Moulsham High School Student Joins Munday & Cramer as Apprentice Building Surveyor

Munday & Cramer are pleased to announce that Oliver Nicholls has joined the company as an Apprentice Building Surveyor following two successful work‑experience placements with Munday & Cramer.

Oliver first visited Monday & Cramer in 2025, initially spending a week within the surveying team, and immediately demonstrated an interest and level of aptitude relative to the profession. He also demonstrated great curiosity and professionalism well beyond his level of experience and age. He was interested in the built environment as a potential career and quickly became engaged in the technical and practical aspects of the role.

Earlier this summer, Oliver returned for a second placement, gaining deeper hands on experience. He spent a full day with Director Lee Hatwell, considering a defect inspection to ceilings and structure at a school in our vicinity. Oliver observed the assessment process, discussed the potential causes of defects, and throughout the rest of the week, he shadowed surveyors on projects and similar inspections and familiarised himself with the general software and systems, used across the assets and estates team within the business.

His enthusiasm and willingness to learn made a strong impression, and the team were delighted to offer him a place on Munday & Cramer’s apprenticeship programme.

A Growing Connection with Moulsham High School

Oliver becomes the third Moulsham High School student to join Munday & Cramer as an apprentice continuing a long‑standing relationship between the school and the firm. In fact, both company directors and business owners, Lee Hatwell and Phil Ruffle, are former Moulsham students themselves, demonstrating the broader potential for apprentices. in all professional disciplines and careers.

This connection has helped create a clear pathway for young people interested in careers within the built environment, demonstrating how local partnerships between business, school and universities can support students in finding meaningful, skilled employment and excellent career opportunities straight from school.

Supporting Apprenticeships within the Built Environment

Oliver is now Munday & Cramer’s eighth apprentice, reflecting the company’s commitment to developing new talent within building surveying, architecture and estates management. Apprenticeships offer a valuable alternative to route university, giving young people the chance to earn, learn and gain real‑world experience in a sector that continues to grow in demand.

This also reflects the wider aspirations currently shaping early‑career development within the built environment sector. Both the Labour Government and RICS are encouraging stronger connections between businesses and educators to create clearer, more accessible pathways into professional practice. Emerging vocational routes such as T‑Levels, V‑Levels and new technical qualifications are designed to give young people structured alternatives to traditional university study, while supporting long‑term career progression within surveying, architecture, and estates management. Munday & Cramer’s apprenticeship programme aligns closely with these aims, demonstrating how industry‑led training can open meaningful, skilled career opportunities from school age onwards.

Oliver’s journey highlights the importance of early exposure to industry insights and hands‑on learning. It shows the value of investing in young people who bring fresh perspectives, ambition and a genuine passion for the profession.