There wasn’t a Staffordshire branch of the RICS Matrics early career community so apprentice surveyor Jasmine Pugh set one up herself.

In just three months the 21-year-old, who works at Jonathan Cornes Associates in Newcastle-under-Lyme, has grown the group to include eight young construction industry professionals.

Jasmine, from Oswestry in Shropshire, is in her fourth year of a five-year Building Surveying Apprenticeship with Salford University.

During National Apprenticeship Week and Women in Construction 2024 Jasmine was approached by three separate teams from Salford University asking her to feature in their marketing and social media campaigns.

Trudy Traynor, Business Manager at Jonathan Cornes Associates, has nominated Jasmine in the Apprentice of the Year category of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.

She said: “Jas’s dedication, hard work and positive attitude make her a shining example of what an apprentice should be. She not only excels in her studies and work but she also goes above and beyond to support her colleagues and promote the apprenticeship route to others.

“Her willingness to take initiative, seek out new challenges and continuously improve herself sets her apart from her peers. She is a true asset to our team and a role model for other young professionals in the field. I have no doubt that she will continue to thrive and make a significant impact in the industry.”

Jasmine said: “It’s incredible to be nominated for an award. I’ve never really been put forward for anything like this before. It’s a nice feeling.”