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. 

The Mentoring Scheme in 2021: the launch on Zoom

The launch of the 2021 OBREMS/OBU Mentoring Scheme took place on 15 April and was hosted on Zoom from various locations around the UK. The launch brought together mentors and students for the first time at a virtual networking event. The Mentoring Scheme (now in its 9th year) is managed jointly by OBREMS (our alumni association) and the School of the Built Environment and is open to second year students on the BSc Real Estate Management and the BA Planning and Property Development as well as students on the MSc Real Estate.

This year, applications to the Mentoring Scheme have topped 100 and thanks to the work of OBREMS in promoting the scheme amongst their members, we have been able to allocate a mentor to each student that applied. Once again this year we have seen an increase in the number of younger mentors, some of whom took part in the Mentoring Scheme themselves when they were students which is great news!

Dan Sames and Elaine Tooke (top left and top right) from the School of the Built Environment at Oxford Brookes introduced the Mentoring Scheme and then passed over to James Stacey and Harriet Costello from OBREMS. James (Chair of OBREMS) introduced the work of OBREMS and the following video...

Harriet (Public Relations for OBREMS) talked about her experience of the Mentoring Scheme as both a mentor and a student. And then Elaine (compère for the evening) introduced Aidan Mckearney (Chartered Surveyor at The Howard de Walden Estate) and George Homer (Chartered Surveyor - London Markets - Cushman & Wakefield). 

Aidan (above left) and George (above right) took part in the Mentoring Scheme when they were students at Oxford Brookes - they talked about their experiences on the Mentoring Scheme as students (in 2017) and subsequently as mentors, offering students and mentors lots of useful advice on how to get the most out of the experience.

One of the unique features of our Mentoring Scheme is that all of our mentors are graduates of either Real Estate (BSc or MSc) or Planning and Property Development (BA) at Oxford Brookes (or Oxford Polytechnic as it used to be). This means that mentors and students have an immediate connection. After the initial introductions, students and mentors were allocated to a series of breakout rooms and had the opportunity to chat and network. I visited most of the breakout rooms and can confirm that the energy and chat was very similar to that seen at the real life events of the past. Just without the drinks...although some people brought there own. 

Thanks to everyone who took part this year. For more information on our courses and the Mentoring Scheme, take a look here:

BSc Real Estate Management
BA Planning and Property Development
MSc Real Estate
The OBREMS/OBU Mentoring Scheme

The Mentoring Scheme in 2021

Our Mentoring Scheme (now in its 9th year) is managed jointly by OBREMS (our alumni association) and the School of the Built Environment and is open to second year students on the BSc Real Estate and the BA Planning and Property Development as well as students on the MSc Real Estate. On Friday 5 February we will launch the OBREMS/OBU Mentoring Scheme for undergraduate students. The closing date for applications is 25 February 2021 - email rdixon@brookes.ac.uk if you would like to take part.

The mentoring period for undergraduate students in 2021 will start in April with a virtual launch event on Zoom (15 April 2021). The launch event will include guest speakers and a chance for you to network and finally meet your mentor (online). 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 am delighted to present two of our students talking about their experience of the Mentoring Scheme in 2020 - the year mentoring moved online...

And also profiles of two of our mentors, Araminta (Minty) Oldham and James Vivian. Minty took part in the Mentoring Scheme when she was a student. Hopefully they will persuade you to take part!

Minty Oldham (left) and James Vivian

Why did you decide to go into Real Estate?

MO: I wanted to pursue a career in real estate as a practical, technically challenging, but also rewarding industry. I really enjoy history and understanding the changing behaviours of people and how this influences the changing use of buildings. Thinking how much London has changed since WWII, including the planning system and economic development is really interesting and I feel lucky to work in such a vibrant and ever changing global city. I remember going to London for a week each summer in my youth to visit my godmother in Spitalfields, east London and seeing old pictures of the east end and how much it has changed!

JV: When I was 16 and doing an intern at a legal firm. I met two surveyors who seemed a bit more my kind of people.

What did you enjoy most about your time at Oxford Brookes? 

MO: The course offered a practical range of modules that have been a good foundation for the real world. There was a real sense of community in the Abercrombie building both between students and lecturers and I really enjoyed working in groups for specific module assignments. This industry is people orientated and Brookes champions that. A highlight of work for me was appraising a mock development site in the centre of Oxford! Oxford itself is also a great student city, really pretty and now with Westgate centre it’s buzzing more than ever.

