Eleanor
Pilkington

Why NTU…

Why did you choose NTU and your course?

NTU is only one of a few universities that offer an umbrella of property courses. I wanted to go into property, but I wasn’t sure which route to take. I knew coming to NTU I would have the support and exposure to learn about the industry. NTU was always my top choice because of the calibre of the employability team within the Built Environment School as well as the down to earth interactions I had with the lecturers leading up to my application.

What do you think about the course staff? How do they support your learning and university experience?

I think the course staff are excellent. Most of them have tonnes of experience and passion for the industry which translates into their lectures. It’s obvious they care about engagement with students, and they make the effort to get to know us. The course itself is quite niche so there are not many of us, which allows time for more casual discussion and one-to-one conversations when needed.

Have you been involved in any live projects of briefs on your course and if so, can you talk a bit about one you really enjoyed?

I really enjoyed the Broad Marsh masterplan project we did in second year. It was very interesting to develop a concept for an empty side, design it and assess the viability of the scheme I was proposing. Especially, as we were able to compare our own schemes with the council’s, who’s announcement to redevelop the same site coincided with our project.

Does the “real” NTU match what you’d imagined? How does it compare with your friends’ experience at other universities?

Yes, it did. The campus itself is a great environment to be in, socially and when studying. The support and extracurriculars in place in excellent. There is always something to get involved in!

How would you promote NTU to potential students in 10 words or fewer?

A great campus to meet new people and learn property.

Placements

Could you please explain more about your current / recent placement, and what you did during this time?

I worked in the Capital Deployment and Leasing Team for Prologis UK during my 12-month long placement. The internship involved shadowing, and experience in leasing, land acquisition, planning policy, and development proposals.

How did you source your placement? Did you get support from NTU?

I received lots of support from the employability team at NTU in preparing applications for placement including one-to-one meetings on CV and covering letter writing as well as interview practise and interpersonal skills development workshops. All of which were fundamental in sourcing a placement.

NTU also offer a database of live job adverts for each course specialism, which is where I found most of the companies I applied to, including Prologis UK.

What is your favourite project that you’ve worked on during your placement and why?

As the team intern, I was involved in multiple different Industrial parks throughout the course of my placement. My favourite was a site down in London which included two units we had to lease and a unit for refurbishment. I really loved working on this as I was able to get involved in both planning and lease negotiation as well as liaise with other professions involved in the process such as contractors and agents.

What skills have you gained by completing this placement?

Key skills include lease negotiation, site appraisals, strategic land research and planning application writing.
Key interpersonal skills include presentation, communication/networking, time management, leadership and teamwork skills.

How will these skills enhance your employability for your chosen career?

Specific industry skills that I developed will position me one step ahead of everyone else, making it easier to understand assignments and will broaden the type of jobs I can apply for.

The networking skills are key as the relationships I built over the year will lead me to further job opportunities.
Interpersonal skills that I developed have given me the confidence to interview well and prove that I would be a valued member of any team I would join.

Most importantly, it gives you perspective on the industry and what to expect working in a business environment. This is beneficial in making you someone who wants to ask questions about the role you are applying for, which employers always want to see.

What advice would you give to an NTU student about to begin a placement?

Be as proactive as possible and always ask questions. Remember you are there to learn and you are not expected to know everything. Make the most of every opportunity and have fun!

About the future...

What’s next for you after NTU?

My goal for the next two years is to become a RICS accredited surveyor, so I am hoping to secure a graduate role that supports this either in consultancy or commercial development.

Has the employability team helped you plan for life beyond NTU?

Not yet, though I will reach out to them soon!

The ADBE graduate job fair that was set up for our school was very useful and had a range of employers for us to consider.