As an employee-owned B Corp, we don’t just invest in daily output; we invest in long term wellbeing.
One way we support #TeamTrident is by providing the flexibility to recharge, explore, or care for family through flexible working, agile working, and career breaks. By putting our people first, our shared ownership truly flourishes.
Toby Garnett, a Chartered Building Surveyor in our Liverpool office, recently took advantage of this by taking a three month career break. Now that he’s back, we caught up with Toby to see what he got up to.
Taking the leap
“From starting university, through the challenges of COVID-19, and into my career in building surveying, I had been working towards one goal: achieving chartership with the RICS.” Explains Toby.
To achieve chartership with RICS, candidates must pass the APC, which is widely regarded as one of the toughest professional hurdles in the industry. It demands years of meticulous logbooks, proof of deep technical competencies, and culminates in a notoriously gruelling final assessment panel. At the end of 2025, Toby passed becoming RICS chartered!
“It felt like the perfect opportunity to take some time out, recharge, and experience different cultures before returning to begin the next chapter of my career as an MRICS building surveyor”.
Starting his career break
At Trident, we believe that looking after our business means looking after our people. We offer a range of progressive initiatives to support our team, from flexible and agile working to formal career breaks. So, when Toby asked for some time away to recharge his batteries, it was a unanimous vote of support.
“When I first discussed the idea with my line manager in the Liverpool office, they were extremely supportive” says Toby. “They understood how hard I had worked in the lead up to my APC and chartership, and both my manager and Trident recognised the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Their encouragement gave me the confidence to make the most of the opportunity”.
The Itinerary
“I travelled for a total of three months!” Toby shares. “I had an incredible journey lined up, visiting Singapore, Laos, Vietnam, Borneo, Brunei, the Philippines, Malaysia, Cambodia and Thailand.”
Covering nine countries in twelve weeks is no small feat, and the trip was packed with bucket list experiences.
“There were plenty of unforgettable moments, but two highlights stand out: paramotoring over the stunning landscapes of Vang Vieng in Laos and seeing wildlife along the Kinabatangan River in Borneo.”
Reflections
At Trident, we know the benefits of a career break flow both ways. By giving our co-owners, the space to grow outside of the office, they return with renewed energy and fresh perspectives.
“Experiencing different cultures helped me become more adaptable, confident and open-minded” Toby shares. “It also gave me a greater appreciation for different ways of life and reinforced the importance of maintain a healthy balance between work and personal experiences”.
When Toby returned to the Liverpool office, he came back highly motivated and ready to drive his projects forward.
“It definitely took time to adjust to the change in time zones” Toby joked. “But it was great to return refreshed and motivated. After being away for so long, it was especially nice to catch up with colleagues across Trident and reconnect with clients.”
When asked to sum up the entire experience, Toby didn’t hesitate:
“In once sentence, my career break was a once in a lifetime opportunity to step away from everyday life, explore incredible places, and experience new cultures, traditions and perspectives that will stay with me forever.”
To find out more about life at Trident, please visit our Work With Us page.