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As part of our ongoing collaboration with The Land Collective, DTZ Investors offers work experience, hosts building tours and gives presentations on a range of topics to improve awareness and help attract more young people to the property industry.

Most recently DTZ Investors welcomed Rachel Ngai for a week of work experience within our Direct Real Estate team, working alongside Jo Jackson and Max Boreham. Rachel is currently studying Urban Planning and Real Estate as an undergraduate at UCL.

At the end of the internship, we asked Rachel how she found her week with DTZ Investors.

"I completed an inspiring and transformative week with DTZ Investors, working alongside the direct commercial fund asset management and investment team. This experience has deepened my understanding of asset management and real estate investment. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from industry professionals whose expertise I aspire to reach. Shadowing Jo Jackson and Max Boreham was invaluable—they welcomed me on site inspections and gave me first-hand access to meaningful discussions with letting agents, project managers, contractors and other key players in the field. From day one, I was excited to visit Railway Triangle, an industrial asset in Portsmouth. Later, I attended site inspections in Kensington, where building surveyors led essential refurbishment work.

Throughout the week, I saw first-hand how DTZ Investors works tirelessly to maximise client returns through a thoughtful and diversified property portfolio, including industrial, retail, and office assets. I learnt how sustainability practices are directly applied to asset management, from enhancing EPC ratings by installing PV panels to assessing properties for strategic improvements that attract or retain tenants. These experiences brought a fresh perspective on how crucial rent reviews and lease expiry timings are in optimising portfolio performance, where careful planning around costs and timings can make all the difference.

An important takeaway was the value of asking questions. The team’s willingness to share insights and answer my questions made this a deeply enriching experience. I also appreciated the chance to learn from DTZ Investors' indirect investment team and the ESG team, which broadened my perspective on indirect investment strategies and the practical application of ESG principles to mitigate investment risks. Seeing the industry’s latest tools for assessing climate risks in real estate investment underscored how ESG and asset management strategies align to build resilient portfolios.

Working at DTZ Investors has been truly eye-opening, not only for its scale and collaborative culture but also for the range of asset types that each asset manager works across. This experience has strengthened my enthusiasm for real estate, and I’m incredibly grateful to The Land Collective and to Sarah for facilitating this journey. I’m excited to carry this knowledge forward and see where it leads next!"

For more information please contact Jo Jackson and Max Boreham.