Philippa Punchard has spent the past year as a placement student in our Rural Department in Rugby, as part of her degree at Harper Adams University. As she heads back for her final year, she looks back on what she’s learnt, the work she’s been involved in and what comes next.
Philippa joined the Rural Department in Rugby having already completed two years at Harper Adams University, along with some previous experience in the industry.
Her main aim for the year was to put what she had learnt at university into practice, and to get a real understanding of what working as a rural surveyor involves day to day.
A year of variety
Over the year, Philippa has been involved in a wide variety of work. She has assisted with valuations, agency work and farm and land sales, as well as inspections, preparing particulars, gathering comparable evidence and various planning matters.
More recently, she has done a great deal of work on the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), meeting clients, assessing suitable options, mapping agreements and helping with applications.
She has also been involved in compensation work, tenancy matters and farm dispersal sales, and has had her first taste of auctioneering. “It’s something I’ve particularly enjoyed and would definitely like to do more of in the future,” she says.
No two days the same
“I think one of the best things about the placement has been the variety,” says Philippa. “No two days are really the same, and I’ve been able to get out on farms, meet clients and see how the advice we give actually works in practice.”
She has also grown considerably in confidence, both in speaking to clients and in taking on jobs herself rather than waiting to be told what to do next.
What’s next
The placement has confirmed that rural surveying is the career for her. “I’d like to eventually become both RICS and CAAV qualified, while hopefully keeping auctioneering as part of my career as well,” she says.
She now returns to Harper Adams for her fourth and final year. After a year of nine-to-five, she admits she is looking forward to the slightly more demanding Harper lifestyle of several nights out a week, with the occasional lecture in between.
There is plenty of work ahead too, with her final modules and dissertation. Philippa plans to focus her dissertation on farm dispersal sales and machinery auctions, looking at the factors that influence prices achieved at auction and the impact of online sales. Much of what she has seen and learnt on placement will feed straight into it.
“Overall, I’ve really enjoyed the year,” Philippa says. “I’ve learnt a huge amount, both professionally and personally, and I definitely feel much more prepared going into my final year and eventually into a graduate role.”
Thank you
Philippa would like to thank everyone at Howkins & Harrison who has helped her over the year, answered her many questions and taken the time to involve her in so many different jobs. We wish her all the best for her final year at Harper Adams.
Could you be our next placement student?
Inspired by Philippa’s year? Applications for our placement and graduate roles close on 27th November. Find out more and submit your application on our Careers page.
