FHP News

After just a couple of months of finishing my second year at Sheffield Hallam University studying real estate, I began my placement year working at FHP Property Consultants. The majority of the year has been spent working out of the Derby office covering instructions across Derbyshire and the wider East Midlands.

Each day is different and I have thoroughly enjoyed the challenges and experiences I have faced, which has enabled me to learn and progress my knowledge in the property industry. FHP have given me responsibility from day one and although this was somewhat daunting, I enjoyed being thrown into the deep end having my own properties to market. As a result, I have learnt skills such as liaising with clients and prospective tenants by telephone, email and the occasional letter. Having help and support from the team has very much improved my knowledge and understanding of the market and industry whilst also gaining practical skills such as producing property details, heads of terms and agency agreements.

Based in the agency team I have had the opportunity to work on office, Industrial and retail properties. One of my favourite roles has been inspecting new properties and carrying out measured surveys, with a view to placing these on the market for sale or to let. One day I could be inspecting a 10,000ft² warehouse in Alfreton and the next a 1,000ft² shop in the centre of Derby. The units we looked around would provide a challenge with measuring, especially the office properties, as these would be measured on a net internal basis and often would be awkward shapes. In addition to inspecting properties, I have been able to place these properties on the market, carry out viewings, negotiate and complete deals.

I have also had experience working in the professional team covering Landlord and Tenant matters whilst assisting with lease renewals/rent reviews. This time was spent reading leases, producing lease summaries, hunting down comparable evidence and assisting with writing reports. This helped put a hypothetical rent review we completed at university into context and allowed me to use the theory I have learnt in a real world scenario.

At the start of my placement I knew the theory hypothetically, however, throughout my time at FHP I have put this into practice improving my knowledge and my communication skills, whether this is over the phone or by email, with clients, tenants and other property professionals. This improved knowledge and experience will help me complete my degree when I return to university.

I have enjoyed my time at FHP Property Consultants and this experience has cemented my interest in property and wanting to further my career in the industry.

For further information, please contact Jamie Gilbertson on 07398 443828 or jamie.gilbertson@fhp.co.uk

ENDS

Jamie Gilbertson

May 2023

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