We recently welcomed two new graduates to the KLM Retail team. Alice Grindrod, a graduate in Investment and Finance in Property from Reading University who has joined the investment team and Victoria Perkins, a graduate in Real Estate from Reading University, who has joined the lease advisory team.
We caught up with them to find out what motivated them to work in retail property and join KLM Retail, what their perceptions of the sector is and what they hope to achieve while they are at KLM Retail.
Why did you decide to move into retail property?
Victoria: As a sector, I think retail is incredibly dynamic. It is constantly evolving; from pop-ups to concept stores, Pokemon Go to Mercato Metropolitano, it is a real-time reflection of social trends and habits. I am pretty sure that over the course of my working career I am going to see even more innovation in the sector, and to be part of this on a professional level is hugely exciting!
Alice: Exactly. And working in London is fantastic as we really are at the beating heart of retail. In a competitive market we are seeing retailers constantly pushing boundaries to stay ahead of the curve. As property advisors working in the sector, our challenge is to help drive this innovation and make it work for our landlord and retailer clients.
Why did you choose KLM Retail?
Alice: The culture of KLM Retail really appealed to me – I wanted to work for a specialist practice who have a strong team ethic. I am glad to say that my perceptions were right, everyone here, from the team assistants to the partners, have been so welcoming and approachable.
Victoria: The size of KLM Retail is also one of the main factors that appealed to me. I felt like I would have more of a stake in the business and more of a defined role.
Alice: Yes, unlike typical graduate scheme when you are on rotation, we are part of a team from our first day. This is really positive, both in terms of feeling like we belong and developing our knowledge and expertise.
What have been the biggest challenges that you have faced in the role?
Victoria: Understanding the different tools and resources at our disposal has been one the biggest challenges, alongside moving to London for the first time. Luckily the team have been really supportive in helping me find my way at work and around London!
Alice: We have had so many questions and we had a lot to learn while working on the job. Some of my friends who graduated at the same time as me and joined larger firms are still on their induction, while Victoria and I are already out visiting properties and meeting clients.
Property Week recently highlighted the pay gap between men and their female counterparts in the sector. What are your perceptions of the industry? Do you think that as young female graduates you can hope to achieve the same as male graduates?
Alice: The male dominance in the sector was something I first noticed while at university – I was one of only three other girls in the investment and finance pathway, out of a class of 20!!
Victoria: This was something that I definitely noticed when interviewing at different firms, there still is a prevalence of men especially at the top. However, I do feel that the industry is changing and that there is a desire to change.
Alice: I think what Victoria said about ‘the desire to change’ is really true. Rather than being intimidated by the fact that we are still the minority, we feel part of an exciting movement to help push this forward.
What do you hope to have achieved in five years’ time?
Victoria: Obviously I would expect to be chartered by then and hope that I will be making positive contributions toward the firm, growing a team and on my way to becoming a partner.
Alice: Like Victoria, I definitely expect to be chartered by then! I hope to have become a key part of the investment team and become heavilty involved in acquiring properties for clients.
Seeing as we are in the thick of our induction, I would also love to keep my notes to help train the grads and take them through everything that I have benefited from.
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