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Following a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, a real estate group’s scholarship program to dedicated young people in NSW made a successful comeback in 2022 — with three new recruits to boot.
Laing+Simmons kicked off the new year by declaring Ethan McNeish and Amber Marland as the joint winners of its scholarship program for 2022, with the winning duo now beginning full-time positions at Newcastle and Miranda offices, respectively.
The group also shared that runner-up Matti Al-Haddad will be joining the network’s roster in 2023 by stepping into a full-time role.
An “overwhelming number of participants” participated in the program’s return following its COVID-19-enforced two-year break, according to the network, with over 50 school leavers dipping their toe in real estate to experience what a career in a busy office is like.
Under the program, each successful applicant is given the opportunity to undertake a week’s work experience with one of the over 40 Laing+Simmons offices across the state, where they experience firsthand the operations of a real estate business.
Mr McNeish completed the work experience with the Laing+Simmons Regents Park office, while Ms Marland spent a week with the Newcastle office.
Declared winners have the opportunity to complete the Certificate IV in Real Estate, with the cost covered by Laing+Simmons.
Ms Marland described the work experience process under the scholarship program as “invaluable”, as it allowed her to have an in-depth understanding of what full-time work within the real estate industry would be.
“This opportunity has allowed me to get into real estate earlier than others, and I am very grateful for the opportunity,” she added.
Mr McNeish also shared the learnings he gleaned from his experience: “I learnt how important it is to work in an efficient, professional manner whilst working as part of a bigger team. This opportunity means I get to work in a great industry and bring joy and happiness to people finding a new home.”
Jacqui Barnes, the head of people and culture at Laing+Simmons and a former scholarship winner herself, lauded the strong response to the program’s return.
“[The] enthusiasm of the participants was welcomed by the offices [that] hosted these ambitious young people,” she added.
While two participants emerged as the winners of the scholarship program, she extended her congratulations to everyone who took part.
“The scholarship program has unearthed plenty of talented agents over the years, and there are certainly some driven and capable young people in the class of 2022,” she stated.
Laing+Simmons has indicated that its scholarship program will return in 2023.
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