Social Impact Category: Prosperity (Local Economy)
Empowering Emerging Talent Through Work Experience
Category: Prosperity (Local Economy)
Project Name: Tackling Barriers to Employment
Location: Sheffield Office (Site visits)
Date: March 2025
Initiative Output: 2 Weeks work experience in regional office and on sites
Outcomes: Change in circumstances (Work Experience)
Baker Mallett’s mission goes beyond delivering exceptional services: we strive to generate lasting social value by dismantling barriers to employment and reinvesting in our local communities. This case study highlights how a tailored work-experience programme transformed the prospects of one graduate, and in doing so, supported the Sheffield economy by nurturing home-grown talent.
Recognising Barriers to Employment
Harry, a recent Building Surveyor graduate from Sheffield, reached out to us looking for work. His academic record was impeccable, yet he faced a classic paradox: without hands-on site experience, he could not secure his first professional role, and without that role, he could not gain the required experience.
This “catch-22” is a common barrier faced by emerging professionals across the UK and disproportionately affects local economies by keeping fresh talent on the sidelines.
An Offer to Help
Though we had no immediate vacancy, our commitment to social value drove us to act. Rather than turn Harry away, we extended an open invitation which consisted of:
- Flexible Placement: Harry could join our team for as long as he needed, at no cost to him or our clients.
- Holistic Support: Beyond surveying tasks, we granted him access to our business development and HR teams—for networking, CV refinement, application coaching and interview preparation.
- Mentorship: Senior staff—including our Managing Partner—welcomed him on site visits, design meetings and client presentations.
This bespoke model ensured Harry learned the full spectrum of a building surveyor’s role, while also gaining insight into the commercial and interpersonal dimensions of consultancy work.
Harry’s Work Experience Journey
1. Technical Immersion. He carried out measured surveys, condition assessments and defect analyses under senior supervision.
2. Harry drafted specifications and cost-plans, then reviewed them in team workshops to refine professional report-writing.
3. Commercial & Personal Development. He worked with our Business Development Manager to research potential clients and craft tailored proposals and partnered with HR to strengthen his CV, role-play interviews and expand his professional network.
4. On-Site Learning. He attended live Design Team Meetings, observing the coordination of architects, engineers and contractors.
5. He conducted supervised building surveys across heritage and commercial sites—gaining confidence in negotiations, risk- management and client liaison.
What Harry Said:
“The whole team at Baker Mallett have
been extremely helpful over the past
two weeks. Providing me with brilliant
experience, from work in the office, to
help with my CV and site visits which
included meetings. I am extremely
grateful for this experience”.
Life Changed for Harry
Just one week into his placement, Harry secured an interview. He drew directly on real-time examples from our programme—specific survey findings, meeting insights and proposal snippets—to demonstrate his competence. Impressed by his practical skills and professional maturity, the hiring firm offered him a full-time role.
Harry is now fully employed as a Building Surveyor in Sheffield, where he continues to grow and give back to the community.
Social Value & Local Economic Impact
By providing cost-free placements, we reduced entry-level barriers, helping a local graduate transition smoothly from education to employment.
Harry’s immediate employment contributes to the regional economy through his spending, tax contributions and enhanced service capacity.
We’re now piloting a formalised Work Experience Framework, allowing multiple graduates to join us each year.
By offering Harry essential on-the-job training, Baker Mallett not only changed one graduate’s life but also reinforced the economic and social fabric of Sheffield.
