Student Property Monthly: the interview

Have you read Student Property Monthly? This new monthly publication features a myriad of industry topics, job opportunities, CPD sessions and alumni stories. SPM was founded by a group of second year students on the BSc Real Estate at Oxford Brookes: Andrew Whitehead, Ben Jennings and Charles Major and is produced in association with OBREMS (the Oxford Brookes Real Estate Student Society). I managed to get an interview with one of the founders: Charles Major...

Student Property Monthly: the 2nd issue is available on the OBREMS website

Hi Charles, can I ask why you chose to study Real Estate at university?

Brilliant question. I previously worked for a construction firm in Manchester which specialised in Build to Rent development schemes. I worked closely with Architects, Quantity Surveyors and Chartered Surveyors representing on behalf of the investors. I would spend my lunches talking with the Surveyors asking questions about how they got into property and what was required to become a chartered surveyor. I learnt that they had all been to university and all taken the RICS pathway. 

After 8 months I quit my job and came down to Oxford Brookes for an interview with Rebecca Gee. I was incredibly nervous but motivated and after working 8 months full time in construction and talking to people working in many different roles within property I knew I wanted to become a chartered surveyor and study at Oxford Brookes. 

And why did you decide to study at Oxford Brookes?

Well, I think there are two parts to this question. I think firstly the reputation of the university is well renowned for studying Real Estate offering a really flexible and solid basic understanding of the property world and gives a good insight into the future APC program which as you know is an important fundamental element to becoming RICS chartered. Another key part of the university course was its alumni society. I am currently learning the benefits of the OBREMS alumni society linked closely with the Oxford Brookes Real Estate program. The members are leading industry professionals and have been really supportive in starting the newsletter along with my co-founders Andrew Whitehead and Ben Jennings. 

And secondly Oxford is such a fantastic city. Being from Manchester I found coming to Oxford a real breath of fresh air. It is such a historic city and to even walk through the city I feel like I am away on a weekend away (plus the pubs aren’t bad either)

I see that you are taking part in the Mentoring Scheme - how has that experience been?

The mentoring scheme has been a huge help for both my CV and dissertation. I have received lots of useful material and had some really positive meetings with my mentor who currently works at the La Salle investment department in London. I managed to catch up for lunch with my mentor during my internship with Savills this summer and have gained a really valuable contact for when I myself graduate.

My advice to any 2nd year students would be to sign up and fully utilise this fantastic opportunity to gain contacts and learn how to not only become employable but also learn which area of property best works with your skill sets. I found the mentor scheme really highlighted areas that I found interesting and has helped me explore which areas I want to work in during a graduate scheme for my APC competencies. 

So tell me, what inspired you to set up Student Property Monthly?

Myself and my co-founders had heard about OBREMS and wanted to connect the knowledge and resources of past Brookes Real Estate students with current aspiring surveyors. We wanted to set up a newsletter which delivers first-hand interviews ranging from career pathways advice to industry related topics which are formatted to help students better understand the industry and the many different areas within property. 

We felt nothing was put in place to establish a communication line between OBREMS and the students and we feel this newsletter successfully achieves this and in doing so opens up the possibilities for future interaction over the years to come. 

And finally, how do you see SPM developing in the future?

I couldn’t have wished for a more positive response from the first two issues. Myself and my two Co-founders have worked really hard to get in contact with some brilliant people who have provided us with a wealth of knowledge. Our vision for the newsletter is to firstly take on more contributors to help grow and diversify the content to help continue delivering updated industry activity and news. 

And for the future we would be looking to pass the responsibility and editorial positions to three 2nd year students who will hopefully take on the workload and provide the same ambition and drive that we have. This newsletter is here to stay and we believe it is a long term addition to the Oxford Brookes Real Estate course. 

Thanks for the interview Charles. And if you want to read Student Property Monthly, you can find it on the OBREMS website.