Oxford Brookes/OBREMS Mentoring Scheme 2026: the Launch

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 on the BSc Real Estate and the BSc Property Development and Planning as well as students on the MSc Real Estate. The Mentoring Scheme offers students a unique opportunity for students to be mentored by one of our alumni. 

The Mentoring Scheme has been running for 14 years now and this year (19 March) we headed back to the offices of Montagu Evans in the Can of Ham Building at 70 St Mary Axe in the City of London. It was great to be joined by Nick Maclean OBE RD FRICS, the new (and 144th) President of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) who kindly opened the evening with some words of encouragement for the students. Thanks also to Josh Myerson (mentor) and Emma Buxton (a student mentee and now a mentor) for their words of advice on how to make the most of the Mentoring Scheme.

Nick Maclean, Josh Myerson and Emma Buxton (l-r)

Thanks to Montagu Evans once again for hosting and thanks to the presenters and all the students, staff and mentors who came.  This year we matched 75 students with mentors. Anyone who is interested in becoming a mentor should contact: rdixon@brookes.ac.uk

And now for the photos...

The OBU/OBREMS Mentoring Scheme 2026

 

The Mentoring Scheme Launch at Montagu Evans, March 2025

The Mentoring Scheme has been running since 2013, successfully matching more than 1000 students from the BSc Real Estate and the BSc Property Development and Planning 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 16 February we will open applications to the OBREMS/OBU Mentoring Scheme 2026 for second year undergraduate students. So why should you take part? Some quotes from students, alumni and mentors...

• The Mentoring Scheme was certainly useful and the networking launch event was a great illustration of how important networking is within Real Estate. Thank you. 
• Brilliant, and we will keep in touch after the scheme ends. 
• Helpful - as it improved my CV massively, which helped secure a job.
• Amazing, my Mentor was extremely helpful and the scheme provided fantastic contacts.
• I think the mentoring scheme was a brilliant way to get us in touch with industry professionals. For me it has opened many doors and built my CV by getting work experience through the scheme. I think its a brilliant initiative, in which I hope I'll be able to take part in when I am working. 
• Speaking to 3rd year students at the Real Estate society socials, and other sports activities, the Mentoring Scheme has helped people in many different ways, that might not seem like the obvious choices. For example, just putting people in touch to help find a room in London, where they secured a summer internship. I also think that a lot of the property industry is about building connections, which the Mentoring Scheme can also assist with.
• Having benefited positively from the Mentoring Scheme myself as a student it has made me realise how important continuing that contact is and the benefit of maintaining the alumni community as it's great for meeting new people and being able to help students out.

This year, the mentoring period for undergraduate students will start at the end of March 2026, with a launch event kindly hosted by Montagu Evans at 70 St Mary's Axe (the Can of Ham Building) on the evening of 19 March (6pm to 8pm). The launch event will include guest speakers and a chance for networking and meetings between students and mentors. 

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. Students - please remember that if you sign up to the Mentoring Scheme you must be prepared to make use of your Mentor and initiate contact. Our Mentors sign up to the scheme as volunteers because they want to help and they enjoy being part of the scheme - when students sign up and then drop out, we end up with disappointed Mentors and a wasted opportunity for the student. There is a lot of help on offer and it's up to you to make good use of it. 

2nd year students...apply here.

Celebrating 10 Years of REIF: catching up with Freda Rutere

Freda Rutere: MSc REIF 2016-18.
Currently working as an Investment Manager at IHS,
a Green Affordable Housing Fund based in Kenya.

MSc Real Estate Investment Finance (REIF)

A Decade Later - From Student to Impact Investment Professional

Ten years ago, I was featured in this blog as one of the first students pursuing the MSc Real Estate Investment Finance at Oxford Brookes University. At the time, I was working in commercial Real Estate Development Management in Kenya. I spoke about the disconnect I observed between investor decision-drivers and engineering fundamentals, hoping the REIF course would equip me with tools to better steer commercial real estate development decisions at a strategic level.

