London agency Ludlowthompson has just appointed the first manager to emerge from the company’s apprenticeship scheme. 

Launched in 2011, the scheme now has 15 apprentices working across London, with some candidates being taken on as young as 16.

Haider Ali, promoted last month to lettings manager of the firm’s Kilburn office, started four years ago as an apprentice and has since worked in lettings in Lewisham, Acton, and Finsbury Park; in sales at the Oval office; and worked in telesales generating valuations.

Haider describes himself as “a young, funny, open-minded person who is dedicated, likes new challenges, enjoys independence, and focuses on achieving the ‘end result’”. He started as an apprentice after finishing A-levels and choosing not to go to university. 

He says being an apprentice “gave me the chance to learn without the pressures that normal employees would have, while earning a salary.”

His biggest challenges were adapting to a working environment and dealing with a variety of people, while he regards his proudest achievement as going through a string of promotions from apprentice, through trainee negotiator and senior negotiator, to his current position of lettings manager.

Everyone at Letting Agent Today sends congratulations to Haider.

Details of the Ludlowthompson apprenticeship scheme are available if you email [email protected].