GFW Guide for Graduates by GFW LLP

ABOUT GFW

GFW is a regional property consultancy providing expert advice to the Residential, Commercial, Development and Rural property sectors.

We operate in offices across the North of England including Northumberland, County Durham and Yorkshire, we deliver work on a regional and national scale, providing a scope of services wider than most national firms, with a client focus and flexibility of a regional business.

We pride ourselves on the success we deliver for our clients; this wouldn’t be possible without our excellent team of experts from partners through to graduates, as well as our business support team. We have evolved due to constant innovation. This has given us the foundations to grow across all of our services as well as geographically, in turn, creating more opportunities for our team to develop their career aspirations.

We are invested in looking after our people, and we offer a range of career programmes as well as an achievable rewards and recognition policy and a business support network.

Our aim is to make your journey a positive, engaging and ultimately rewarding one with the ambition that you will grow with the business to fulfill your ambitions whilst helping develop and expand the business.

GFW strives to find the talent of the future, to help people realise their career ambitions whilst becoming key members of a growing business

JESSICA DOUGLAS, HR & RECRUITMENT MANAGER

Graduate Opportunities

As a placement or graduate joining GFW you will be working alongside many other employees who are taking the same pathway, gaining exposure to different areas of the business regardless of the office or scheme you join, encouraging you to specialise in all different types of work.

Becoming a new team member at GFW means you will be fully supported throughout your training and professional qualifications with dedication from other members of the team.

When following the route to become a chartered surveyor, you will have access to APC pathway material to help you along the way.

APC

Building your competence, CPD log, gaining experience on the job with support from colleagues

A graduate opportunity will enable

▪ Network with other graduates to develop knowledge

▪ Attend career enhancing events

▪ Work alongside other sectors to widen your experience

▪ Have regular contact with your APC team throughout your qualification

you to:

▪ Benefit from continual support from colleagues who are there to help

▪ Attend mock interviews with RICS trained assessors

PATHWAY

Completing your written submission using client case studies

Success Stories

GFW are immensely proud of our record in providing opportunities not just for graduates to successfully pass their APC or Apprenticeship, but to then go on and become key members of our growing team...

Jessica Clark

Hannah Wafer

I started working at GFW following graduation in 2018. Since starting work at GFW I have been exposed to a significant range of projects from small scale residential or agricultural developments to strategic development sites and renewable energy schemes. Such a diverse scope of projects has allowed me to expand my knowledge to advise clients appropriately and progress in my career. As a graduate you are valued as a member of the team, given responsibility for you work with the support to enable you to develop your own career path.

I joined GFW in 2007 as a Graduate Rural Surveyor, following a degree in Rural Studies from Newcastle University. My degree was not RICS accredited therefore with GFW’s support I undertook a Postgraduate Diploma via distance learning through the College of Estate Management, University of Reading. The course took just over 2 years, and I then sat my APC to qualify as a Chartered Surveyor in Spring 2010. I was promoted through the ranks from Rural Surveyor, Senior Rural Surveyor and then to Associate in 2017. In 2022, I was promoted to salaried Partner. Throughout this time, I have also had several major life events, moving from England to Scotland, getting married and having two children. The support and commitment from GFW, work related and personal has been second to none and is a testament to why I am still here 17 years down the line!

Adeline Rutherford

I graduated from Harper Adams in 2016 having successfully completed my degree in Rural Enterprise and Land Management (REALM) and a work placement at GFW in Alnwick. During my work placement I was offered a graduate role at GFW, which I did not hesitate to accept.

In comparison to all my peers I was offered a huge variety of work with a great support network. No day or job has been the same. The course at Harper Adams gave me the best foundation to truly establish myself as a dynamic chartered rural surveyor. I am eager to share my knowledge and to support the next generation of surveyors in our terrific working environment.

Aaron Dodd

I joined GFW in 2012 after completing my A-levels and being offered an apprenticeship within the agency team. Upon successful completion of my apprenticeship 12 months later, I was offered a permanent position to work within the sales and lettings team. The training, support and opportunities made available to me throughout my time with GFW have been instrumental to my success, from the large variety of work to the broad range of expertise and services GFW provide which have ultimately enabled me to gain invaluable experience in my field. 12 years on, I now oversee our sales and lettings offering within the Barnard Castle branch.

GFW Benefits

You are the most valuable asset the business has, we invest quality time with you and create innovative ways in which to support you both at work and also at home.

DEVELOPMENT, TRAINING & MENTORSHIP

Regardless of your role within the business we believe that the growth of an individual leads to the growth of the business and as such provide opportunities for all to develop and explore both existing and new skills.

Where relevant one-to-one guidance will be provided to ensure individuals have the correct tools and opportunities to develop their careers.

We have a fantastic tradition of mentoring colleagues through their first years in their career. Many of our experienced colleagues are Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) assessors so you can learn from the best.

ANNUAL LEAVE

We recognise the importance of a good work life balance offering 25 days annual leave to a full-time employee plus bank holidays and Christmas closure days. For those with the business for five or more years you are rewarded with additional annual day(s) at various milestones.

CELEBRATIONS

We’ll give you a day off on your birthday and should you be planning your wedding then we’ll provide an extra week of annual leave to get all the preparations in place for the big day.

FAMILY FRIENDLY

We offer enhanced maternity pay as well as three weeks full paternity pay and along side additional policies including carers leave, bereavement leave, fertility leave provide you will all the support we can when it’s needed.

LOAN

Life throws plenty of challenges at us and as a responsible employer we want to help you deal with them. Whether you need help with a deposit for your next home, unexpected repairs on your car, etc. we can help with an interest free loan up to £1,000 that is paid back in monthly instalments over a period of up to twelve months.

FEES & EXPENSES

Every financial year we offer each employee up to one discounted job where you could save up to £2,000 whether it be for selling your house or submitting a planning application for an extension.

We offer a £300 parking contribution if your place of work is in one of our city centre locations.

If you have at least six months continuous service, you can apply for an interest free salary advance to buy an appropriate public transport season ticket –this can be repaid over 6 or 12 months.

Rural Services

▪ Business Planning and Succession

▪ Rural Payments and Grants

▪ The Environment

▪ Farm Management

▪ Valuation

▪ Utilities & Infrastructure / Compulsory Purchase and Compensation

▪ Property Sales, Lettings and Acquisitions

▪ Dispersal Sales

▪ Estate and Property Management

▪ Expert Witness and Dispute Resolution

▪ Landlord & Tenant Matters

▪ Public Rights of Way

▪ Geographic Informaton Systems (GIS) & Mapping

▪ Planning & Development

▪ Telecoms and Communications

▪ Solar, Wind and other Renewable Energy Infrastructure

▪ Agricultural Mortgage Corporation Agents

GFW Rural Team

As a business we provide a diverse range of professional services and as such utilise the skills and experiences from an equally diverse team of individuals.