A decade later, as I reflect on my journey since graduation, I’m amazed at how prescient those words were – and how the MSc REIF became the bridge that transformed my career in ways I couldn’t have imagined - Specifically, I found myself increasingly drawn to projects that addressed housing affordability challenges – a critical issue across many African markets.

Today, I work as an Investment Manager at an affordable housing impact fund, where I focus on investments that generate both financial returns and measurable social impact. My role involves evaluating investment opportunities, conducting due diligence, managing a growing property portfolio, and measuring impact outcomes – all while ensuring strong financial fundamentals are preserved for investors.

The foundation laid by the MSc REIF program, combined with my engineering background, created a unique skill set that proved invaluable to better serving investors in African markets.

Looking back, the MSc REIF program delivered on everything I had hoped for and more: The analytical frameworks I learned during the MSc REIF program proved essential as I began evaluating projects not just on traditional financial metrics, but also on their potential for social impact. The course’s emphasis on understanding real estate as an asset class across various jurisdictions globally (as I had hoped) became particularly relevant as I worked on cross-border affordable housing initiatives.

For those currently in the program or considering it, my advice is to embrace the interdisciplinary nature of real estate investment finance. Don’t see it just as a property or finance course – view it as a foundation for understanding how built environments can be leveraged to create positive change and make meaningful contributions.

To the current faculty and students of the MSc REIF program: thank you for continuing to push the boundaries of how we think about real estate investment globally. 

The decade since graduation has been an incredible journey of growth and impact. I’m proud to be part of the Oxford Brookes REIF alumni community and excited to see how the next generation of graduates will shape the future of real estate investment.

Thanks Freda. Find out more about the course here.

Celebrating 10 Years! MSc REIF: Stephen Hipkins

Ye Xu (REIF Programme Leader) and Stephen Hipkins at graduation in May 2025

The Real Estate Investment Finance (REIF) programme (MSc, PG Diploma and OBU Certificate) at Oxford Brookes is celebrating 10 years this year!  The programme started in 2015 and now attracts students from across the world. This is great news as students (and staff) from many different backgrounds and locations can come together online to share experiences and work practices. The programme has been designed for real estate professionals across all sectors, as well as fund managers and investment bankers who would like to gain a better understanding of real estate as a financial asset in an investment portfolio. The programme is delivered online and offers our students (many of whom are also working full-time) a flexible and innovative way to study. We have developed our use of digital media to bring together students from many different backgrounds and locations using our virtual learning platform as well as social media and webinars. 

I caught up with one of our most recent graduates, Stephen Hipkins who completed the MSc REIF in May 2025 to find out what he thought about the REIF programme:

What is your background?

I am a qualified architect with over 25 years of experience across architecture, construction and project delivery. My career has spanned both the UK and international markets, including significant work in the Middle East. I have delivered complex capital investment projects across a broad range of sectors; residential, commercial, education, healthcare and cultural institutions, both as an architect and in senior client-side project and design management roles. My leadership has consistently centred on coordinating multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-value, technically sophisticated developments. I have worked with globally renowned practices and led award-winning masterplans such as the Qasr Al Hosn in Abu Dhabi. In recent years, I have taken a strategic leadership role in future-focused developments, including mass modular housing and sustainable EV-integrated urban planning.

Why did you decide to do a course in Real Estate Investment Finance?

Having spent much of my career focused on the design and delivery aspects of the built environment, I recognised a growing need to strengthen my commercial and financial understanding of real estate. My experience taught me that long-term project success hinges not just on design excellence or construction efficiency, but also on financial viability, market alignment and strategic investment.  

The MSc in Real Estate Investment and Finance provided the perfect opportunity to formally broaden my perspective, to view projects not only as physical assets but as vehicles of economic and social value. I wanted to be better equipped to engage with investors, developers and financial institutions and to lead with a more integrated understanding of project lifecycle economics, risk and return.

Why did you choose the MSc/PGD REIF at Oxford Brookes?

