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. 

Oxford Brookes Real Estate Ball 2016

This year, the Real Estate Ball returned to the Randolph Hotel in Oxford (repairs have now been completed following the fire that took place days before the 2015 Ball which had to be relocated). The Ball took place on Friday 15 April, and this year, the I was invited, so I took lots of photos.

As well as a delicious meal (and lots of things to drink), the band and dancing, there was a charity raffle in aid of the Mark Evison Foundation. Mark was a 2006 real estate graduate who died in 2009 from wounds he received in Helmand.

Congratulations to the OBRESS (Oxford Brookes Real Estate Student Society) Committee who organised a fantastic event which was sponsored by the Berkeley Group, Cushman & Wakefield, Savills, Montagu Evans, Allsop LLP, Harris Johnston, Knight Frank, Premier Lettings, Mason Owen and NV Estates.

A few photos follow to give you a flavour of the events - more are available on our Facebook page:

Official photos
Unofficial photos

Table 10

Dining by candlelight

The band (pointing to the fire exit)

Table 10 (again)

Real (Estate) dancin'

Real Estate and Construction Ball 2015

One week before the REC Ball and the venue (the Randolph Hotel) goes up in flames. Apparently caused by a beef stroganoff being flambéed with a bit too much cognac. The hunt was on for an alternative venue and following an epic re-organisation, the REC Ball took place on 24 April as planned, at the Kassam Stadium.

Over 200 tickets were sold and a charity raffle was organised in aid of the Mark Evison Foundation. Mark was a 2006 real estate graduate who died in 2009 from wounds he received in Helmand.

OBRESS (Oxford Brookes Real Estate Student Society) and OBUCS (Oxford Brookes University Construction Society) also secured sponsorship from CBRE, Savills, Montagu Evans, Carter Jonas, Cushman and Wakefield, Deloitte, Jackson Rowe, Martin and Co., Longcross, Estates Gazette and Symm.

These photos (taken by Gina Dalton) will give you a flavour of the night's events (at the Kassam) - we have no photos of the after-party (maybe a good thing)...

This is what it looked like before...

The Selfie Machine (we'll let you know when we find out where all these photos went)

The meal.

The food.

Nick French with (some of the) MSc Real Estate students

The band.

The dance floor.

Kilts are always good on the dance floor (with Rebecca Gee)

The raffle (with Rebecca Gee and James Bircumshaw).

The end (with Gina Dalton and Rebecca Gee).

Not bad for a football stadium.

Real Estate and Construction Ball 2014

Report in the Estates Gazette

The Real Estate and Construction Ball took place on 25 April 2014 in the amazing venue which is Oxford Town Hall. The following report appeared in the Estates Gazette (so I do not have to write one!):

Budding surveyors from Oxford Brookes University had an old-fashioned knees up, with a little industry hel, last month. With champagne, fine nosh and a jazz band in the stunning Oxford Town Hall, the annual Real Estate and Construction Ball had all the hallmarks of a civilised soiree. Approximately 180 students, staff and property professionals turned out for networking and a good time, and more that £500 was raised for Mark Evison Foundation. The charity is named after a former student who died on military duty in Afghanistan. Money raised supports the personal, mental and physical development of young people. 

The Ball, held on 25 April, was organised by the Oxford Brookes Real Estate Student Society and the Oxford Brookes Construction Society. It was supported by Estates Gazette, Savills, Colliers International, Brookfield Multiplex, SYMM, Jackson Rowe, Premier Lettings and Martin & Co. 

The official photos of the REC Ball 2014 are available on the OBRESS Facebook page. And there is another report on the REC Ball on the Jackson Rowe website.

Charity Rugby Match 2013

The third Oxford Brookes vs Reading charity rugby match took place on 31 October 2013 at Richmond Athletics Rugby Club and attracted over 200 guests (students and alumni from degree programmes in real estate). Yes, and it was also Halloween.

The Reading Real Estate Foundation (RREF) and Oxford Brookes Real Estate Management Society (OBREMS) have held an annual charity rugby match since 2011 and proceeds are donated to the charity LandAid. The Oxford Brookes team have won for the last two years, and so they gave Reading a chance this year. They won. Rather well. 24 - 5. Congratulations to Reading. 

According to Nick French (Prog Leader for the MSc Real Estate at Oxford Brookes) it was a great evening with some fantastic singing from the terraces. Nick said: 'the singing on the terraces was very loud and led by the MSc Real Estate students...it was the first time in my life that I was aware of how many songs can be changed so the word "FRENCHIE" can be added in an appropriate place!'

The evening was generously sponsored by Allsop and Knight Frank. Thanks also to the students/staff whose photos appear on this blog post.

Team Brookes

Chocolate Bombing?!

Result.

RCP Ball 2013

The Oxford Brookes Real Estate Students Society (OBRESS) organised the Real Estate, Construction and Planning Annual Ball which took place on Friday 26 April 2013. The Estates Gazette saved me a job by reporting on the event:

From the Estates Gazette (4 May 2013)

OBRESS founders: Brad Pettett (centre back), James Bircumshaw (back right) and Georgia Eckert (front right)

You want to see more photos? Click here to see all the photos.