Name: Jess Wilson
Job title: Planning director, Newsteer Real Estate Advisers
What I do: I provide town planning advice to a range of public and private sector clients on residential, healthcare and mixed-use developments across a range of scales.
Why I got into the property industry: It stems from geography always being my favourite subject at school and my interest in the environment around us and within which we live. My degree had a focus on the natural environment and then my interest moved towards how we interact with and impact upon it. I made a choice to move into town planning as it encompasses this interaction in many different and diverse ways – with no two projects quite being the same.
How I did it: As geography was my favourite subject, I did my GCSE and A Level geography and then a BSc in geography at the University of Sheffield. Having then spent time considering what job I wanted to get after university, I did work experience at a planning consultancy and with the local planning authority and then completed an RTPI accredited masters course in urban and spatial planning at the University of Birmingham.
My first proper job: I started at GL Hearn in London as a graduate in 2015 after finishing my masters degree.
The biggest challenge I’ve encountered to date: I enjoy the variety and diversity in my work, but it does mean sometimes the juggling of all different aspects can be a challenge, particularly in busy periods. I am a line manager as well as co-chair of our ESG forum, which I really enjoy, but I do have to be very organised with my time as a result.
What is a common misconception people have about the property industry: That it’s all surveyors or planners. There are so many roles involved in property, whether you’re interested in architecture, urban design, the sale of land, preparing planning applications, valuing property or projects, project management, engineering (structural or civil), communications, or getting into the detail – eg: ecology, flood risk, noise, air quality. There is something for everyone.
Where I’d like to be in five years’ time career-wise: Still enjoying work! We spend so much of time at work that doing something that interests me with people I get on with is really important. Planning is also an ever changing world which helps with the variety. Hopefully in five years we’ll have seen some much needed improvement in planning timescales, resourcing and building those much needed homes.
What I do in my downtime: I’m part of a close large family so I see my siblings – and now nieces and nephews – as often as I can, as well as visiting/hosting friends. When I’m not working I’ll be reading, walking up a hill somewhere or cooking in the kitchen – glass of wine in hand!
The job I’d be doing if I was not doing this: Probably something else which involved both the natural environment and working with people – something outdoors maybe. The other career I had considered prior to town planning was doing a masters in meteorology and becoming a weatherwoman and thereby being invited to go on Strictly… maybe they’ll open that up to town planners one day.
My advice for someone just starting out: Explore different career choices early – make the most of the work experience support you can get both at school and higher education institutions. Even trying something for a couple of days can give you an idea of whether it’s for you or not. The property industry is also much more vast than people think and there is often a role to suit many skillsets/interests so don’t be afraid to ask questions and spend time reviewing your options.
My motto/mantra: It sounds very cliché, but genuinely it is ‘work hard play hard’. Swiftly followed by ‘life is for living!’
