Name: Benjamin Hobbs
Job title: Graduate regeneration officer at Salford City Council
What I do: I’m a graduate regeneration officer working at Salford City Council via a graduate programme at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA). My time is split between managing our development pipeline and working on major regeneration projects, such as Eccles town centre, as well as an investment and public affairs role focused on ministerial engagement and on bringing investment into Salford. I’m also studying part-time for a MSc in urban regeneration and development at the University of Manchester.
Why I got into the property industry: I got into the property industry in quite an unconventional way – I’ve had a passion and academic interest in devolution for a number of years, having been in the first cohort of students to receive the ‘Our Pass’ during college, providing free travel across the bus network. After exploring various private sector careers during my undergraduate degree, I became quite set on working for the GMCA and applied for the first graduate scheme it offered, which happened to be regeneration-based.
How I did it: The recruitment process involved giving a presentation on ‘Places for Everyone’, Greater Manchester’s joint development plan. This was quite lucky for me as I have long been an advocate for the proposed development on Tameside’s largest allocation, Godley Green Garden Village, located just around the corner from where I grew up in Hyde. It’s so important to get good quality homes built across all tenures to help young people like me get onto the housing ladder, but also to do it in a way that aims to create complete and functional communities.
My first proper job: I’d always class my first proper job as the nearly three years I spent at Greggs during my time at university, including 18 months in a managerial role. There’s not much that can test endurance and willpower like Saturdays at Piccadilly Station in the midst of football matches and arena sell-outs.
My first big break: I started this graduate scheme immediately after finishing my undergraduate degree, so I suppose this is it.
My inspiration(s): Definitely my parents, who work harder than anyone I know and who have always done everything they could to support me through my education. Aside from them, probably the late great Sir Howard Bernstein, who can be credited as one of the biggest factors in Greater Manchester becoming the success story it is today.
The biggest challenge I’ve encountered to date: Definitely adjusting to university. There was a big culture shock when I realised that in most of my groups I was often the only person in the room from Greater Manchester, or even the North. We still have a long way to go when it comes to social mobility.
My greatest achievement/proudest moment to date: I suppose it has to be this: being selected to represent my city and the city region I’ve lived in my whole life on the international stage as a MIPIM Challenger at MIPIM 2026. We have so much to shout about, so much to tell the world – Greater Manchester is literally the fastest-growing region of the UK right now – so it’s an honour to have the ability to share that with people.
The biggest misconception people have about the property industry: I think it’s probably the misconception that all the industry cares about is profit. I’ve already met so many incredible partners across the public and private sectors that have genuine, wholehearted commitments to social value, ESG, and DEI far beyond statutory obligations.
My biggest bugbear about the industry/the one thing I would change about the industry: There’s definitely a serious conversation to be had around the future of skills, especially construction skills given the scale of our development pipeline here in Salford and across Greater Manchester. I’m excited to talk about exactly that at the final Manchester @ MIPIM spotlight session at 16:15 on Thursday 12 March – come and join me if you’re attending this year!
Why I’m so passionate about DE&I: Being gay has always been a big part of my identity, but my passion for inclusion comes more from my socio-economic background. Having grown up in Tameside, attending my local state school, assisted by a bursary through college, then by a scholarship through university, I’m acutely aware of how many barriers there are to equitable inclusion in every industry, including property.
Given how fast places like Greater Manchester are growing, the property industry has a huge opportunity to extend that growth to young people across the region, not just for those who have been through the traditional education route like me, but for those who want to try the vocational route, those who want the opportunity to actually build that development pipeline.
Why I’m so passionate about ESG: Nothing we do exists in a vacuum – despite what some people might say, it’s undeniable that we’re facing a climate emergency, and we all have a part to play in mitigating that. Similarly, people are at the heart of every organisation, and Manchester has a long history of advocating for those people, whether it be the founding of the Trade Union Congress, the birth of the Suffragette movement, or the refusal of factory workers to handle slave-picked cotton.
Where I’d like to be in five years’ time, career-wise: I’m not leaving local government anytime soon, so I’d like to still be within our Greater Manchester ecosystem, making an even bigger impact and continuing to do my best for the city-region I love.
Who I’d invite, living or dead, to a dinner party: I’m going to completely pivot away from property and say Beyoncé, Adele, Ella Fitzgerald, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. All absolute icons and divas.
What I do in my downtime: I spend a lot of time doing voluntary work and campaigning, but to relax I enjoy swimming, going out with friends and reading – I’m currently a book on the history of Alexandria by Islam Issa.
The job I’d be doing if I were not doing this: I think musical theatre was definitely the path not taken.
My advice for someone just starting out: Take every opportunity you can get – you might end up representing the city you love at the world’s biggest real estate and investment event.
My motto/mantra: Place-first, always.
