Careers Spotlight: Property development

Property development can be a rewarding and potentially lucrative career path for those that are willing to work hard and develop the right skills. There are various routes into property development and different roles within the field. Learning how to get into this line of work can be useful if you wish to develop a career in property development. In this article, we look at what property development is, explain how to get into property development, outline what it's like to work in this field, discuss the skills required and look at the different career options available.

What is property development?

Property development is the business process of buying and improving buildings and land. These projects tend to be for financial gain, but some developers partner with the public sector to build new social housing. It's a broad category that typically includes:

• creating new homes, including houses and apartments

• remodelling existing properties, such as by turning a historic industrial warehouse into a set of high-end apartments

• building, remodelling or improving commercial buildings

How to get into property development

Follow the steps below to learn how to get into property development:

1. Decide your scale

To get into property development, deciding your scale is a good starting point. For instance, if you're buying a single property at a time and improving it to sell for a profit, you may be able to do this as a side project and grow your property development business over time. In contrast, if you're looking to buy parcels of land for development, you're usually going to require significant funding.

For larger projects or businesses, you'd typically also require a team of professionals to help you. These might include a contractor, architect, conveyancer and accountant. If you're thinking about large-scale projects as a property developer, remember that this is typically a full-time occupation.

2. Get your finances in place

There are various ways of financing property development. You may wish to speak to lenders, who can offer a variety of property development mortgages at different LTVs and interest rates. Additionally, you can also look for private investors or seek access to local grants if you're working on social housing.

Most developers are going to require their own financial reserves, which means that many tend to start on a smaller scale and build up their finances and experience over time. If this is your situation, you may want to consider starting your property development business as a side project before transitioning to larger, full-time projects.

Related: ​​​​​What does a valuation surveyor do? (Duties and skills)

3. Pick your location

If you're new to property development, it can be a good idea to focus on areas that you're familiar with. This might be the area in which you live or one that you know about for other reasons, such as previous work. Picking an area you know well can help you to evaluate prices, transport links and other aspects of the property that can affect its value. If such areas are unsuitable for any reason, it's a good idea to do a lot of research into other potential areas so that you know what to expect.

4. Develop a time frame and budget

One of the more challenging aspects is determining what your budget and deadlines are going to be. With greater experience, you can become more adept at estimating these accurately. If you're unsure, it's often a good idea to round up your estimates to be safe. Then, if they do turn out to be accurate, you simply finish the project early or under budget. Being able to maintain budgets and deadlines also helps to attract outside investors. When you meet your budgets and deadlines consistently, it can positively affect your finance and further development options.

5. Market and sell your properties

The final stage of property development is typically the sale of the property. Once you've completed all the necessary work to improve the property, there's still some work to do in the form of marketing and selling it. Good marketing can increase the number of people who know about the property, which can therefore increase demand for it. With more people interested in buying the property, you have a better chance of getting a higher sale price. You can choose to work with individual buyers yourself, use an agent or consider putting the renovated property up for auction.

What is it like to work in property development?

This career path offers various investment opportunities for individuals, which include delivering projects directly or funding these projects for a return. There are many routes that entrepreneurs can consider to get into property development. For example, an individual with practical skills might buy an existing property and remodel it for sale to make a profit that they can invest in the purchase of further properties. To do this, they may choose to buy properties at auction, which can enable them to quickly acquire properties at competitive prices.

Other people may prefer to work for property development companies to gain access to a stable salary and a more structured career path. For these property developers, the national average salary is £43,474 per year. Eventually, these individuals may build up the skills, contacts, knowledge and financial means that are necessary to set up their own property development company. Whether your interests are entrepreneurial or career-based, property development is a diverse industry with plenty of interesting opportunities and aligned career paths.

Skills required to pursue a career in property development

Those that manage to successfully pursue a career in property development tend to have the following skills or traits:

• ambition and drive

• good communication skills

• comfortable taking risks

• knowledge of property markets, construction processes, economics, financing and planning laws

• ability to raise or secure finance

• good with maths and budgeting

• organisational skills

• leadership and managerial skills

• ability to make decisions

• flexibility

• negotiation skills

• marketing ability

• project management skills

5 career options in property development

There are various jobs that relate to property development. Here's a list of five examples to consider:

1. Commercial architect

National average salary: £43,511 per year

Primary duties: Architects plan, design and manage the construction of properties and buildings. They often have experience in project management and engineering and may work directly with property developers on projects that involve structural renovations, remodels and new builds. The main responsibility of an architect is to develop a visual design for a building or to plan the renovation of one. They do this by using hand sketches, computer-aided design (CAD) software and 3D models. Architects also help with the selection of materials for construction projects, in addition to writing reports and working on planning applications.

