In the Spotlight

In the spotlight

From the commitments we make to being an equal opportunities employer through our structured training and career development programmes, to the social events we regularly put on to bring our people together, we are committed to cultivating a place where people want to work. But don’t just take our word for it; read what our property professionals have to say about life at Carter Jonas…

Ted Beale

What attracted you to Carter Jonas? Having previously come from a small regional firm, I wanted the opportunities that a larger firm could offer to help me develop my career. Tell us about your journey with Carter Jonas so far. I’ve been given a fantastic opportunity to develop my own team and have been supported in looking at new business opportunities. What does a typical day look like for you? Working for a client such as HS2 means that there is a great variance in my job role. A ‘typical’ day may include meeting affected landowners and occupiers and informing them of the latest update with regard to the scheme, before heading back to the office to continue with the ongoing programme of valuations that we are tasked with delivering. It’s a demanding and fast paced environment with a lot of challenges but it can be very rewarding.

Property is a people business, which is why our people are so important to us. Read our stories below.

What attracted you to Carter Jonas? Predominantly the size of the firm; it has a national presence whilst maintaining a personal feel. This was made clear when I carried out an internship with Carter Jonas, where the CEO attended the induction day and took the time to speak to the interns individually. The internship also gave me a positive insight into the size of the firm, support from colleagues and managers and the general lifestyle. Tell us about your journey with Carter Jonas so far. Following my internship I was offered a graduate role in the commercial valuations team, which I began the following year. I’ve gained a wide range of experience, specifically relating to valuations and lease consultancy. Describe your work environment and culture. There is a professional, but relaxed, working environment and it is an enjoyable and productive place to work. In our office we hot desk which gives employees the opportunity to sit next to different people every day and get to know more about what other departments do, as well as encouraging cross-selling.

Amelia Cobley

Associate Partner, Infrastructures

Describe your work environment and culture. I work within a young dynamic team who are a pleasure to work with, and socialise with! What skills are required to be successful in your role? Highly motivated, flexible, good knowledge of your subject and able to work well within a team. What’s your favourite thing about Carter Jonas? Tackling new challenges whilst continually learning. What other activities do you participate in? I am a keen trainer for our graduates having been the ambassador for the infrastructure grads, as well as running farm training days for those less agriculturally minded!

Associate, Commercial

What does a typical day look like for you? A typical day could be in or out of the office, or perhaps a bit of both. I carrying out valuations and write reports, and negote rent reviews and lease renewals. I’m given the freedom and responsibility to complete instructions from start to finish with ongoing support from colleagues. It is very rare I am at the desk all day, with the majority of my days broken up by internal and client meetings, site visits, continued professional development events or APC webinars. I generally attend at least one site visit a week, either accompanied by a colleague or on my own depending on the job. What skills are required to be successful in your role? Verbal and written skills, an open-minded approach and the ability to interpret numbers. A significant part of my role is writing valuation reports, where good communication skills to clients, colleagues and other surveyors and agents are necessary to obtain the required information. I also do a lot of mathematical calculations, from carrying out investment valuations to analysis of rental values and so an interest in this is important.

What’s your favourite thing about Carter Jonas? My favourite part of working for Carter Jonas is the wide range of work I am involved in. Although I am based in one department, I have been exposed to a variety of work, from different property sectors, to different locations and for a wide range of purposes. What other activities do you participate in? I participate in various sporting events with the office, including tennis tournaments and regular netball games against other property firms. There are various social events throughout the year including office summer and Christmas parties, divisional days and APC away days, which are a great opportunity to get to know others within the firm from other offices. I also attend events hosted by clients and other professionals, including bowling, quizzes and charity lunches. I attend regular local networking events put on by groups for young professionals, including various activities such as wine tasting, sporting events, canapé making and black-tie balls. I am on the MATRICS committee and involved in organising six educational and social events over the year as well as attending regular meetings (usually in the pub!).

What attracted you to Carter Jonas? I joined Carter Jonas following the acquisition of the former Januarys business back in 2015, so it was more a matter of fate than as a direct result of my own decision making. That being said, given the firm’s excellent reputation locally, I am sure that would have attracted me in due course. Tell us about your journey with Carter Jonas so far. The effective merger of my former team and the then Carter Jonas planning team was managed excellently and the bonding of the two teams was very swift. Since then we have seen a significant increase in the volume and quality of jobs that we have won and as a result of this our team has grown substantially in size. What’s your favourite thing about Carter Jonas? By far and away the best part is the team of likeminded individuals that I am fortunate enough to work with.

