A young trainee has grasped the first rung of the property ladder to build a career in estate agency.  Lucy Davidson has secured a position as an apprentice with J W Wood joining their Consett team to learn the intricacies of the estate agency business while developing her skills in a thriving branch.

The 19-year-old, of Consett, said: “I was really pleased when I was offered the job. I have always been interested in property and this seemed absolutely ideal for me.”

J W Wood has a long-standing record in property sales and lettings throughout County Durham – going back to 1910. The Consett office has gone from strength to strength in recent years enabling the company, in conjunction with the North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC), to invest in the future by taking Lucy on.

Assistant manager Alex Broadfoot said: “I think the apprentice scheme is fantastic and it is so beneficial to the company to train a young person from the very start so they can learn the job the right way from those who are already doing it.

“We obviously help people to invest in property, but we also believe in investing in people; if we can help someone develop their skills, they can grow with us and help us to continue to deliver the best possible service to our clients, which will lead to greater success for us all.”

Lucy’s interest in property seems to be hereditary and she recalls talking to her two sisters and brothers about houses when she was little.

“It’s my granddad who started this off in our family, because he built his own house 25 years ago, which was quite a big thing for us then,” she said.

“It is exciting to think that he did that and, who knows, one day maybe I will build my own house too; that would be amazing.”

Lucy is also studying for a Level 2 National Vocational Qualification in business administration while she gains invaluable experience in the workplace. This covers vital areas such as working in a team, customer service, communications and IT skills.

She is monitored regularly by her NECC assessor, to ensure she is achieving the required standards, and her managers at JW Wood certainly believe she has what it takes to make the grade. Alex said: “She is doing brilliantly; she is confident, reliable and very enthusiastic: just what we are looking for in a future employee.

“Lucy is helping to arrange viewings on our properties, which is fantastic, and she has even helped to negotiate her first sale, which must give her a real taste for the business.”

Lucy said: “I love dealing with customers: talking to them and finding out what they want and how I can help.

“It has given me a lot of confidence and I hope I can continue and progress in the job in the years ahead.”