2. Contractor

National average salary: £26,848 per year

Primary duties: Contractors have licences and accreditations to supervise, coordinate and deliver the logistics of building and remodelling projects. They also supply equipment and materials for each job and oversee the work of carpenters, builders, electricians and plumbers. These professionals can often develop a lot of the necessary skills and experience to subsequently manage their own projects and become independent property developers.

3. Estate agent

National average salary: £29,638 per year

Primary duties: Estate agents, who are also known as real estate agents or new homes sales consultants, work with a developer or with potential buyers to facilitate the sale of developed homes or commercial properties. They provide property developers with knowledge of local markets and tend to have extensive contacts. There are different types of estate agents, including general estate agents, universal estate agents and special estate agents. Some may specialise in rented accommodation, whereas others may focus on the sale of properties.

4. Real estate asset manager

National average salary: £50,702 per year

Primary duties: This is a mid-level role that's primarily concerned with maximising property values and getting good investment returns. Real estate asset managers often work in asset management firms and specialise in commercial properties. They have a good knowledge of finance, economics, investments and the property market as a whole.

5. Surveyor

National average salary: £40,014 per year

Primary duties: A surveyor is primarily responsible for advising clients about the repair, maintenance, construction and design of buildings. They survey properties to identify issues and make recommendations for repairs and improvements. Surveyors also conduct damage assessments for insurance purposes. In addition, they ensure that construction work meets building regulations, accessibility standards and fire safety requirements. Surveyors often work on-site, alongside working in office environments.

If you want to learn more about getting into property development click on the links below

Boosting your CV

In this section we have looked at how boost your CV.  A good CV will get you noticed and invited for an interview, but no further.  The key to a successful interview lies in soft skills.

What are soft skills?

Soft skills relate to how you work. Soft skills include interpersonal (people) skills, communication skills, listening skills, time management, and empathy, among others. They are among the top skills employers seek in the candidates they hire, because soft skills are important for just about every job.

Over the next few editions of the careers newsletter we will look at different soft skills and how you can improve them

The link below will help you put together your CV

Unifrog

What is Unifrog?

Unifrog is a one-stop-shop where students can easily explore their interests, then find and successfully apply for their next best step after school. All of our students can login to Unifrog using the school login details.  However we think Unifrog is so good we want parents and carers to use it as well.  To use Unifrog for free go to  unifrog.org/code, enter the code HXRTparents.  You will be asked for some basic details and then you are in.

Help for Parents and Carers

When it comes to education and careers, parents and carers have a large influence on a students choices. As an adult you are expected to have all the answers, but in a constantly evolving world it can be a struggle to keep up with the latest options out there.  In this section we will highlight resources that will help keep you up to date with careers and the choices available to young people.

Last month we looked at the importance of soft skills in an everchanging job market.  This month we look at where you can research possible career options.

Where can I find out about the careers available to my child

• The National Careers Service website has profiles on hundreds of jobs which includes what each job involves, what qualifications are needed and what level of pay can be expected.  

• The National Careers Service also offers a skills checker where you can enter what you are good at and what sort of things you enjoy and it will suggest possible careers.  Click on the image below to go to the National Careers Service website

• The Careers and Enterprise Company website is an excellent source of information about careers and jobs available in Hertfordshire including webinars, adverts for apprenticeships and opportunities to get involved. Click on the image below to go to 

Careers in Hertfordshire: Retrofit - Greener Homes

The Retrofit Opportunity

Retrofit demand is booming, but Hertfordshire’s skills capacity and capability is still in its infancy stage. This presents a fantastic opportunity for local businesses and tradespeople looking to secure new contracts and explore new avenues to growth, as well as for residents seeking an in-demand career with high growing prospects.

Hertfordshire Futures has launched a new package of training programmes to help residents upskill or retrain, and grant schemes for businesses looking to get into retrofit. Learn more below: 

What is retrofit?

Retrofit can be defined as any work done to an existing building to improve its energy efficiency and reduce its carbon footprint. Retrofit is key to achieving Government’s 2050 Net Zero target, and delivering warmer homes, improved health and lower energy bills for local residents.

With 40% of the UK’s carbon emissions coming from the built environment, and 80% of the homes that will be occupied in 2050 already in existence, the decarbonisation of the county’s building stock is a major priority.

