Britain may have a shortage of houses but there’s no shortage of jobs for people in the property industry -from estate agents to property lawyers.

This reflects the fact that property is a diverse sector and needs people with all skills and educational backgrounds.

But one of the best ways to build a career in property is as a surveyor.

Robert Weaver, a graduate of Edinburgh University, has just got his foot on the ladder. He’s been appointed a building surveying trainee with CKD Galbraith and splits his time between the Stirling and Edinburgh offices.

The firm is Scotland’s largest rural consultancy managing and providing advice on farm, forestry, land and estate interests on over three million acres.

Since joining Robert has been working in the commercial, rural and residential sectors of the business while at the same time receiving structured training to assist him with the Assessment of Professional Competence that will allow him to gain Membership to the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.

Robert says: “My new graduate trainee role at CKD Galbraith is a fantastic opportunity. It will allow me to put my degree into practice and gain invaluable hands-on experience.

“I’m already working with the team conducting surveys, as well as getting involved in a commercial office refurbishment.

“I relish the opportunity to get involved in as many diverse aspects of the job as possible.”

Martin Cassels, partner and head of CKD Galbraith’s building surveying department, says taking on trainees such as Robert is crucial to the continued success of the business.

“As a firm we place the utmost importance on the recruitment of the best graduates and subsequent professional development involving a robust training coupled with real hands-on experience in the property field,” he says.

“Robert has a proven academic ability as well as great personal and business skills which he will continue to develop within our dynamic surveying team.”

It’s this combination of actually working in the sector while getting training at the same time that gives university-leavers such as Robert a firm grounding in the property sector.