Harry Gledhill

Name: Harry Gledhill
Course: Planning and Real Estate
Year of Study: Second year
Graduation Year: 2022

What work experience did you do?

I had the opportunity to spend a month with Gerald Eve at their London West End office. Gerald Eve provide a number of property consultancy services and whilst I was there, I was a part of the industrial agency team. This involved writing reports, conducting research and attending site visits amongst many other tasks.

What was it that inspired you to look for work experience?

I wanted to do a summer work experience because employers place a high value on work experience and in my penultimate year, I wanted to make the most of every opportunity. The chance to work with Gerald Eve in their London headquarters was a significant factor choosing this company as the opportunity to live and work in central London was really exciting.

Why did you choose to do work experience in this area?

I chose to work with a surveying company because it fits really well with my degree and whilst preparing me for future employment there were also be plenty of transferable skills for university. Particular skills include research and report writing that will be invaluable going into my final year.

Give a brief snapshot of your role:

  • Conducting site inspections and viewings of properties across London
  • Researching and collecting information and data to complete reports and create marketing material
  • Liaising with company representatives across the South East in order to meet client requirements

How did the Bursary award support you in gaining experience?

The bursary supported the cost of living in London and meant I could rent a flat in central London close to the office. The flat also provided a great central location to make the absolute most of the opportunity outside of the work experience. The nature of the job also required a lot of travel around the South East and the bursary therefore helped subsidise the costs of my transport.

What were the most enjoyable aspects of your role?

The most enjoyable aspect of the role was ability to travel around London and the South East. This meant that I had the chance to explore an entirely new region and to see a range of new places. The role was also very social which meant that I could meet many new people from a spectrum of property backgrounds; all of which were able to provide me with advice or a new insight on my future career.

What were the challenges?

The biggest challenge was moving to a new city alone but this meant that I had to keep busy every day and allowed me to experience things I wouldn’t have otherwise. The staff at the company were also great and had numerous social events which meant I rarely had nothing to do.

Did you have any worries or concerns before your work experience and if so how were they dealt with and overcome?

My biggest concerns before the experience were mainly financial but also being in a city that I didn’t know very well. Fortunately, with the work experience bursary I could relax about the cost and solely focus on enjoying the time and getting the most out of the experience by exploring the city and buildings connections with people in the industry.

What specific or transferable skills did you develop through the work experience?

For the most part, my role during the work experience involved research and report writing. Both of these tasks transfer very well academically and being able to build on those skills in a practical environment has been really valuable, especially as I look to write my final year dissertation.

Did the work experience give you any insights and have these influenced your career pathway?

Whilst although primarily working with the surveying team, I reached out to the planning department to see if I could attend any meetings and get an insight into the role of a planning consultant. I really enjoyed the insight and it inspired me to pursue further experiences related to planning.

Do you have any words of wisdom for future students looking to gain work experience?

I applied for numerous work experience programmes and internships but was only accepted by one. It was really discouraging and frustrating after getting turned away from many but eventually persistence and proactiveness will pay off. Make the most of the contacts through university and utilise the careers team for advice to give yourself the best chance.