Kate

I started out at JLL, with no inkling that I would move into real estate and surveying. I was a PA at the time, but got itchy feet and started pestering people for more tasks. They soon offered me the opportunity to do some field work. I didn’t really know what to expect, but that moment was life changing. Not long after that, I was doing my masters in commercial real estate and became a qualified surveyor. After nearly seven years with JLL, I was offered the chance to build a Manchester-based team from scratch for Mapp, where I spent almost 10 years. The company’s northern business has now really taken off, but I wanted to stay hands-on. So when the opportunity to join Bellrock came along, I decided to make the move. 

I transitioned into service charge consultancy not fully knowing what to expect. I had been in contact with Bellrock previously, helping them with queries about properties. And when I was approached and given the chance to make a career change, I took it. This was back in 2022, and almost two years in, I’m so glad I made the right choice! I love interacting with clients and making people happy – and that’s property consultancy at its heart.

A lot of people tend to stumble into real estate and FM, not realising the career opportunities that exist until they have actually started working in the sector. Early education on what FM is would help to open it up to a much bigger group of people, including women. Mentorship can always play an important role. I’ve benefited from both male and female mentors during my career, and am now a mentor myself. I still enjoy learning something new every day, and helping others to gain knowledge, and giving a little something back is very rewarding.

Have confidence. If I had my time again, in those early days I would have pushed myself harder, trusted my skills, and pursued a professional career earlier.

Confidence will knock down barriers. In that first meeting, try not to be nervous. Make sure the people in the room go away believing you know your stuff. Prepare like an exam, have answers to questions that might be asked. I used to take notebooks on my first few site visits to make sure I had as many answers as possible for clients. At the same time, don’t be scared to ask questions. I’ll often be in a room where I or somebody else will ask a question, and most of the group will respond by saying ‘I’m glad you asked that’. Trust your instincts.