Partner, Planning & Development

Matt Hare

What does a typical day look like for you? The work I am involved in is generally very diverse, ranging from one-off dwellings of bespoke design for private clients, to large-scale urban extensions for some of the country’s foremost developers. The sectors I am involved in include: residential, leisure, commercial and rural, and thus cut across the core areas of the business. I am fortunate in that my days at work are hugely varied and I am often out of the office in various parts of the region and beyond. For this reason it is hard to characterise a typical day! Describe your work environment and culture. I’m based in the Cambridge office. It’s within a central and exciting part of the city, and as a result, it is a great place to be based and I feel well connected to professional circles in the area. We are all ‘agile workers’ in the office, which basically means that the office consists entirely of hot desks. This means that the people I sit with on a day-to-day basis vary considerably, which is fun and also extremely helpful for cross selling purposes.

What skills are required to be successful in your role? Much of planning revolves around the somewhat dull qualities of hard work, diligence and attention to detail. However, a key skill is communication and specifically the ability to distil and communicate how development proposals must address often complex macro social, environmental and economic issues that affect our country and the mesh of public legislation, policy and guidance that govern these issues. What’s been your career highlight at Carter Jonas? A number of years ago I was planning lead for a new palliative care facility for a local hospice. The job was technically demanding for a number of reasons but we were ultimately successful in securing planning permission. Whilst not the largest or most complex project I have been involved with, the nature of the facility (which is now operational) is such that it is a massively positive service and is of immense value to many people who have need to use it. I feel a sense of pride to have helped make that happen.

What attracted you to Carter Jonas? I’ve worked in the infrastructure sector for some time and saw a change in client requirements, from purely seeking advice on obtaining access to private land for their capital works programs, to needing wider property advice such as valuations and property management. Carter Jonas has an excellent reputation for quality property services as well as an experienced infrastructure team and so seemed to offer the opportunity for me to help to grow the infrastructures team using my experience teamed with Carter Jonas’ property expertise. Tell us about your journey with Carter Jonas so far. I joined in November 2017 and spent some time with the Birmingham infrastructure team to obtain a good understanding of how the team work and how Carter Jonas operates as a firm. I’ve been involved in a number of successful tenders for new utility clients and have spent a good proportion of my time working in the mobilisation team for the National Highways property management contract. It’s been extremely challenging and rewarding to establish a team of 15 spread across 3 offices.

What does a typical day look like for you? My days are varied, ranging from dealing with escalated issues with tenants to preparing reports to update on our progress as well as managing sub projects such as tree management and capital works. I also spend time on business development opportunities for Carter Jonas in the North West. Describe your work environment and culture. I spend most days working at home in the North West or at client meetings. The Leeds infrastructure team are really engaging to work with and the office space is very modern which makes a refreshing change to some of the offices I have worked in previously! What skills are required to be successful in your role? I need to be organised, communicate well and able to think outside of the box. In order to develop new business and mobilise a large contract, I’ve also had to quickly understand how Carter Jonas operates and have built great relationships across the business in IT, client accounts and contract management.

What’s your favourite thing about Carter Jonas? The people; the team we have built are all fantastic and their professionalism really impresses me. I also get excellent support and encouragement to develop further from management, and enjoy working with like-minded people across the business. What’s been your career highlight at Carter Jonas? Working on and being successfully awarded a tender for a new client; it was a really technically challenging tender and I enjoyed showcasing the quality service that Carter Jonas has to offer.

Partner, Infrastructures

Jane Barlow

What attracted you to Carter Jonas? I was initially attracted to the mentality and aspiration of our newly opening Birmingham office. In addition, the existing workload and proposed pipeline appeared to combine my surveying knowledge and interest in infrastructure projects and re-generation. Tell us about your journey with Carter Jonas so far. My job role sits within the infrastructures division and so far has been extremely varied. Some of the activities include advising acquiring authorities on full and final settlements, ensuring affected parties are engaged with, in line with Government guidance, and finally updating our terms of business to ensure they are compliant with new RICS professional standards. What does a typical day look like for you? A typical day is dependent on the ongoing project at the time, but my day-to-day activities involve: strategic advice to the client in relation to the submitted compulsory purchase order, engagement with affected parties, to negotiate and acquire affected interests and finally compile red book compliant recommendation reports.

What skills are required to be successful in your role? I believe those who are successful in my role have good communication skills. Compulsory purchase can be a controversial field; often parties affected would rather be removed from the scheme and sometimes inspections can be contentious. Ahead of meetings it is important to be as informed as possible as this will help to manage expectations. What’s your favourite thing about Carter Jonas? The people! Everyone in the Birmingham office is approachable and always happy to help if needed. What’s been your career highlight at Carter Jonas? My promotion would be an obvious highlight, however, I have also enjoyed having the responsibility to take charge of my own projects and manage the workload delivery. What other activities do you participate in? I believe office social events are very important and a key part of understanding office dynamics so I always participate in and often organise events!

