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10.02.2020

Today was my mock end point with Stuart.

Didn't have the best start of the day with a last minute piece of work given to me with little notice but I think this is just one of those things you have to adapt to.

I do think, however, that I will not going into the office prior to my actual end point assessment as it did cause panic and unnecessary stress.

I was actually very happy at the time of the below but I look like I've had a rough day!

In regards to running through my presentation with Stuart, I was really happy with how it went. I have given a lot of time to my project subject and worked on my presentation to make it as good as it can be.

He has given me a couple of pointers which I will work on now I have finished my other work but am hoping to get things signed off in the next couple of days and get my end point booked!

[ccpropertyapprentice]

07.02.2020

I have finished my presentation and project! It has taken a lot of work over the past few weeks to get everything finished but I could not be happier with the result.

I have my mock end point with Stuart on Monday and although I feel a little unprepared on the question front I feel like I am ready to present my project.

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04.02.2020

Today I had a coffee catch up with David, one of my fellow apprentices from our Catch22 purple group.

He is way ahead of me on his project presentation, so it was good to get some feedback on what he has included in his and if he needed any advice on his I was able to help.

We have also booked our mock end point assessment in with Stuart!! 

Must get presentation finished and final product completed before then...

[ccpropertyapprentice]

29.01.2020

I have now created over half of my end point presentation and whittled my final product option down to a form!

I think that a form is easy to fill in on the computer or by hand, and as long as I include an easy to use table with all the information we need, I cannot see how this could not go wrong. 

Obviously I need to link back to my SWOT analysis but I feel that out of the three options this was by far the best. 

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23.01.2020

This afternoon we had our first meeting with our new managing agents for 9 Millbank since they have been appointed. We introduced them to the build team and went through a number of different items that covered everything from window cleaning and car park access through to staffing schedules and service charges. It was the first of these meetings I have had as when I started with Estates I missed these on other sites. It was extremely beneficial for me to sit in this meeting as I learned not only a lot of information about our managing agents working style and updates on the site from the build team, but also went on a sit walk and began to draft the management agreement using the template from Berkeley Group Legal team. It is the first I have done of these, and it was a good test of my knowledge in regards to service charges, invoicing terms and also what is included in the management agreement; this will definitely help me in the future. 

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18.01.2020

I have completed my demographic for my project! 

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17.01.2020

My CIHhousing standards are at 100%!!!!

I am so happy that I have been able to complete these and do feel like I have learned so much from doing so. 

Today I have also made massive headway with my project and now have my end product options down to three: A form, a booklet or an information mail - out. 

I am leaning more towards a form to be honest. A mail out will be a one-off email to all explaining what information we need, but will this sustain? 

I must keep looking back to my original SWOT (now formatted to work with my presentation for end point)

I believe that a mail out will have more weaknesses and does not take into account that the staff I am sending it to are potentially vulnerable people; they may not understand the process and a mail out can be seen as more of a telling off that support. 

Will need further thought...

[ccpropertyapprentice]

16.01.2020

Today I had a tutor review meeting with Stuart, my manager Jenny and the St Edward Learning Coordinator, Patricia. 

This was mainly for Patricia to see how I am getting on, and also for all parties involved to discuss my progression onto Level 4, which I am really excited to do (as long as I pass my level 3).

We discussed where I am up to with my standards - Stuart is waiting on one piece of work from me, and how my project is coming along. 

I now need to start thinking about the conclusion of my project review. It is clear that there is nothing on record that states what information we need from managing agents to determine whether an issue is a defect or not. 

I now have a two week deadline in place to complete my project, so better get cracking!

[ccpropertyapprentice]

14.01.2020

Today I had my next purple group session with my tutor Stuart, David, Nic and Danielle. 

We went through a number of different items today, including where we are up to with our CIHhousing standards and project. 

One thing that particularly stuck out for me was Nic’s breakdown stretcher which he had created in order to make sure everything in his project was completed and nothing was missed out. it was incredibly detailed and something that I will definitely use going forward if not for my CIH Level 3 project. 

We also went through what is needed in order to create our demographic summaries. These are important as will be necessary for our end point presentations and also give us an idea of our end users, who will be affected by our projects. Mine is my residents, and I will be focusing on one development as a trial site for any changes I make to the defect reporting process I am currently reviewing. 

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13.01.2020

Today I accompanied my manager to a meeting with our Divisional Managing Director (DMD) and Executive Chairman in order to present our applicant to manage our Millbank Development. The managing agent (applicant) had a chance to answer any questions our DMD had and present why they are perfect for the job.

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10.01.2020

My Friday apprenticeship days are back! over the past couple of months I have not been able to take the full day to study/ update blog/ complete project etc but now I have them back and will make the most of the time I have in order to get up to date. 

My project presentation is starting to take shape, with the introduction finished. 

It is really starting the look professional, and it is really satisfying to start getting all the information in my head out on page. 

I have also taken the time to fully review my survey results, which I will be using in my presentation and as part of my project review.

I am so close to completing all of my CIHhousing standards... I have worked incredibly hard to hit these goals and am so happy to see it nearly pay off!

[ccpropertyapprentice]

07.01.2020

Happy New Year!

Today I undertook my first training of the year - RAMS review training at the Berkeley Academy. 

Adrian was an exceptionally helpful and interesting leader for the day and I now feel like I have really gained the know how on reviewing RAMS that come our way and will feel more confident going back if I am not happy with anything.

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20.12.2019

I hope that everyone has a lovely Christmas and that no defects befall our residents over this festive period!

See you all in 2020!

[ccpropertyapprentice]

18.12.2019

Received my review from my manager through Onefile today and it sounds like I am doing really well!

It is great to hear that my work on my apprenticeship has made a big difference to my work and confidence. I have been able to take on more responsibility and will hopefully be working towards losing the “assistant” on my “assistant manager” job title.

[ccpropertyapprentice]

9.12.2019

Over the past week I have been looking at my survey monkeys and reading up on all the new things I have learned over the past week. Also completed my necessary BKSB exams. 

Only two residents got back to me on my survey monkey, which is a shame. I have reviewed their answers but cannot use the data as part of my project. 

Will need to look at complaints and communication from them in order to proceed from that side. 

I have also created a tracker of Mechanical & Electrical terms that come up in meetings that I do not necessarily know the definition to, for example see my blog entry on CHP last month.

This has really helped me to get a basic idea of what each plant item is for as well as how they affect the site in regards to energy efficiency, sustainability and financially also.

[ccpropertyapprentice]

02.12.2019

Today I visited another site managed by our prospective managing agent for 9 Millbank. I have never been on one of these visits before, and accompanied my manager to see what sort of questions she would ask and what areas of interest she wished to focus on. We looked at the energy centre, and I did note that there were differences in this area, such as ear plugs for workers. I do not believe this is something that we supply in our plant areas but will look into it. We also looked at their leisure facilities which were very similarly set up to our own on the developments we manage. It was interesting to hear about how the gym management company get involved with events and how they make the running of that area work with the clients they have living there. Overall it was a very successful visit and highly insightful for myself. 

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26.11.2019

What is Combined Heat & Power?

I have never stated that my M&E/ Plant & Machinery knowledge is vast, and throughout this journey so far I have noted that this is an area I need to build. 

Although not necessarily specific to my project on defect reporting, it is still important that I know what is being talked about when defects are sent over. 

CHP (or combined heat & power) comes up in conversation time and time again. I decided to research this and undertake the below which I sent to Stuart as part of my CIHhousing standards.