Supporting the Next Generation: Bramble & Wagg Invests in Surveying Talent
At Bramble & Wagg, we strongly believe that the future of the built environment depends on meaningful collaboration between education and industry. As a Nottingham-based surveying practice, we see first-hand the skills challenges facing the profession, and the importance of supporting new and non-traditional routes into surveying.
One recent success story we’re particularly proud of is Natalie Bratby, who has graduated with a Distinction from the MSc Building Surveying programme at Nottingham Trent University, while simultaneously progressing into professional practice with our team.
Natalie’s journey began when our Director, Nicola Zadrozny MRICS, was invited to deliver a guest lecture to postgraduate Building Surveying students at NTU. Following the session, Natalie approached us to explore how she could gain practical, hands-on experience alongside her academic studies—an approach we actively encourage.
At the time, Natalie was studying on a demanding MSc designed to attract graduates from a wide range of academic backgrounds, including those without a traditional property or construction route. She had previously graduated from Keele University with a First Class Honours degree in Geography, where her undergraduate dissertation focused on the social housing sector.
After completing an initial period of work experience, Natalie joined us as a summer intern, supporting secured lending valuations and pre-purchase Home Surveys. Her commitment and capability quickly stood out, and she subsequently accepted a permanent role as Assistant Surveyor while completing the second year of her Master’s degree—successfully balancing full-time employment with postgraduate study.
Alongside her MSc, Natalie enrolled on the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors’ Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) on the Residential Pathway. Since joining Bramble & Wagg, she has worked across a wide range of residential and commercial surveying instructions, developing both her technical skills and professional confidence.
Natalie’s Master’s dissertation focused on the performance of sustainable retrofit materials, involving the manufacture and laboratory testing of materials followed by detailed performance analysis. This work was awarded an Exceptional Distinction, reflecting the depth and quality of her research.
Commenting on Natalie’s progression, our Director Nicola Zadrozny said:
“Natalie’s journey is a strong example of how talent can develop when academic study is combined with real-world experience. Nottingham has an excellent skills base, and we are committed to supporting non-traditional routes into the profession while investing in the next generation of Chartered Surveyors.”
Reflecting on her experience, Natalie said:
“Completing the MSc at NTU while working at Bramble & Wagg was challenging but incredibly rewarding. Nicola’s guest lecture was a real turning point for me, as it highlighted the value of engaging directly with industry and gave me the confidence to seek practical experience alongside my studies. Being able to apply academic learning in a real working environment has helped me develop strong technical skills and professional confidence, and I’m very grateful for the support I’ve received from both the university and the team at Bramble & Wagg in preparing me for the next stage of my career.”
As a practice operating across Nottingham and the wider East Midlands, we remain committed to investing in structured professional training, mentoring, and graduate development. Supporting talent like Natalie not only strengthens our own team, but also contributes to a more resilient, skilled, and inclusive future for the surveying profession.
If you’re a student, graduate, or career-changer interested in building a career in surveying, or an academic institution looking to collaborate with industry, we’d love to hear from you.
