A day in the life of…

This article was written for EG’s Starting Out in Real Estate supplement, click here to view the digital edition >> From project managers to valuers; architects to engineers, the range of roles in the real estate sector is expansive. Here we feature a range of professionals working in different roles and sectors and at different stages of their career, who discuss their journeys into real estate, the skill sets needed for their role, what they do day to day and, crucially, what they love about the industry… Rachel Lea, associate (planning), Newsteer Before university, my knowledge of the property industry was limited to estate agents and local authority planning. I studied geography at university but selected two modules from the planning course which sparked my interest. After university, I applied to planning graduate schemes but was unsuccessful due to inadequate experience. I therefore embarked on an accredited urban and regional planning masters, as well as working at Bellway Homes as an assistant planner. This resulted in a more successful tranche of graduate job interviews and I joined GL Hearn as a graduate planner in 2017. Two years later, I joined Newsteer and earned chartered (RTPI) status in December 2019. I have since progressed from senior planner to associate. I work on a wide range of projects, from small-scale residential developments to larger mixed-use developments. One of the most important parts of my job involves initial planning appraisals for clients who are looking to acquire a new site or redevelop an existing site or property. I evaluate the opportunities and risks and develop a tailored planning strategy to optimise the site. This involves close collaboration with local authorities and stakeholders, as well as taking programme and cost considerations into account. My role is to ensure proposals comply with planning policy and to present a strong case for any deviations from it to provide my schemes with the best chance of securing planning permission. This involves regular design team meetings as proposals develop, as well as pre-application meetings with councils to receive important feedback before submitting an application. This minimises planning risk and increases the likelihood of gaining permission. There is something truly special about seeing a project come out of the ground and knowing you played a role in its creation. It is satisfying to see a vision come to life. What’s also great about this industry is the network of people. I’m a committee member for Real Estate Balance NextGen, a body that seeks to improve equality, diversity and inclusion in the industry, and Women in Planning London, which champions gender balance and the role of women and has allowed me to connect with like-minded individuals and contribute to these other important elements of the industry. Suited to Strategic thinkers Those who like variety Good mediators and negotiators Strong communicators Technical and creative thinkers Those with strong project management skills Qualifications There are four routes to becoming a chartered town planner: Licentiate APC: fully Royal Town Planning Institute-accredited degree, two years’ experience, APC Degree apprenticeship APC: fully RTPI-accredited degree apprenticeship, APC Associate APC: for those who don’t have a fully accredited RTPI qualification, a number of years of experience (two to seven) depending on educational background, two years of experience as an associate RTPI member, APC Experienced practitioner APC: for those with extensive planning experience (five to 10 years), APC Top tip: Gaining work experience – even unpaid or for a brief period – can help tremendously. It provides first-hand experience of the industry, allows you to make connections, and to stand out to potential employers. It’s also a great opportunity to test if planning really is the career path for you. Be open and proactive in exploring opportunities to gain experience and take full advantage of it to help get your foot in the door. Matthew Noble, commercial management and quantity surveying, Loughborough University Real estate has always fascinated me. However, having come from a family with no links to real estate, I had no idea where to start looking for a career. My school promoted traditional academic career routes such as law and accounting, which led me to research potential avenues into the sector. I found the Pathways to Property summer school run by the Reading Real Estate Foundation while researching online and I jumped at the chance to apply, knowing it was aimed at people like me, looking to learn about the industry. The four-day course, held online during lockdown, gave me so much insight and hearing from guest speakers and real estate students solidified my desire to study a construction-related degree. Based on the course and a subsequent work experience placement arranged by Pathways, I decided on quantity surveying. The course I selected was commercial management and quantity surveying at Loughborough University and I have been supported via the Worshipful Company of Chartered Surveyors’ bursary scheme. I have benefited not only from the financial assistance but the opportunities it has provided, including work experience and mentoring. The degree itself is a four-year course, with a placement year in year three. The course is RICS accredited, which means the content has been evaluated by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. While challenging at times, it is rewarding. We are constantly exposed to new concepts through lectures, group work and practical sessions. I am about to begin my placement year and I’m excited to apply some of the concepts and skills I have learnt about in my past two years at university. Suited to Those with a keen interest in construction Analytical thinkers Strong communicators Top tip: Look at different routes to becoming qualified. Full-time degrees offer certain benefits over apprenticeships but also have drawbacks, such as the cost of tuition fees. Which route you pick depends on your personal learning style. View the digital edition of Starting Out in Real Estate >> Main image © Marvin Meyer/Unsplash. Others supplied