Associate Partner, Infrastructures

Katryna Ley

What attracted you to Carter Jonas? I was initially attracted to Carter Jonas because of the focus placed on career progression and the support provided to graduates throughout the APC process. During my graduate interview it became clear that the people at Carter Jonas were approachable and genuinely interested in how I wanted to develop my career. Tell us about your journey with Carter Jonas so far. I joined Carter Jonas as a Graduate Planner in March 2017, having worked for six months in a small private consultancy based in Central London. I was promoted to Planner in September 2017 and successfully passed my RTPI APC in December 2018, having gained two years of varied planning experience. What does a typical day look like for you? My role as a Planner is diverse and since joining Carter Jonas, I have been involved in a wide range of planning-related work including the preparation of planning applications for residential, commercial and mixed-use scheme, long term strategic land promotion, and preparing evidence to support emerging development plans for local planning authorities. I am often out and about attending site visits, project meetings and seminars so a working day for me is never the same!

Describe your work environment and culture. There is a positive working environment at Carter Jonas and this comes from being part of such a fun, friendly and supportive team. What skills are required to be successful in your role? Given the variety of work that I undertake day-to-day, I would consider the ability to switch between projects fluidly vital. Within the planning team we are often working towards tight deadlines relating to planning applications or tender submissions and, therefore, time management skills are critical. What’s your favourite thing about Carter Jonas? I would say my favourite part about working for Carter Jonas is the people; I have been fortunate to make some life-long friends here!

What’s been your career highlight at Carter Jonas? The highlight of my career so far at Carter Jonas was passing my RTPI APC qualification. Whilst the APC process was challenging, the support of my mentor and other colleagues within my team was unprecedented, and the qualification now stands me in good stead for future career progression. What other activities do you participate in? The social calendar at Carter Jonas is particularly active. Socials include whole office events such as the Christmas party, as well as smaller team meals and activities like softball matches in Hyde Park in the summer months. Within my first year at Carter Jonas I had the opportunity, along with the other graduates, to organise an office-wide summer social which raised a significant sum for charity and was a great way of getting to know colleagues in other teams. Carter Jonas also offers opportunities for sporty individuals; I play weekly as a member of the Carter Jonas London netball team, and although our team does not have the most successful track record of wins, we have a lot of fun and I have met some great people.

Associate Partner, Planning

Niamh Burke

What attracted you to Carter Jonas? I was ready for a change, but more than that, I was attracted by the ‘family feel’ and the fact that it was a partnership. I wanted to join a medium sized firm (from a much larger firm) and was keen to progress my career by directly advising clients and being a crucial part of a smaller team. Tell us about your journey with Carter Jonas so far. I joined as an Associate Partner, but within a year had progressed to Partner, and was asked to be on the Commercial Board. This was a direct result of the level of responsibility I was given from the start with my clients, and the wider opportunities I was able to get involved in across the firm. Describe your work environment and culture. Our offices are open plan with flexible space for informal and formal client meetings. We are proud of how our offices look and they help us work effectively. I would say that our culture is about trust and respect, which works both ways, i.e. junior staff to senior and visa versa.

What does a typical day look like for you? My days are pretty crazy and varied! I work with the public sector, providing strategic advice on client’s estates, so we ask three key questions: what have you got?; what do you need?; how are you going to get there? Much of my time is spent with senior staff in public sector organisations as they are the key decision makers, but I also spend time with an array of staff asking important questions about their business, and how their estate can support their needs. In the last few years I have worked on: town hall office accommodation strategies, options appraisals for various organisations considering a move out of London, a review of a police, fire and rescue estate, and even a business case for building a new automated book storage facility for a large library client. What skills are required to be successful in your role? First and foremost – Excel! This is increasingly becoming a really important tool in surveying, so it’s worth getting to grips with. On the softer side, I need to be able to listen well and translate that into a tangible solution for clients.

What’s your favourite thing about Carter Jonas? The people and the ethos. There are some fantastic people at Carter Jonas that bring a lot of variety to the workplace. We work hard but also know how to have some fun too. At the end of the financial year, we often do something as a team; this year we are heading out for lunch and an afternoon on some boats in Paddington Basin. What’s been your career highlight at Carter Jonas? I did a small job for a regulatory body, but it was complex. We were looking at moving some of their staff out of Central London. Because the work we do is strategic, we don’t always see it through to delivery. In this case, everything that we recommended was implemented and everything we suggested was accurate, including our estimated costs. We had such good feedback from the client and as a result, lots of repeat work. What other activities do you participate in? There’s lots to get involved with. This year I have done the Property Triathlon, the Carter Jonas Yorkshire Pedalthon and I’ve also done a property industry bike ride from Sienna to Rome called PedElle. There were 50 women - it was one of the best events I have done.

