From Intern to Industry: My Time at the UKDF

Since joining the UK Development Forums (UKDF) in May, I have had the opportunity to get involved in a wide range of work across planning, development, policy and events. Alongside my MSc in Real Estate at the University of Reading, the internship has given me a great opportunity to apply what I have been learning academically to current issues facing the property and development industry. 

One of the things I have enjoyed most has been working across UKDF’s four regional forums: Cambridge, Norfolk & Suffolk, Thames Valley and Greater Cheshire. This has meant getting to grips with different local markets and development challenges, while also seeing the common issues affecting delivery across the country. 

A large part of my role has involved researching Local Plan updates, emerging Spatial Development Strategies, infrastructure investment and wider policy changes. In Cambridge, I have looked particularly at transport, travel-to-work patterns and water constraints, while in Greater Cheshire I have followed the emerging Spatial Development Strategy and Local Plan progress across the area. 

Alongside the research, I have helped organise Forum meetings, identify potential speakers and engaged with local authorities, developers, infrastructure providers and other organisations involved in planning and development. 

Attending the meetings themselves has been one of the most valuable parts of the internship. Hearing directly from people working across the industry has brought many of the issues I study at university to life and given me a much better understanding of the practical challenges involved in delivering development. 

I have also contributed to UKDF’s communications, including researching current planning and property news, preparing member updates and helping with LinkedIn content. This has encouraged me to follow changes in housing, infrastructure and planning policy much more closely. 

Overall, my time at UKDF has given me a much broader understanding of the development industry and the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors. Successful development depends on much more than whether a scheme works financially, it also relies on planning policy, infrastructure capacity and bringing the right stakeholders together. 

I would encourage anyone interested in planning, property, development or policy to apply for the internship. It is a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience, meet people from across the industry and build an understanding of the issues shaping development in different parts of the country. The variety of the role also means there is plenty of scope to get involved in different areas and develop your own interests. 

As my internship comes to an end, I am excited to be joining Alexander Lawson Chartered Surveyors as a Graduate Surveyor, where I will begin working towards my APC and ultimately becoming a Chartered Surveyor. I am looking forward to taking everything I have learnt at UKDF into the next stage of my career.