Nora has landed a career she can build on

1. Name, age, job title, where do you live?

Nora, 28, Senior Land Manager at Redrow, Hampshire

2. What does your job involve on a day-to-day basis? What are your responsibilities?

I am responsible for identifying and acquiring new sites in Hampshire, Berkshire, Dorset and Wiltshire, then working with the planning team to ensure that all of our new homes and developments are fulfilling their potential. This requires a range of skills including negotiation, excellent communication, but also teamwork and attention to detail.

3. What do you absolutely love about it?

I love that every day is different – one day I will be out meeting landowner’s and walking sites and the next I will be in the office crunching numbers.

During my time at Redrow, I have also been given the opportunity to be a panellist internally for International Woman’s Day 2022, answering questions on the topic alongside inspiring male and female colleagues. For me it’s such an honour to be part of a discussion around gender, equality and inclusion, especially when it comes to encouraging more women to join this vibrant industry.

One of my proudest achievements is completing my chartership and becoming a member of the RICS.

4. Are you office based or out and about on sites? Do you like getting outside? Are you in a minority as a woman in the industry? How do you handle this?

I am office based but do get out a lot to go and meet landowners and agents. I enjoy visiting potential development opportunities and visualising what a future development will look like in years to come.

Despite being a minority in the industry, I have seen more women joining in recent years which is fantastic.

5. When did you take over this role?

I have been with Redrow for just over seven years and have progressed through the ranks to become a Senior Land Manager 18 months ago.

6. What were you doing before?

Before this I was Land Manager at Redrow. I joined Redrow straight after university and have held roles at the company ever since.

7. What degree did you do and where?

I completed a degree in Architectural Design Technology at Glyndwr University, Wales. I started my career here at Redrow on the Graduate Programme.

The Graduate Programme has given me the opportunity to work in all departments, from construction to customer services, sales and land, in order to understand the whole housebuilding process.

Having the opportunity to work in all departments is what attracted me to the graduate programme, as it gave me the opportunity to gain experience across a broad range of disciplines, which has enabled me to discover what I am passionate about!

I would recommend the Graduate Programme to anyone considering a career within the construction industry and have been back to visit my old university to share my experience in the hope that it inspires others to apply.

8. Why did you decide to do follow this career? Childhood dream? Family connections?

I always had an interest in buildings and design but had never pictured myself working in the job I am now. In fact, neither of my parents come from a construction background.

9. How did you find and secure your graduate placement? Had you done a lot of work experience in the sector? Or general working to make ends meet while a student?

I found out about Redrow when a previous graduate did a presentation at my uni – they had been a student at the uni themselves. I had previously completed work experience at an architect’s office during my time at uni, but overall had limited experience in the sector, with no previous experience in land buying.

I am proud to have been back to my uni in Wales to hopefully inspire others to apply too!

10. Did you know from day one that you’d found the career for you?

When I first joined Redrow, I thought that I wanted a career in the technical department so I definitely didn’t find the career for me from day one. However, I did find an industry I enjoyed working in.

11. Five top tips please for students looking to join a graduate scheme.

1. Don’t be put off by not having experience in the sector
2. Attitude is often more important that knowledge – anyone can learn new skills
3. Don’t limit yourselves to a job in the industry you think you want to work in
4. Look for schemes with rotational elements so you can broaden your experience
5. Remember – you may not yet have discovered the role you want so be open minded

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