Partner, Commercial

Alexandra Houghton

VIEW CURRENT VACANCIES

SEE more from our people

VIEW CURRENT VACANCIES

READ TED'S STORY

READ AMELIA'S STORY

READ ALEXANDRA'S STORY

READ JANE'S STORY

READ NIAMH'S STORY

SEE more from our people

READ FRED'S STORY

READ AMBAR'S STORY

What attracted you to Carter Jonas? Having worked for a large corporate agency in London, the idea of working in a partnership and running my own team was a big draw. It was a no brainer when the opportunity to join an established and well-regarded office like Marlborough came up. Tell us about your journey with Carter Jonas so far. I joined the Marlborough office in October 2022. We cover a large area and I've been lucky enough to be invited out to advise on a wonderful array of property. We work closely with our residential lettings team and rural teams, who all work out of our Marlborough office. It’s wonderful to work for such a well-rounded property business who can help advise on any aspect of property. What does a typical day look like for you? No day is the same in estate agency and I am often out and about on appointments to all corners of Wiltshire on market appraisals, viewings, and meeting with clients.

Fred Ponsonby

Partner, Head of Sales, Marlborough

What attracted you to Carter Jonas? I was eager for a career change that would elevate my skills and enrich my knowledge. I noticed that Carter Jonas places a strong emphasis on employee development and growth. The opportunities for learning and career advancement are essential to me and Carter Jonas offers a supportive culture that allows me to thrive both personally and professionally. Tell us about your journey with Carter Jonas so far. I've gained valuable experience in my position and developed my knowledge of the real estate market. The business has provided me with a wide variety of materials to further my professional growth and improve my performance in my role. I am thankful for the opportunity to develop strong connections and a positive rapport with my team members, both within the office and across several sites, which has provided me with a robust support system.

Ambar Jaffery

Senior Coordinator, Marylebone

READ FRED'S STORY

READ AMBAR'S STORY

Senior Coordinator, Marylebone

Ambar Jaffery

What does a typical day look like for you? As a coordinator, I provide support in various administrative tasks, including office management responsibilities and the maintenance and updating of records, databases, and documentation related to different projects. Additionally, I review work and processes to ensure they comply with quality standards and company guidelines. Furthermore, I support compiling property listings, which involves collecting property details, photographs, marketing materials, and inputting the information into listing platforms.

Partner, Head of Sales, Marlborough

Fred Ponsonby

What attracted you to Carter Jonas? What initially drew me to Carter Jonas was its expansive portfolio of services and departments, which has since grown into a deeper appreciation for the company’s culture as a whole. Carter Jonas truly looks out for its clients and employees alike, and I have felt welcomed into the family from the beginning. The network between offices is both professional and fun, especially in London. Tell us about your journey with Carter Jonas so far. I joined Carter Jonas fresh out of university and it has been an invaluable experience so far. I knew I wanted to develop a career in property and Carter Jonas has given me the opportunity to learn hands-on. I am surrounded by experts in the industry and my co-workers have been exemplary in guiding me through how residential real estate works. Describe your work environment and culture. I would say no day is the same for me, which is motivating and exciting. Liaising with applicants and clients, launching properties, progressing tenancies and most importantly providing the best service we can offer! The energy in the office is one of hard work and dedication, but there is a very friendly atmosphere too, so every day I come into work feeling that it’s going to be a good day.

Coordinator, Holland Park

Victoria Garcia Kenny

READ JOHN'S STORY

READ HARSHITA'S STORY

What does a typical day look like for you? I am involved in a wide range of planning and development projects, including residential, institutional, and commercial schemes. My day-to-day tasks include attending project meetings, undertaking site visits, assisting in preparation and submission of planning applications and preparing representations to the local authorities.

Harshita Srivastava

Planner, Oxford

What does a typical day look like for you? Planning is a really diverse field to work in. My current projects include managing large residential applications with some of the country’s leading housebuilders; working on Cambridge City Council’s estate regeneration programme; and a planning application to double the size of a listed care home in the Suffolk countryside. Day-to-day I will be attending project team meetings; reviewing and commenting on consultant reports in areas like ecology or ground contamination; and writing Planning Statements which describe a development proposal, assess it against planning policy and set out all the benefits. I may also be visiting sites, presenting at a planning committee or attending a public consultation.

