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… Lucy Winzer, UK property director, Pret a Manger Geography was always my favourite subject at school and while I initially had dreams of wandering around oxbow lakes and limestone pavements, my love of the built environment started to shine through. At that point, I didn’t know what a surveyor did, having no family or friends who worked in the sector. However, I was fortunate enough to have a savvy careers adviser who recommended some work experience with a local firm, and from there I was hooked. I was encouraged to attend university but during the application process I came across the Chartered Surveyors Training Trust, which was offering real estate apprenticeships. The surveyors I had met while working spoke so highly of those with practical experience that I decided this would be my route. Cluttons was gracious enough to take a punt on 18-year-old me, and I didn’t look back. I had exposure to working in valuation, agency, shadowing expert witnesses and arbitrators and even marine management. The breadth of exposure in my early career helped me to understand what I liked and what I was good at. Alongside my studies at University College of Estate Management, I was able to quickly upskill to having the technical ability to work in commercial valuation, shadowing initially and then quickly progressing when I obtained my MRICS qualification. The looming recession and bank requirements meant I did fall somewhat out of love with valuation after a few years. However, the backbone of my UCEM studies meant I was well placed to pivot and work in lease consultancy and asset management, which is where I largely remain today. I am the property director for Pret A Manger and look after around 400 equity and franchise shops in the UK and Ireland. It’s an exceptionally varied role, with my day varying from strategising the next best location to open in and providing strategic updates to the board, to negotiating lease renewals and assisting our maintenance team with leaks and complaints. Working for a retailer you are a support function, here to serve your shop teams and customers, as well as managing senior stakeholders. It’s sometimes a tricky balance but I love the diversity of speaking to a contractor about a new shop paint colour or discussing shop performance with our CEO. I also love the variety, diversity and opportunity in the real estate industry. The sector has come such a long way in the 15 short years I’ve worked within it: I was once one of the few female surveyors sat at the table, whereas now my fellow property directors are all ages, genders, creeds and ethnicities. It makes me incredibly proud to be part of such a progressive sector – albeit there remains much more to be done. Skill set needed Strong aptitude for communicating with a range of professionals at varying levels A flair for creative solutions Strong organisational ability Enjoyment of travel Financially literate Qualifications MRICS qualification BSc real estate, or similar degree, obtained either by correspondence or full-time study Top tip: Network, network, network. Whether that be going to careers fairs, company open days or sending a friendly e-mail to those you admire on LinkedIn. Work contacts authentically and genuinely to explore your potential. Sinéad Conneely, co-founder & director, Simple Works I became interested in engineering as a career when some civil engineers gave a talk in our final year of secondary school. They were engaged, enthusiastic and enjoyed their jobs, which involved problem-solving, teamwork and a contribution to society in the form of built things. I applied to study civil engineering at the University of Galway with a view to getting a job in the renewable energy industry. I graduated in 2010 during the recession. Renewable energy had been pushed down the agenda and the construction industry in Ireland had come to a standstill. I went to France and worked as a waitress while deciding what to do next. I enrolled on a masters in applied maths at Imperial College. The course was challenging but rewarding. I toyed with the idea of going into finance but the lure of being involved in the construction of real buildings won me over and in 2012 I accepted a job with the structural engineering consultancy AKT II. I worked there for seven years and learnt how to design buildings and, most importantly, how to solve problems and deal with people. Structural engineering is a job that involves many types of work: running calculations, preparing reports, attending meetings and workshops to solve problems on the spot, and site inspections where decisions need to be made in real time. I learnt that my strengths lie in unravelling issues and bringing people along to get the best solution for all parties – this was particularly valuable on construction sites when teams were not getting on well. My favourite parts of the job were working with the parametric applied research team on some complex projects like the new Google headquarters in Palo Alto. My colleagues and I decided to start Simple Works at the start of 2019 because we wanted autonomy over the projects we worked on and the design decisions we made. We wanted to work on more community-focused projects and build a business that put people first. Our portfolio includes community centres, flexible workspace and a lot of affordable housing, as well as complex artwork or sculpture. My role within the business has evolved and I now oversee management, finance and business development, as well as having technical oversight over a percentage of our projects. My job differs from day to day and could involve anything from site visits, project reviews and spreadsheet management. Suited to Anyone who enjoys or is good at: Problem solving Working in teams Creativity Tackling lots of tasks View the digital edition of Starting Out in Real Estate >> See more: A day in the life of…  Main image © Marvin Meyer/Unsplash. Others supplied