JV: The people that I learnt from and with.

What have you been doing work-wise since you graduated? 

MO: I graduated 5 years ago and have been working in the development sector as I found this the most interesting aspect of the profession. I completed a graduate scheme with a housebuilder, took my APC in the Planning & Development pathway and am now working as a Development Manager which I really enjoy. In the graduate scheme, I rotated across different departments, spending the majority of my time in land acquisition on greenfield sites. I now manage different development sites from RIBA 0-3 predominantly, ranging from site identification to planning. In my current role I have specialised in infill development sites, which have been challenging but very rewarding.

JV: I enrolled on the grad scheme at CBRE and worked in the investment team for 7 years including a 6 month secondment at L&G before moving to Savills 6 years ago.

What do you enjoy most about your job? 

MO: The challenge of viability and been at the forefront of the ever changing development industry, including permitted development rights and changes to the planning system. An aspect of development that I never fully appreciated at university was understanding different engineering constraints and mitigations, but now I love learning about different utilities, ground conditions etc, their impact on development and how I can help to resolve them for my client.

JV: The people and every day is different. It is very entrepreneurial in approach and also learning how other people look at and use property.

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

MO: It is a great opportunity to provide support to students whose shoes you were in however many years ago. I found the scheme extremely helpful when I was a student, including asking about dissertation questions. The industry is so varied and there are so many pathways in the APC process and in life that it can be difficult to choose which direction you want to go in. I really enjoy providing guidance and hopefully some inspiration to people at this exciting time at the start of their careers. To my knowledge there are no time machines, so making the most of the mentoring scheme and been able to speak with someone who has been in your shoes is one of the best opportunities!

JV: To give a bit back and also stay in touch with a different generation.

What kind of support did you offer your mentee?

MO: I have kept in touch via email with my mentee and we arranged a meet up where I showed her the work I undertake and what she wanted support with. We have talked about different dissertation topics, work experience and the APC process, as well as different work topics and coursework which I have provided guidance on.

JV: Generally over email, a coffee if they are up in town and mainly around CV work and applications to jobs. I always offer to continue the role after they have graduated and a couple have taken me up on that.

How do you feel your experience as a Mentor has benefited you? 

MO: It has grown my insight into the changes of the course, including pre APC training which helps me understand what I can support the mentee with based on their current learning. Been a mentor has also grown my confidence- I’m on a coaching course around work time at the moment so this benefits this and vice versa!

JV: Just staying in touch with a different generation and seeing what is pertinent and important to them. Gives me a different perspective.

For more interviews with mentors and students, take a look here:
The OBU/OBREMS Mentoring Scheme

Real Estate Careers

The job application season is well underway for both our final year undergraduates and our MSc students. A number of careers events have already taken place, with more to follow...

First of all, a day of Graduate Assessment Workshops took place in late September with workshops hosted by Savills, CBRE, Lambert Smith Hampton and Oxford Brookes Careers together with a networking lunch in the Sports Bar.

The Graduate Assessment Workshops...

...students at work.

And then in early October students and staff were joined by members of our Careers Service and number of presenters from: Knight Frank LLP, Carter Jonas, Pinders, Montagu Evans, Berkeley Homes, Cluttons, Network Rail, Savills and JLL for the Real Estate Careers Day 2019. Many of the presenters were graduates from Oxford Brookes (BSc Real Estate Management, BA Planning and Property Development and MSc Real Estate) and also members of our alumni society - OBREMS. As well as the presentations there were lots of opportunities for networking.

Presentations at the Real Estate Careers Day 2019

The presentation from Montagu Evans

Finally (for now) the School of the Built Environment Careers Fair was held on 14 October. This event was attended by more than 50 firms from across the construction and property sectors.

The SBE Careers Fair...

...took place on 14 October 2019

For more information about how the Oxford Brookes Careers team can help you, take a look at their website. Once you are out in the world of work, or whilst you are looking for a job, join one of our LinkedIn groups where we post jobs and where you can keep in touch with your fellow graduates:

Real Estate Management (over 900 members)
Oxford Brookes Construction, QS and Project Management (over 300 members)
Urban Design, Planning and Development (200 members)

We offer our second year undergraduate and MSc students the opportunity to be mentored by one of our alumni as part of our Mentoring Scheme. If you are a graduate of Real Estate or Planning and Property Development (BSc/BA or MSc) and would like to be involved in our Mentoring Scheme as a mentor, please get in touch with rdixon@brookes.ac.uk. Take a look at the blog posts about the Mentoring Scheme - including profiles of students and their mentors and the launch events.