John Mason

Associate, Cambridge

READ HARSHITA'S STORY

READ JOHN'S STORY

What attracted you to Carter Jonas? The core values endorsed by the business of being approachable, effective and ambitious, clearly aligned with my own values. During my initial interaction with the team, it was clear that learning and development are highly encouraged, and support is provided throughout the APC process. Furthermore, I was also attracted by the diverse range of projects and clients that the planning team were involved with. Tell us about your journey with Carter Jonas so far. I joined Carter Jonas as a Graduate Planner in October 2022, having worked as a Research Assistant for six months at Cardiff University. Since then, I have had the opportunity to assist on several projects through planning policy research, plan monitoring and submission of planning applications. Describe your work environment and culture. I am involved in a wide range of planning and development projects, including residential, institutional, and commercial schemes. My day-to-day tasks include attending project meetings, undertaking site visits, assisting in preparation and submission of planning applications and preparing representations to the local authorities.

Planner, Oxford

Harshita Srivastava

What attracted you to Carter Jonas? I joined Carter Jonas’ Cambridge office as a planning graduate, and was attracted by their graduate scheme. There is a lot of support offered towards helping you through the APC process. I was also attracted by the size and prestige of the planning and development team they had in Cambridge, who worked (and continue to work) on very diverse, high profile projects across the region. Tell us about your journey with Carter Jonas so far. After joining as a graduate in 2015 I passed my APC in December 2017; I have since had a couple of promotions and am now an Associate, still based in the Cambridge office. Alongside my planning work I am now involved in Carter Jonas’ EDI committee and LGBT+ Network, and I have also helped to run the planning graduate programme for several years now. Describe your work environment and culture. Planning is a really diverse field to work in. My current projects include managing large residential applications with some of the country’s leading housebuilders; working on Cambridge City Council’s estate regeneration programme; and a planning application to double the size of a listed care home in the Suffolk countryside. Day-to-day I will be attending project team meetings; reviewing and commenting on consultant reports in areas like ecology or ground contamination; and writing Planning Statements which describe a development proposal, assess it against planning policy and set out all the benefits. I may also be visiting sites, presenting at a planning committee or attending a public consultation.

Associate, Cambridge

John Mason

READ CHARLOTTE'S STORY

READ CAROLINE'S STORY

What attracted you to Carter Jonas? Predominately the size of the firm, which has a national presence with an expansive portfolio of service lines yet maintains a personal feel, where you feel appreciated. Overall, the positive working environment, coupled with the support from colleagues allows me to thrive on a professional and personal level which I am extremely grateful for. Tell us about your journey with Carter Jonas so far. Since joining the business, I have had the opportunity to participate in a wide range of rewarding and interesting tasks such as selling land and property on behalf of a government department.. The business has presented me with a number of opportunities and materials to enhance my professional growth and I look forward to sitting my APC in Autumn 2024. I consider myself incredibly lucky to work for a reputable company that gives me access to such a substantial professional network. The office in Cambridge has a great atmosphere and provides an excellent environment to learn from others. I can always ask my colleagues for support, whether they are in my team or not. Describe your work environment and culture. No day is ever the same. I could be scheduling viewings, visiting sites to gather information for marketing particulars, assisting with development land agency sales and acquisitions, updating landowners on the market, conducting development appraisals for a prospective client, or attending meetings with local housebuilders, developers, landowners, promoters or colleagues from other departments. I have appraised a number of sites for private clients, ranging from a single plot to a 173 unit scheme as well as a 27 unit scheme for a government department. The energy in the Cambridge office is one of hard work and dedication, but there is a very friendly atmosphere which was obvious from my first day.

Graduate Surveyor, Cambridge

Charlotte Wint

READ Caroline'S STORY

What does a typical day look like for you? I am predominantly involved with estate management clients which come with such a wide variety of work themselves, but I am also involved with rural planning work (such as agricultural workers dwellings, farm buildings, farm diversification) and agricultural tenancy-related work for tenants as well as landlords. No two days are the same in our sector, but day to day tasks from last week for example included walking a 100 acre block of land to consider end of tenancy claims, meeting a potential new client to discuss planning opportunities for their smallholding/orchard and conducting viewings at a six-bedroom Grade II Listed farmhouse available to let on an estate we manage, to name just a few.

Caroline Raspison

Associate, Truro

READ HARRY'S STORY

What does a typical day look like for you? My role is typically office based but there is often the need for site visits or client meetings, which could be anywhere in the UK. In terms of the work, my main focus is undertaking valuations of energy sites, however, there are a great deal of other projects in which I am involved, such as screening sites for energy development opportunities, negotiating on behalf of landowners or developers to secure land for development, purchasing and selling energy sites, etc. The ability to be involved in several different areas of expertise has helped build my knowledge and understanding of the energy industry.