Oxford Brookes stood out for its strong reputation in real estate education and its practitioner-focused, flexible learning model. The course is tailored for experienced professionals who want to deepen their expertise while continuing to work and it focuses on real-world application. What particularly appealed to me was the course’s emphasis on combining theory with critical, practice-based analysis. The modules, ranging from valuation and investment appraisal to legal frameworks aligned closely with the challenges I encountered in my leadership roles. The university’s commitment to academic excellence, coupled with its support for distance learners, made it an ideal choice.

What did you gain from the course and how has it helped you in your career?

The MSc has significantly enhanced my ability to appraise projects from a financial and strategic standpoint. I have gained a much deeper understanding of market dynamics, investment structures, development finance and valuation techniques. I’m now far more confident in navigating complex financial models, engaging with investors and aligning project design with long-term investment goals.

Importantly, the course sharpened my decision-making in areas like portfolio planning, risk assessment and regulatory compliance. This has expanded my leadership capacity, enabling me to move seamlessly between architectural, managerial and financial domains. It’s already influencing the way I lead projects, structure deals and advocate for sustainable, commercially resilient developments. I have now set up a property business that leverages the BRRR (Buy, Refurbish, Rent, Refinance, Repeat) strategy to acquire and improve residential properties to a high standard. If you would like to know more or become involved, email us at: architectmoveorimprove@gmail.com

What did you choose for your dissertation topic and why?

For my dissertation, I explored the topic: “Decline in Town Centres: Adapting to Changing Consumer Habits.” This subject resonated strongly with me, both professionally and personally, as I’ve witnessed first-hand the shifting dynamics in urban centres across the UK, exacerbated by changes in retail behaviour, technological disruption and more recently, the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. My aim was to critically examine the structural decline of traditional high streets and town centres, investigating the economic, social and spatial drivers behind reduced footfall, rising vacancies and evolving consumer expectations. I was particularly interested in how real estate stakeholders, investors, developers, local authorities and designers can reposition and repurpose underperforming assets to create vibrant, resilient urban environments.

This research allowed me to bridge my architectural and project delivery background with the commercial and strategic themes covered in the MSc. I evaluated innovative redevelopment strategies, such as mixed-use repurposing, experiential retail and community-focused place-making, alongside policy and investment models that can support long-term regeneration. Ultimately, the dissertation reinforced my belief that town centres can be revitalised through integrated, multi-disciplinary approaches, where design quality, financial viability and social value go hand-in-hand.

Thanks Stephen. If you want to find out more, then book onto one of our online information sessions via the website.

REIF Online Information Sessions

OBU/OBREMS Mentoring Scheme Launch 2025

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 on the BSc Real Estate and the BSc Property Development and Planning as well as students on the MSc Real Estate.

The Can of Ham Building at 70 St Mary Axe

It's been running for 13 years now and the OBREMS/OBU Mentoring Scheme offers students a unique opportunity to be mentored by one of our alumni. This year, the launch took place on 26 March at the offices of Montagu Evans in the Can of Ham Building at 70 St Mary Axe in the City of London. Thanks to Montagu Evans for hosting and thanks to the presenters and all the students, staff and mentors who came. It was the biggest ever launch event with 120 students and alumni and a lot of networking. It was especially good to see those who took part in the Mentoring Scheme as students return as mentors and we had some laughs looking at the OBU Real Estate and Construction My Social Book from 2015. This year we matched 73 students with mentors. Anyone who is interested in becoming a mentor should contact: rdixon@brookes.ac.uk

Thanks to Josh Myerson (mentor), Alexandra Williams and Emma Buxton (both student mentees and now mentors) for their words of advice on how to make the most of the Mentoring Scheme and James Stacey (Chair of OBREMS), Rebecca Gee (OBU) and Dan Sames (OBU) for their words of encouragement. 

And now for the photos...

Emma Buxton talking about her experiences

Memories from My Social Book...

Time for more networking in the local bar...

