Nottingham firm backs graduate success as NTU student earns Distinction in Building Surveying

As Nottingham businesses look to address skills shortages across the built environment, one local firm is demonstrating how collaboration between universities and industry can deliver tangible results. An NTU (Nottingham Trent University) graduate has achieved a Distinction in Building Surveying while progressing into professional practice with a city-based surveying firm.

Natalie Bratby has graduated with Distinction from Nottingham Trent University’s MSc Building Surveying programme and is now continuing her professional journey with Nottingham-based Chartered Surveyors and Valuers, Bramble & Wagg.

Natalie’s route into the profession began when Bramble & Wagg Director Nicola Zadrozny MRICS was invited to deliver a guest lecture to postgraduate Building Surveying students at NTU. Following the session, Natalie approached Nicola to explore opportunities for gaining practical experience within the industry.

At the time, Natalie was studying on a demanding MSc designed to attract graduates from a wide range of academic backgrounds, including those without prior experience in property or construction. 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 Bramble & Wagg as a summer intern, supporting secured lending valuations and pre-purchase Home Surveys. She later accepted a permanent role as Assistant Surveyor while completing the second year of her Master’s degree, balancing full-time work alongside postgraduate study.

Alongside her academic studies, Natalie enrolled on the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors’ Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) on the Residential Pathway. Since joining the firm, she has worked across a wide range of residential and commercial surveying instructions, developing technical competence and professional confidence.

Her Master’s dissertation focused on the performance of sustainable retrofit materials, involving the manufacture and laboratory testing of materials followed by detailed performance analysis. The work was awarded an Exceptional Distinction.

Commenting on Natalie’s progression, 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."

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."

Bramble & Wagg, which operates across Nottingham and the wider East Midlands, continues to invest in structured professional training and graduate development, reflecting the growing demand for skilled professionals within the region's property and construction sectors.