Harry Robertson

Associate Partner, Chapel Place

What attracted you to Carter Jonas? I had been working remotely for a national organisation before approaching Carter Jonas (after seeing a recruitment post on social media), and I wanted to get back to working locally, in order to do what rural surveyors do best; getting out and about on land and farms, meeting clients etc. and I have been able to do just that from day one. All my interactions during the recruitment process were just the right balance of professional and relaxed, it really made me feel that it was a team I would enjoy working with, and this has only been proven further since I started the job. Tell us about your journey with Carter Jonas so far. I had some post-qualification experience when I started at Carter Jonas, so I entered at senior surveyor level and was quickly encouraged and supported along the career progression path, being promoted to Associate within approximately 18 months. Having been recruited to help with existing workloads, I was kept busy from the start and have also been supported to pursue new work and clients in the fields (no pun intended!) that I most enjoy working in. Describe your work environment and culture. I am predominantly involved with estate management clients which come with such a wide variety of work themselves, but I am also involved with rural planning work (such as agricultural workers dwellings, farm buildings, farm diversification) and agricultural tenancy-related work for tenants as well as landlords. No two days are the same in our sector, but day to day tasks from last week for example included walking a 100 acre block of land to consider end of tenancy claims, meeting a potential new client to discuss planning opportunities for their smallholding/orchard and conducting viewings at a six-bedroom Grade II Listed farmhouse available to let on an estate we manage, to name just a few.

Associate, Truro

Caroline Raspison

READ CARYSS' STORY

What does a typical day look like for you? A ‘typical day’ is quite a varied definition as every day is different which is a real benefit of the job. Working within the infrastructure sector is quite a fast-paced environment which is great if you enjoy a multi-faceted workload and problem-solving. Tasks include completing site inspections of either farms or residential property, resolving practical matters, arranging temporary land access requirements, negotiating with other agents, attending meetings, drafting valuation reports and assisting other team members with their personal development within the company.

What attracted you to Carter Jonas? I was initially attracted to Carter Jonas as friend from university had completed their placement year with the company and had explained how he’d thoroughly enjoyed working for the business and all his colleagues were so friendly and approachable. This statement could not be anymore appropriate, everyone I have met has given so much time to invest in the development of others and assist with career progression. Also, the APC training plan and specified training days were a bonus in joining the company. We received training on how to optimise experience gained to become competent in subject areas in preparation for our qualifications. Carter Jonas also held sessions on how to write effective APC submissions, presentation training and mock interviews Tell us about your journey with Carter Jonas so far. Whilst studying at Harper Adams University, I completed my placement year (July 2018-August 2019) with Carter Jonas in the rural division based in the Cambridge office. I gained a wide breadth of experience including estate management work and completing valuations for secured lending purposes. I finished my studies at Harper Adams and returned to the company as a graduate surveyor in 2020, based in the Birmingham Infrastructures team. I subsequently completed my APC becoming a member of the RICS and a Fellow of the Association of Agricultural Valuers. Since qualifying, I have been given a wonderful opportunity to manage my own workload, assist with the development of others and become a line manager.

Associate Partner, Birmingham

Caryss Pickavance

READ ELLA'S STORY

Graduate Surveyor, Bristol

Ella Morrison

What does a typical day look like for you? My role as a graduate rural surveyor is diverse. I am often ‘out and about’; meeting clients, visiting various estates and attending seminars. No week in the role is the same, but a typical day might include general estate management in the morning, and a visit to a property that we are bringing to market in the afternoon, with the creation of particulars completed later in the day.

READ CARYSS' STORY

READ HARRY'S STORY

READ ELLA'S STORY

What attracted you to Carter Jonas? I was initially attracted to Carter Jonas as friend from university had completed their placement year with the company and had explained how he’d thoroughly enjoyed working for the business and all his colleagues were so friendly and approachable. This statement could not be anymore appropriate, everyone I have met has given so much time to invest in the development of others and assist with career progression. Also, the APC training plan and specified training days were a bonus in joining the company. We received training on how to optimise experience gained to become competent in subject areas in preparation for our qualifications. Carter Jonas also held sessions on how to write effective APC submissions, presentation training and mock interviews. Tell us about your journey with Carter Jonas so far. Whilst studying at Harper Adams University, I completed my placement year (July 2018-August 2019) with Carter Jonas in the rural division based in the Cambridge office. I gained a wide breadth of experience including estate management work and completing valuations for secured lending purposes. I finished my studies at Harper Adams and returned to the company as a graduate surveyor in 2020, based in the Birmingham infrastructures team. I subsequently completed my APC becoming a member of the RICS and a Fellow of the Association of Agricultural Valuers. Since qualifying, I have been given a wonderful opportunity to manage my own workload, assist with the development of others and become a line manager. Describe your work environment and culture. A ‘typical day’ is quite a varied definition as every day is different which is a real benefit of the job. Working within the infrastructures sector is quite a fast-paced environment which is great if you enjoy a multi-faceted workload and problem-solving. Tasks include completing site inspections of either farms or residential property, resolving practical matters, arranging temporary land access requirements, negotiating with other agents, attending meetings, drafting valuation reports and assisting other team members with their personal development within the company.