The Great Estates of London 2019

The first year students on the BSc Real Estate Management went on a field trip to learn more about the Great Estates of London on Friday 8 March 2019. First stop was the recently renovated Regent Street Cinema for a series of talks on the Great Estates of London.

This field trip is part of the Integrative Project which provides a background to the subjects that are taken in the first year. The module addresses the discipline-based and transferable skills that students will need during their time at university and beyond. These skills are explored and developed through a series of activities which involve viewing real estate from a range of perspectives. After the field trip, the students work in teams to prepare a group presentation about the Great Estates of London (the one visited by the team on the field trip) and how they are managed to positively enhance their value.

Back to the field trip itself (click on the red links for more information). The students listened to two presentations:

...the first from Peter Murray (New London Architecture) on The Great Estates of London

...and the second from Nick Bailey (Argent) about the development of King's Cross

The students split into 6 groups for a walking tour and presentation about one of the following Great Estates:

The Grosvenor Estate
The Howard de Walden Estate
The Crown Estate
Covent Garden (CapCo)
Shaftesbury
The Pollen Estate

This year the photos feature the Crown Estate:

Presentation from Sarah Stanley and Ruth Kemp on The Crown Estate -
at their first dedicated co-working and flexible office space at One Heddon Street 

Walking around the back of Regent Street -
the surrounding streets have been greatly improved by The Crown Estate 

The refurbished Quadrant Arcade on Regent Street

The Crown Estate is working with Westminster City Council
to improve the quality of the streets and road markings

Looking towards Piccadilly Circus and the famous advertising boards 

Burlington Arcade

Jermyn Street - a quintessentially British experience

...and home to rather a lot of gentlemen's outfitters

Walking to St James Market past...

...the new building at 2 St James's Market

And into 1 St James's Market - the Head Office of Crown Estates...

...and the first office in Europe to achieve WELL Platinum Certification

The office features lots of plants and these amazing living moss lights

Back onto Regent Street with its distinctive curve

For more information on the BSc Real Estate Management click here.

The Launch of the 2019 OBREMS/OBU Mentoring Scheme

The launch of the 2019 OBREMS/OBU Mentoring Scheme took place on 21 March and was hosted by CBRE at their offices in Henrietta House, London. The launch brought together mentors and students (mentees) for the first time at a fantastic networking event. The Mentoring Scheme (now in its 7th year) is managed jointly by OBREMS (our alumni association) and the School of the Built Environment and is open to second year students on the BSc Real Estate Management and the BA Planning and Property Development as well as students on the MSc Real Estate.

This year, applications to the Mentoring Scheme reached 100 and thanks to the work of OBREMS in promoting the scheme amongst their members, we have been able to allocate a mentor to each student that applied. Once again this year we have seen an increase in the number of younger mentors, some of whom took part in the Mentoring Scheme themselves when they were students which is great news!

David Tudor and the Talent and Learning Team at CBRE

Dan Sames and Rebecca Gee from the School of the Built Environment at Oxford Brookes introduced the Mentoring Scheme and then passed over to David Tudor, Senior Director at CBRE who welcomed everyone to the event. Sigrid Ferguson and Charlie Wesson from the CBRE Talent and Learning Team presented a short session on the importance and effectiveness of mentoring and then Dan introduced...

Harriet Costello (Senior Surveyor at JLL) and Cameron Johnston (Asset Manager at The Office Group) both took part in the Mentoring Scheme when they were students at Oxford Brookes - they talked about their experiences on the Mentoring Scheme as students (in 2013) and subsequently as mentors, offering students and mentors lots of useful advice on how to get the most out of the experience.

Harriet Costello

One of the unique features of our Mentoring Scheme is that all of our mentors are graduates of either Real Estate (BSc or MSc) or Planning and Property Development (BA) at Oxford Brookes (or Oxford Polytechnic as it used to be). This means that mentors and students have an immediate connection. Students had the opportunity to chat with a wide range of mentors during the event before meeting up with their mentor for an individual 'first' meeting. The energy and buzz that filled the room at the launch event is reflected in some of the photos...

The networking continued round the corner at the pub

For more information on our courses and the Mentoring Scheme, take a look here:

BSc Real Estate Management
BA Planning and Property Development
MSc Real Estate
The OBREMS/OBU Mentoring Scheme