate about investing in its staff and we look forward to supporting Johnnie through his development as a Quantity Surveyor.
Mountjoy currently employs 14 apprentices with the majority in trades such as carpentry, plumbing and electrical skills.