Muse Developments delivered a highly engaging, whistle-stop introduction to property development on Tuesday after school. Leon Guyett, Development Director, and Alan McBride, Project Director began by detailing why property is so important to them… and to us… as a large number of people spend around 90% of their time indoors. Whether sleeping, working or simply relaxing, this is an astonishing figure. However, it means that we prosper when we are at ease and happy with our built surroundings. Creating spaces which bring joy and better people’s lives is something that they are both equally passionate about.

So, what is key to a successful development project? Location, location, location. And, increasingly, the environmental impact and sustainability of the build. However, the scale of projects they work on can take time. Rome wasn’t built in a day... and neither was their development at Stockport train station, known as Stockport Exchange. Following Muse’s intervention, this area now looks more much better equipped for the modern age, as do the adjacent offices, buildings and open spaces. When shown the before and after images, the results are stunning. However, the planning stage alone can take a number of years – its important to get the detail right! It was explained that an ‘orchestra’ of different professionals, all working together, are required to create a successful and innovative project. This typically includes planners, architects, engineers, agents, surveyors, builders, bricklayers, plumbers, carpenters, electricians... and that’s forgetting to mention the negotiation, finance, sales, H&S and marketing communication teams!

Both Leon and Alan love their roles and the variety that they bring. “There is no standard day in this industry”, explains Leon. They describe Muse Developments as a fun place to work, with team challenges and fund-raising opportunities on offer, and, better still, the projects that they work on are life-changing for many people. For example, the investment of £200m to create affordable homes in Canning Town (near Canary Wharf) or the Time Square development in Warrington, which includes a 2,500 seat multiplex cinema and numerous restaurants, whilst creating a new and better home for the historic market. Other examples include the 211 stylish new apartment homes that they are developing in Manchester and City Place, Chester, which provides new offices and attractive indoor space for relaxation and pop up events at a cost of £120m.

Lastly, they advised students to be open minded on which area they would want to work in. Both Alan and Leon started off in different areas of property, eventually finding their way to their current roles. There is no one route into property development. Some roles will require a degree, but an increasing number can be accessed through high quality apprenticeships which will provide valuable hands-on experience.

We would like to thank both Leon and Alan for volunteering their time to inspire our students.