Name: Hannah Buxton
Job title: Chair of the BCO NextGen Committee and associate partner at RX London
What I do: I advise landlords and occupiers on their office strategies in Central London, with a focus on the West End. I also work with developers and investors on the design, development and pre-letting of landmark office schemes.
Why I got into the property industry: I was obsessed with residential property when I was younger. I used to draw floor plans and watch [TV show] ‘Location, Location, Location’. So, when I graduated from Exeter, I worked at Foxtons for three months, which actually helped me to realise that I was better suited to commercial real estate.
How I did it: Working at Foxtons gave me a really good foundation and it was a great company to have on my CV. I went on to complete a masters at Oxford Brookes in real estate, before completing a graduate scheme at Savills, where I gained a MRICS qualification.
My first proper job: Nearly seven years at Savills, which was great training. The great thing about somewhere like Savills is that you can move between different departments during the graduate scheme which helps you work out what suits you best.
My first big break: Joining RX London. As a relatively new company, founded in January 2021, RX has given me the chance to work with exciting new clients and take on more responsibility. It also opened new opportunities like running our social media pages, which I wouldn’t have had in a bigger firm.
My inspiration(s): My aunt. She started her own internal communications company where I used to intern quite a lot. While she doesn’t work in the real estate industry, she taught me how to have a strong female voice in the workplace.
The biggest challenge I’ve encountered to date: I think a constant challenge in the workplace is trying to stay calm and not get too overwhelmed when something goes wrong, because this will always happen in life!
My greatest achievement/proudest moment to date: Taking on the role of chair of the BCO NextGen Committee. The responsibility of leading a committee of 19 people on top of my day job at RX London has pushed me out my comfort zone, but it has been rewarding to see all the committee has achieved over the past year.
The biggest misconception people have about the property industry: People don’t always realise how exciting commercial real estate can be. Working with offices in the West End, I am lucky enough to see some amazing spaces in terms of both architecture and tenant fit outs.
My biggest bugbear about the industry/the one thing I would change about the industry: The lack of awareness of the industry at school and university level. I think this is why we struggle with some of our goals, such as trying to bring in a more diverse workforce. The BCO NextGen Committee’s new partnership with Career Ready is trying to address this by going into schools to explain the different roles on offer in the industry.
Why I’m so passionate about DE&I: Because when you get it right you empower the industry, as diverse thoughts ultimately enrich whatever you are working on. Equal opportunity pathways into the property industry are crucial for its evolution.
Why I’m so passionate about ESG: It ties into everything that is happening right now and there’s still so much untapped potential. The built environment sector has such a large impact on the environment, as well as our communities. I think there’s so much more we could be doing with our buildings, especially commercial buildings, for example, using a vacant office space over the weekend for a charity or a club event. At BCO, our ‘Let’s Talk About…’ panel sessions encourage debate and discussion on the full range of the ESG spectrum. This year our talks covered topics from circularity to social equity.
Where I’d like to be in five years’ time career-wise: Still enjoying doing what I am doing now. I am a strong believer in the importance of wellbeing, so I want to keep working towards bringing a greater focus on wellbeing into the workplace. Now I have handed over my role of chair, I will be looking for a new industry initiative.
Who I’d invite, living or dead, to a dinner party: David Beckham. 😊
What I do in my downtime: I am a qualified yoga teacher, so I teach and practice yoga. I also love to run road marathons and have recently taken up trail running.
The job I’d be doing if I was not doing this: A detective – I am obsessed with every crime show going.
My advice for someone just starting out: Be a sponge. Try to speak to people in the industry. They don’t have to be senior, it may be someone who only has a few more years of experience than you, so long as they are easy to relate with. The annual BCO NextGen awards aim to encourage and reward people starting out in their careers, and the event is a great opportunity to network too. Through engaging with industry groups and events you will find something beyond your day-to-day job that excites you and keeps you feeling inspired, which is really important.
My motto/mantra: Do everything with passion and purpose!