Associate Partner, Birmingham

Caryss Pickavance

What attracted you to Carter Jonas? I grew up in North Wales where Carter Jonas have a good local reputation so that’s what sparked my interest initially. I liked the idea of working for a business with a good national presence and a diverse range of in-house expertise on offer. Tell us about your journey with Carter Jonas so far. I joined as a graduate in 2016 in the London infrastructure team where my main line of work was compulsory purchase. I was part of a supportive team who involved me in some very interesting projects that allowed me to gain the relevant experience to pass the APC two years later. Now in 2023 I work within the London energy team where I find it very rewarding to play a small part in the UK’s transition to greener energy and carbon neutrality. Describe your work environment and culture. My role is typically office based but there is often the need for site visits or client meetings, which could be anywhere in the UK. In terms of the work, my main focus is undertaking valuations of energy sites, however, there are a great deal of other projects in which I am involved, such as screening sites for energy development opportunities, negotiating on behalf of landowners or developers to secure land for development, purchasing and selling energy sites, etc. The ability to be involved in several different areas of expertise has helped build my knowledge and understanding of the energy industry.

Associate Partner, Chapel Place

Harry Robertson

What attracted you to Carter Jonas? Carter Jonas offers a fantastic graduate training programme; this was what initially attracted me to the firm. The broad experience that I have gained during my time as a graduate will prove invaluable for my APC. Not only this but Carter Jonas has a lovely culture, that encourages professionalism but not at the expense of fun. There are plenty of interoffice socials and networking opportunities that the firm organise and encourage. Tell us about your journey with Carter Jonas so far. I joined Carter Jonas in September 2022 whilst I completed my masters in Rural Estate and Land Management. Since then, I have handed in my dissertation, and joined the firm full time. I am based in the Bristol office and am very lucky to be part of a great team that involve me in a number of different projects to enhance my experience. Describe your work environment and culture. My role as a graduate rural surveyor is diverse. I am often ‘out and about’; meeting clients, visiting various estates and attending seminars. No week in the role is the same, but a typical day might include general estate management in the morning, and a visit to a property that we are bringing to market in the afternoon, with the creation of particulars completed later in the day.

Graduate Surveyor, Bristol

Ella Morrison

READ TIM'S STORY

What does a typical day look like for you? Mainly on the phone. Meeting clients and prospective tenants and being out and about. I don’t tend to be in the office all day which is part of the attraction of this job. You meet some fascinating and sometimes unusual individuals which is my favourite bit of being a retail specialist surveyor.

What attracted you to Carter Jonas? I got some work experience with the firm whilst I was studying and the teams I shadowed where incredibly accommodating. I felt they genuinely made an effort in trying to improve my knowledge and build my career, something I hadn’t really experienced from other work experience placements. Tell us about your journey with Carter Jonas so far. From work placement to getting on the graduate programme I have been with the firm since leaving university in 2013. I work in the Southwest retail market, with a great team, specialising mainly on landlord rep and investment work. The Carter Jonas commercial team has expanded considerably since I joined including the opening of the Bristol office which I’m glad to be a part of.

Associate Partner, Bristol

Tim Brooksbank

READ SOPHIE'S STORY

What attracted you to Carter Jonas? I was initially drawn to Carter Jonas because of the size of the company and that the fact it’s a partnership which is uncommon in the Real Estate sector. I felt this gave a personal touch to the company, whilst maintaining a national coverage. Another reason was the graduate scheme and the support offered to help me throughout the APC process and advancing my career. Tell us about your journey with Carter Jonas so far. I joined Carter Jonas about 18 months ago as a Graduate Surveyor, in a fixed role within the National Commercial Development team. I’m progressing with my APC with the intention of sitting in the next 6 months.

