The Mentoring Scheme 2023 - how to apply...

The Mentoring Scheme Launch 2022

The Mentoring Scheme has been running for 11 years successfully matching more than 900 students from the BSc Real Estate and the BSc Planning and Property Development with one of our alumni. That's a lot of networking. The Mentoring Scheme is managed jointly by OBREMS (our alumni association) and the School of the Built Environment and is open to second year students as well as students on the MSc Real Estate. On Monday 6 February we will launch the OBREMS/OBU Mentoring Scheme 2023 for second year undergraduate students. Email rdixon@brookes.ac.uk if you would like to take part.

This year, the mentoring period for undergraduate students will start at the end of March 2023, with a launch event at the HQ of CBRE on the evening of 22 March. The launch event will include guest speakers and a chance for you to network and finally meet your mentor. There are a wide range of mentors who volunteer to take part, from recent graduates to CEOs - and a lot of our younger mentors took part in the Mentoring Scheme themselves when they were students. All our mentors are alumni of Oxford Brookes (Real Estate or Planning and Property Development) and are also volunteers - they give their time to the Mentoring Scheme free of charge.

This year on the blog, I have interviewed Andrew Whitehead who graduated in July 2022. He took part in the Mentoring Scheme in March 2021-22 and is planning to join the scheme as a Mentor this year:

Why did you decide to do a degree in Real Estate?

The property sector is one that is very diverse offering roles that are fulfilling, rewarding and directly affect the world that surrounds us. Pursuing a career where I can become a chartered surveyor, as the name suggests, is a position that’s highly trained, only achievable after years of training meaning you have professional backing when giving specialist advice over property related issues. I spoke to recent graduates because originally I wanted to become an architect, however these conversations changed my mind.

What have you enjoyed most about your time at Oxford Brookes?

It’s been a unique experience, the pandemic effectively put a pause to the normal university experience with all students fleeing back home half way through the first year. Despite this there have been aspects that have been thoroughly enjoyable. The professional networks I’ve made have given me inspiration to make the best out of a bad situation and a career to aspire towards.

What are you planning to do once you graduate?

Before going into work I took a break of a few months to travel and complete my catalogue for an upcoming art exhibition. During the first lockdown whilst being at home I built a small art studio in my garden and hope to spend a bit of time there in early summer. In September I joined Avison Young as a graduate surveyor and am working on my APC. 

Why did you decide to take part in the Mentoring Scheme?

From hearing the experiences of past mentees I knew that this was an opportunity to learn more

about the industry beyond the lecture theatre. It was a chance to tap into decades worth of expertise

and increase my own personal network within the industry and alumni community. There were many mentors to chose from, each experts in different sectors within the industry so I had a great variety of choice.

What kind of support did your mentor offer to you?

My mentor, Andrew Hynard was outstanding from our first conversation. He’s been able to share his vast knowledge on the industry from his time at JLL and The Howard de Walden Estate, but also give

valuable advice on how to improve my career prospects. The first initial conversations were aimed at

getting to know a bit more about each other, then from there he got to know my strengths and tailored his advice to suit what would work best for me.

Do you feel that starting the Mentoring Scheme in lockdown affect your experience?

Although the first couple of conversations were online it didn’t inhibit our chats and often it makes it easier to connect with your mentor online as they have very demanding positions in the industry. In this sense I think it’s actually been of benefit to our relationship as we’ve been able to chat briefly at convenient times for both of us - lockdown streamlined the communication. Since the pandemic has

eased we have met on several occasions in London.

How do you feel your experience of being mentored has benefited you?

My mentor has had an exceptional career and one of my worries was that our conversations would be one sided, but it was more of a 50/50 split. We’ve been able to strike a great balance between his experience within the industry and some of my ideas for the alumni society that he is part of. I’ll certainly aim to be a mentor in the future once I land a good graduate position. I would advise any second years to join up for the scheme, to have access to all of the resources both your mentor, the scheme and OBREMS has to offer for free is something that you would greatly regret turning down.

Thanks Andrew!