Apprentice joins Gent Visick as scheme launched

GENT Visick has launched an apprenticeship scheme which joint owner Rupert Visick believes will give youngsters a path into the property sector.

The Leeds-based industrial property agent’s first recruit is Daniel Walker, an 18-year-old pupil at St Aidan’s Church of England High School in Harrogate.

The teenager will take part in a five year programme with Gent Visick alongside studying for a BSC degree part-time.

Mr Visick said the company hoped the scheme could be rolled-out to other pupils in the future if successful.

He believes schemes such as Gent Visick’s should be taken up across the property agency sector as opportunities for graduates become more limited because of the economic downturn.

He said: “We really wanted to get somebody who had no pre-conceptions of the property industry. We thought we’d be better off going for someone straight from school and we went into a number of schools across the region to talk to pupils about our scheme.

“We spoke to Daniel and his parents seriously about the scheme as it means giving up on university and working when his friends will be studying and socialising.

“But he is committed to it and is prepared to graft and take his chance. The scheme is almost taking the property sector back to how it was.”

Kathryn Hodgson, Gent Visick’s marketing manager, added: “The work experience Daniel will be getting alongside his degree is ten-fold to what he would have at the same stage just doing university.

“When he finishes he’ll also have a job and we’ll have an experienced employee.”

TheBusinessDesk.com reported last week how Gent Visick has appointed a new partner – Gavin Ritchie – as it looks to expand further.