Name: Jennifer Swinstead
Title: New homes and shared ownership area manager, Leaders Roman Group
What I do: My job involves connecting with developers, land owners and registered providers and working alongside them in the selling of their properties, for both 100% residential owned and shared ownership.
Why I wanted to work in the built environment industry: I’ve always had a love of and connection to architecture .
When I became interested in the built environment: From a very young age. My dad owns contracting companies that contract out skilled workers builders/plumbers, etc, to developers. I remember being under the age of 10 and visiting building sites with him.
My first proper job: I worked on the reception at my local squash club where I also played squash.
How I got into the built environment industry: I started in estate agency as a lettings negotiator in 2005.
My first impressions of the industry: Fun and fast paced.
The biggest challenge I’ve encountered to date: Learning from scratch a whole new side of property sales within the sector.
My main career goals right now: Director of the Midlands and North hub.
Where I’d like to be in five years’ time career-wise: Director Midlands shared ownership and new homes.
My biggest bugbear about the industry/the one thing I would change about the industry: Misconceptions of what’s law and fact from other agents.
What I’d like to see change in the industry: The introduction of regulations/qualifications for those who sell and let homes.
Favourite architect: Christopher Wren and Thomas Chambers Hine.
Favourite building: There are so many – The Adams Building in Nottingham, St Peters Basilica, The Tower of London, the Palace of Versailles, Cathedral La Seu.
Who I’d invite, living or dead, to a dinner party: Natasha Lyonne, Deborah Meaden and my dearly departed mother.
My guilty pleasure: Musicals and theatre.
The job I’d be doing if I was not doing this: Psychiatrist or artist.
What I do in my downtime: Paint and draw.
My advice for someone just starting out: Find a mentor. Someone who’s doing it well and shadow them, soak up all they know – never stop asking questions.
My mantra: Three feet from gold.