The Oxford Brookes/OBREMS Mentoring Scheme 2025

The Mentoring Scheme Launch - March 2024

The Mentoring Scheme has been running since 2013, successfully matching more than 1000 students from the BSc Real Estate and the BSc Property Development and Planning 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. In early February we will open applications to the OBREMS/OBU Mentoring Scheme 2025 for second year undergraduate students. So why should you take part? Some quotes from students, alumni and mentors...

• The Mentoring Scheme was certainly useful and the networking launch event was a great illustration of how important networking is within Real Estate. Thank you. 
• Brilliant, and we will keep in touch after the scheme ends. 
• Helpful - as it improved my CV massively, which helped secure a job.
• Amazing, my Mentor was extremely helpful and the scheme provided fantastic contacts.
• I think the mentoring scheme was a brilliant way to get us in touch with industry professionals. For me it has opened many doors and built my CV by getting work experience through the scheme. I think its a brilliant initiative, in which I hope I'll be able to take part in when I am working. 
• Speaking to 3rd year students at the Real Estate society socials, and other sports activities, the Mentoring Scheme has helped people in many different ways, that might not seem like the obvious choices. For example, just putting people in touch to help find a room in London, where they secured a summer internship. I also think that a lot of the property industry is about building connections, which the Mentoring Scheme can also assist with.
• Having benefited positively from the Mentoring Scheme myself as a student it has made me realise how important continuing that contact is and the benefit of maintaining the alumni community as it's great for meeting new people and being able to help students out.

This year, the mentoring period for undergraduate students will start at the end of March 2024, with a launch event kindly hosted by Montagu Evans at 70 St Mary's Axe (the Can of Ham Building) on the evening of 27 March (6pm to 8pm). The launch event will include guest speakers and a chance for networking and meetings between students and mentors. 

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. Students - please remember that if you sign up to the Mentoring Scheme you must be prepared to make use of your Mentor and initiate contact. Our Mentors sign up to the scheme as volunteers because they want to help and they enjoy being part of the scheme - when students sign up and then drop out, we end up with disappointed Mentors and a wasted opportunity for the student. There is a lot of help on offer and it's up to you to make good use of it. 

The OBREMS/OBU Mentoring Scheme 2024: The Launch

 

The Mentoring Scheme 2024 at JLL

...and a flashback to 2013 at JLL

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 on the BSc Real Estate and the BSc Property Development and Planning as well as students on the MSc Real Estate.

This is the 12th year of the OBREMS/OBU Mentoring Scheme which offers students a unique opportunity to be mentored by one of our alumni. The launch took place on 20 March at JLL West End in London - where we first launched the scheme back in 2013. Thanks to JLL for hosting and thanks to the presenters and all the students, staff and mentors who came. It was a great evening - the networking was made even better without the old table format. It was especially good to see those who took part in the Mentoring Scheme as students return as mentors. This year we matched 65 students with mentors and there was a great turnout at the launch as you can see from the photos. Anyone who is interested in becoming a mentor should contact: rdixon@brookes.ac.uk

Thanks to Michael Clarke (mentor), Harriet Costello (one of the first student mentees in 2013 and now a mentor) and James Mohsen (student mentee in 2018 and now a mentor)  for their words of advice and finally from Rebecca Gee (programme lead for BSc Real Estate at Oxford Brookes):

It is in your hands now how much you make of the opportunity but you have the chance to build a relationship that will not only benefit you over the next 12 months but throughout your career as well. Do let us know though if there is anything we can do to facilitate further if required.

To the final year students who have had the benefit of the scheme last year don't let the relationship stop now. That was an overwhelming theme of the talks yesterday evening and many of the mentors were discussing how much they have relied on a mentor across their whole working life.

To all first year students, I hope you are looking forward to the opportunity next year. All I can say is grab it with both hands as it is an invaluable chance to get support with both your dissertation and the job application process as well as throughout your future career.

And now for the photos...

Finishing off the evening with more networking at The Glasshouse in Soho

What were we doing with the spaghetti and marshmallows? When student numbers were smaller we had a few team building events. The winning team from 2014.