Key facts

• 482,900 homes need retrofit measures in Hertfordshire by 2050, equivalent to 52 homes per day

• 59,800 retrofitters are needed to meet targets, equivalent to 2,300 per year

• 1.58 million trade days are needed to deliver retrofit at this scale

• More than £100m funding has already been secured in Hertfordshire to retrofit building stock

• £36bn by 2030 is the forecast value of Hertfordshire’s Domestic Energy Efficiency Supply Chain market (currently £1.2bn) 

• Only 1.7% of employers are currently certified to deliver retrofit in Hertfordshire

The Retrofit Challenge

The majority of Hertfordshire’s housing stock in old, built circa 1945. 3 in 5 Hertfordshire homes possess an average Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of ‘C’ and there are more failing certificates than passing in most districts. The retrofit roles most needed to improve these dwellings relate to the installation of energy efficiency measures, including:

• double or triple glazed windows and doors

• improved wall and loft insulation

• internal energy management systems

• smart heating controls

• modern heating technologies such photovoltaics, heat pumps, geothermal etc.

There is strong demand for both technical roles, e.g. retrofit assessors, installers and heat specialists, and non-technical roles, e.g. project managers, customer service and finance professionals.

Rest assured, retrofit demand is not a fad. Recent Government initiatives include the phasing out of gas boilers by 2030 in favour of new technologies, creating the need for over 11,100 ground source heat pumps to be installed in Hertfordshire by 2028. Are you a Gas Safe engineer, and wondering how the phasing out of gas boilers will affect you? Why not consider upskilling to install heat pumps to futureproof your profession?

For more information please go to www.hopinto.co.uk/ 

Current Opportunities

This month we have some amazing opportunities to learn about future careers.  The NHS Health and Social Care is coming up in April.  Also students have the opportunity to learn about careers at the world renowned Rothmated Research Centre in Harpenden.   There are also opportunities to investigate apprenticeships within the finance industry and the logistics industry. And as this week is national apprenticeship week we have a number of oppurtunities to learn about the oppurtunities apprenticeships offer.

NHS Health and Social Care Careers Fair at Middlesex University

We’d like to invite your students to our upcoming event NHS Health and Social Care Careers Fair at Middlesex University Campus in Hendon.  

NHS Careers Fair 

Thursday 6th March 2025, 4.30pm-7.00pm, at Middlesex University, Hendon. 

Aimed at Year 10 and above, this fair is a fantastic opportunity for students to learn more about the 350+ careers available within the NHS. On the day, your students will be able to: 

• chat with healthcare professionals and receive personalised advice 

• learn about the NHS and social care in live talks and career panels 

• ask questions about the routes into the sector during talks with healthcare workers 

Exhibitors include representatives from a number of professions, including GPs, nurses, pharmacists, opticians, paramedics, dentists, Allied Health Professionals (including Occupational, Speech and Physiotherapists) and social workers as well as colleges and further education institutions offering a variety of health-related courses. Last year's careers fair had over 100 exhibitors.  

I hope this will be of interest to your students and you will encourage them to join us. 

Please encourage your students to book their place here Nhs Social Care Careers Fair | Middlesex University  Please also see the link to a video from last year's careers fair NCL Careers Fair 2024 

If you have any further questions, please get in touch with Ama Smith at ama.smith1@nhs.n

Rothamsted Research - Harpenden

I’m getting in touch from Rothamsted Research, an agricultural research centre based in Harpenden, to let you know that applications for our work experience programme are now open (closing March 2nd). ‘Experience Rothamsted’ takes place from the 7th-10th April and gives sixth formers (or college equivalent age) with an interest in science a taste of what it is like to be an agricultural research scientist. Students accepted onto the programme will follow a varied timetable of activities, workshops and skills sessions.

The application form and more information about the programme can be found here: https://www.rothamsted.ac.uk/work-experience-rothamsted

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Best wishes,

Grace Shirley

Communications Officer

Discover Extraordinary Career Paths with an EY Apprenticeship!
Applications for 2025 are now open!

Do you know a young person eager to start their career journey? If they’re curious, analytical, and love solving problems, an EY apprenticeship could be their gateway to success! 

Why an EY Apprenticeship?

At EY, we believe in setting young people up for success. Our apprenticeships in Assurance, Strategy and Transactions, or Tax offer:

 Real-World Impact: Experience working with clients, from local businesses to global brands.
Top Qualifications: Earn industry-recognised professional qualifications equivalent to a master's degree.
Faster Progression: Start earning and developing skills immediately, often advancing quicker than university students.
Practical Learning: Gain real-world experience, backed by expert mentorship and support.
Strong Connections: Join a cohort of peers, building friendships and networks from day one.

Applications are now open.

Browse our programmes and unlock a world of opportunities! 

Explore EY Apprenticeships

Support Their Next Step

Help them shape their future with confidence. Visit the Career Heights zone on our immersive Adventure Awaits platform for resources on:

• Guiding them through the application process

• Helping them prepare for interviews

• Ensuring they make the most of their EY apprenticeship

Apprenticeships with DHL

DHL are the global leader in logistical solutions.  DHL have sites around the UK and are currently offering a variety of apprenticeships in the South-East.  If this sounds interesting please click on the link below to find out more

DHL Apprenticeships