RUTH GALLAUGHER, 24, graduate surveyor at GVA Grimley, a property consultancy

“After completing a degree in geography and economics I didn't know what I wanted to do so I spent a gap year in Australia and New Zealand as well as doing some conservation work in Tanzania.

At university many of my friends were doing surveying degrees and it sounded interesting, so when I came back I decided I wanted to explore that route.

"I got a summer placement at my local council in the property services department, really enjoyed it and ended up moving to London and working for the NSPCC on its estates team. Having gained valuable experience, I applied to GVA Grimley as part of its graduate scheme and I'm training to be a chartered surveyor.

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"This takes two years and we do three placements of eight months in different areas of the firm to build experience. I've worked in property management, valuations and I'm now in strategic property consultancy on the education team.

“I provide advice to universities and colleges on how they utilise their properties and look at potential redevelopment. At the moment I'm working on four projects on the South Coast and the opportunity to travel is certainly a real appeal of the job because there are projects all over the UK and, increasingly, internationally.

"The world of property is so diverse and you have the opportunity to work with people from a wide range of professions, from architects, solicitors and quantity surveyors to mechanical and electrical engineers. Career-wise I get a real sense of achievement from being able to work with the client, find out what he or she wants to achieve and then see the project through.”

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