What does a typical day look like for you? I’m usually based in the London office, but my ‘typical’ day is varied. Being in development we can be working on projects from cradle to grave. This means I can be working on the start of a project in the morning, writing feasibility and viability reports or finding land for development, to then be talking with landowners or presenting sites to clients to then be working on project delivery and development agency and finding tenants for pre-lets in the afternoon. A lot of my day-to-day work is also running our ‘NCD Mapping Terrier’ built for us by our inhouse Geospatial team. This helps us find off market opportunities and quickly identify sites for development while also carrying out due diligence checks on multiple site constraints. The sectors I work with are also varied, from roadside retail and EV charging hubs to hotels, industrial and offices.

Sophie Spriddell

Graduate Surveyor, Chapel Place

READ GEORGE'S STORY

What attracted you to Carter Jonas? When I joined the firm it was a reasonably small business, but had clear aspirations to compete with the national competitors. This desire for growth was particularly interesting as it opened up opportunities for me to develop my career with similar aspirations. Tell us about your journey with Carter Jonas so far. It has been an exciting journey across offices and teams: I started in the Oxford residential sales team in 2014 whilst undertaking the APC on the side. On qualification I moved into the residential valuation team in London, which grew to a team of 6, until I moved to Bristol in 2020. There, with a new office opening, I started the residential valuation team, covering the whole of the South West and south Wales.

What does a typical day look like for you? The day starts with a brief team meeting to discuss workflows, capacity and target clients. A large part of my role is focused around business development, so I’m often then off to meet a client or potential client for coffee. It is then back to the office to work on a report with colleagues before setting off to inspect a property. Depending on the location, I either return to the office or work from home to finish off the previous report or make a start on the job I have just inspected. It’s a very dynamic role which I enjoy.

George Densham

Partner, Chapel Place

READ Jamie'S STORY

What attracted you to Carter Jonas? Whilst still retaining its traditional roots since being established in 1855, Carter Jonas has certainly embraced modernisation and remains once of the most prestigious property consultancy firms operating in the UK. The wide range of sectors which Carter Jonas specialises in ensures that a comprehensive service can be provided to clients across a variety of property classes. The company culture is particularly inclusive and sociable, with opportunities for teambuilding and networking embraced, which leads to a multitude of benefits both at a personal and company level Tell us about your journey with Carter Jonas so far. I first started at Carter Jonas in February 2019, when I completed a seven-month work placement ahead of returning to the Royal Agricultural University in the Cotswolds to embark on a Masters Degree in Rural Estate Management. Upon graduating from Cirencester I re-joined Carter Jonas’ rural team in Cambridge, where I worked towards becoming a chartered surveyor and a professional member of the RICS, which I successfully achieved in November 2022. Throughout my career at Carter Jonas I have been involved in a wide spectrum of rural surveying, including estate management, valuations, agency and general professional work. Since 2022 I have specialised in rural agency and building Carter Jonas’ market presence in this sector in the East, focusing on the purchase, sale and leasing farms and land, equestrian and leisure property.

What does a typical day look like for you? I am often on-site first thing in the morning, either hosting viewings of properties which we are marketing, or pitching for new agency instructions. I also see the sale process through from start to finish, including preparing marketing material, managing enquiries, agreeing heads of terms and liaising with solicitors, seeing sales and leases through to completion.

Jamie Elbourn

Senior Surveyor, Cambridge

READ JAMIE'S STORY

What attracted you to Carter Jonas? Whilst still retaining its traditional roots since being established in 1855, Carter Jonas has certainly embraced modernisation and remains once of the most prestigious property consultancy firms operating in the UK. The wide range of sectors which Carter Jonas specialises in ensures that a comprehensive service can be provided to clients across a variety of property classes. The company culture is particularly inclusive and sociable, with opportunities for teambuilding and networking embraced, which leads to a multitude of benefits both at a personal and company level. Tell us about your journey with Carter Jonas so far. I first started at Carter Jonas in February 2019, when I completed a seven-month work placement ahead of returning to the Royal Agricultural University in the Cotswolds to embark on a Masters Degree in Rural Estate Management. Upon graduating from Cirencester I re-joined Carter Jonas’ rural team in Cambridge, where I worked towards becoming a chartered surveyor and a professional member of the RICS, which I successfully achieved in November 2022. Throughout my career at Carter Jonas I have been involved in a wide spectrum of rural surveying, including estate management, valuations, agency and general professional work. Since 2022 I have specialised in rural agency and building Carter Jonas’ market presence in this sector in the East, focusing on the purchase, sale and leasing farms and land, equestrian and leisure property. What does a typical day look like for you? I am often on-site first thing in the morning, either hosting viewings of properties which we are marketing, or pitching for new agency instructions. I also see the sale process through from start to finish, including preparing marketing material, managing enquiries, agreeing heads of terms and liaising with solicitors, seeing sales and leases through to completion.

Jamie Elbourn

Senior Surveyor, Cambridge