From Warehouse to Surveying: A Fresh Start.
Starting with limited savings and an uncertain future, Sava graduate Jack Johnson took a bold step by enrolling in the Sava Diploma in Residential Surveying and Valuation – a decision that launched him into a new and exciting career. We caught up with Jack to hear how the diploma transformed his life, propelled his career, and what his journey through Sava’s surveyor training was really like.
What was your background before training as a surveyor?
Before training as a residential surveyor, I was working as a warehouse operative. I’d given university a go after college, but after just one term, I realised it wasn’t the right path for me. At 19, with limited savings and no clear direction, I made the decision to pursue surveying – a field I found intriguing, even if I had little experience in it.
To support myself during training, I was fortunate to return to my part-time job at McDonald’s, where I’d worked during college. Their flexibility made it possible for me to fund the course and stay on track. Aside from some relevant topics from my engineering course at college, I had no background in property or surveying. I was starting from scratch – but I was ready for the challenge.
What was your motivation for becoming a residential surveyor?
For me, the motivation came from a simple but powerful feeling: I knew I was capable of more. I wanted to learn a new skillset and build a career I could be proud of – something that challenged me and allowed me to grow. No disrespect to warehouse work, but there’s no greater motivation than walking into a freezing warehouse in December at -7°C, facing another day of mundane tasks.
Before discovering Sava, I had no idea what a residential surveyor even was. I’d heard of quantity surveying, sure, but I had never considered the wider world of surveying roles. Something about residential surveying just clicked with me straight away. I can’t explain exactly why, but it instantly felt like the right path.
What made you choose Sava as your route into the profession?
I’d already given university a try, but the traditional teaching style just didn’t work for me, so heading back down that route wasn’t an option. I needed something different – and that’s when I came across Sava.
After speaking with one of Sava’s course representatives, everything started to fall into place. He walked me through the career prospects, the structure of the course, the support available from the training staff and it sounded like exactly what I was looking for. He followed up with an information pack, and after going through it, I decided to take the leap.
I also reached out to a couple of local surveyors for their take. They were honest and they all said the same thing – it will be tough with a lot of studying involved but the rewards at the end will be worth it. That was all the reassurance I needed.
“The real highlight of my Sava experience was having the pleasure of meeting Carys, one of Sava’s support staff…She made it her mission to ensure that I was on track to pass, and I did! For this I cannot thank her enough.”
How did you find your training experience with Sava?
My training experience was different to most, and likely different from anybody’s experience going forward. Given the time I signed onto the course (during Covid) we were in and out of lockdowns and many restrictions were in place regarding face-to-face meetings. This meant that all my course content was delivered online via virtual classrooms instead of what should have been face-to-face classroom days.
On one hand this was great as it meant that I didn’t have to travel from Bury to York (140 mile round trip!) for the training days. (York was my intake as I did not want to wait for another intake nearer to me given my age and eagerness.)
On the other hand, I did miss out on building those important in-person connections with my cohort and the trainers. However, what I can say is that despite the challenges, Sava and the trainers did everything in their power to present structured, engaging training days – and they definitely delivered.
What was the highlight of your Sava experience?
My cohort got on really well and we built a great little safe space to ask questions and motivate each other via a WhatsApp group. That was extremely encouraging. However, the real highlight of my Sava experience was having the pleasure of meeting Carys, one of Sava’s support staff. There was a time during the course when I was struggling with procrastination and self-doubt, but Carys soon kicked me into gear. Her support, advice and progress calls held me accountable and ultimately saved me from potential failure. She made it her mission to ensure that I was on track to pass, and I did! For this I cannot thank her enough.
What have you been up to since qualifying?
I secured a surveying position at Longden & Cook Real Estate – a firm in my hometown of Bury. They have been fantastic to me. They have given and continue to give me experience in many aspects of surveying including residential valuations, building surveys, schedule of conditions and bigger commercial jobs.
What’s been your career highlight so far?
Cheesy as it sounds, my career highlight so far has been completing my first solo instruction as a qualified surveyor. It was a Help to Buy valuation. When my report was checked and approved, I really felt a great sense of relief and pride over how far I’d come. I am grateful to Sava for the opportunity to learn and grateful to Longden & Cook for the opportunity to grow and work for such an incredible team.
“The Sava course has opened doors for me that were previously locked shut. It was a turning point in my life…”
What advice would you give to anyone considering training as a surveyor?
My number one piece of advice for anybody seriously considering training as a surveyor would be this: Be prepared to sacrifice your time now for the rewards that await you at the end. I fell into the trap of thinking one day I would wake up and all the work would be done for me. I quickly realised that I needed routine, dedication and to make sacrifices to ultimately complete the course and better myself and my life. I would echo the sentiment of the surveyors I spoke to at the beginning of my journey – it will be a challenge but the rewards at the end will be worth the effort.
Can you describe the impact the Sava diploma has had on your life so far?
The Sava course has opened doors for me that were previously locked shut. It was a turning point in my life that has given me the knowledge and qualification required to begin my professional career in surveying.
Would you recommend the Sava diploma to others looking to enter the profession? (If so, why?)
If you’re serious about becoming a surveyor, I’d definitely recommend the Sava diploma. The reasons are clear: it’s a well-structured, time-efficient route into the profession as long as you’re prepared to commit and put the work in. There’s real demand out there for qualified surveyors, and plenty of companies hold Sava graduates in high regard. Many are more than willing to give you that first opportunity and support your continued development.
Please, though, if you do decide to enrol on the Sava diploma, stick with it. It’s an investment in yourself and your future. Stay the course, give it your all, and you won’t regret it.
If you’re considering a career change, find out more about the becoming a professional residential surveyor through the Sava Diploma in Residential Surveying and Valuation and hear from others who have graduated from the programme.