Real Estate BSc Honours students from the University of Westminster have taken part in a competition sponsored by Real Estate company Savills, where an internship was up for grabs.
This was the second year that Savills has sponsored an internship for Westminster's Real Estate BSc Honours students. This year, the top ten performing students studying on the second year Commercial Practice module were selected to present a three-minute pitch to industry professionals from Savills. These were Hebe Williams, David Williams and Sandra Nwachukwu who is also a Westminster alumna.
The students were asked to focus on what they had learned from their coursework during the module and why they wanted to work for Savills. Whilst each student was presenting, the others had the opportunity to go on a tour of the office and were provided with advice by the Savills graduate recruitment team on improving their CVs and covering letters.
Gurleen Ghotra took first place winning a one-month internship. Christy Peters, Charlotte Beard and Shanise Matadeen also were awarded prizes, coming in second place and joint third respectively.
Shanise Matadeen said: “Participating in Savills' internship competition and winning third prize was a privileged opportunity that greatly enhanced my presentation and interview skills, allowing me to express my enthusiasm for Real Estate. I commend Savills for their commitment to professionalism, nurturing talent, promoting diversity and helping people thrive.
“I would like to express my gratitude to Savills for the opportunity to participate in their internship competition and to Westminster for their invaluable support in my career development. Both have played a crucial role in enhancing my journey in the Real Estate sector.”
Dr Jan Wilcox, Employability Director for the School of Applied Management, said: “We are so grateful to Savills for agreeing to run this competition for our students. All of those taking part benefited from the opportunity to practice their presentation and interview skills in a very supportive environment. The experience will help them when they start looking to secure graduate jobs later in the year. This partnership between industry and academia is so valuable, helping to ensure that we are producing the work-ready graduates that employers require. More of these partnerships are now being developed as part of our Employability agenda.”
Simay Sali Sevik, Development Manager at the University of Westminster, added: “Internships offer invaluable opportunities for students and young professionals to gain practical experience, develop essential skills and explore potential career paths. Thanks to Savills, students were able to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world application. These kinds of corporate-funded competitions not only give students a chance to learn and develop their skills but also distinguish them from their peers by enhancing their CVs.”
Hebe Williams, Associate Director, Graduate Recruitment Manager at Savills’ Future Talent Team, said: “We were delighted to support the University with this module, to share insights into our business and the industry, and to offer an internship opportunity. The team thoroughly enjoyed engaging with the next generation of future talent within the Real Estate industry.”
This competition directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Contact the University’s Development team to find out more about how corporate organisations can work with and support students at the University of Westminster.
