Investing in the next generation of property leaders is a core value at HBD, and we are proud to partner with colleges and universities to provide young people aspiring to work in the built environment with real world opportunities while they study.
Among our key partners is Manchester Metropolitan University (Man Met Uni), where we collaborate with Marcus Lord who connects us with students eager to learn more about property, architecture, and design. In this article, Marcus shares insights into our successful partnership.
Work experience is vital for all career paths, and my own journey reflects this. I began in SMEs, gaining diverse experiences before transitioning to my role at Man Met Uni, where I supported research funding and secured EU funding for the university. This broad background has given me a unique perspective on the importance of different types of work.
As time went on, my colleagues and I saw the potential for our university to collaborate with organisations like HBD to create meaningful opportunities for students. I am passionate about developing projects that benefit everyone involved, focusing on offering a fresh approach to gaining real world experience.
Traditional work experience has long been the standard, but it can be daunting for students and a significant commitment for busy employers. Our goal was to create something more flexible yet equally valuable.
Collaborating with HBD
I’ve had a longstanding connection with Lee Treanor at HBD; we worked together in his previous role, and when he moved to HBD, we reconnected to discuss potential projects. We crafted a programme for the post graduate students studying on our MA Interiors programme, allowing them to work on real world projects by designing interiors for buildings within HBD’s portfolio.
HBD impressed me with their willingness to get involved, working with us openly and transparently to create a real and meaningful opportunity for Man Met Uni students. The partnership has been running for a few years now, and hugely benefits our MA Interiors students, our university, and HBD as well. It allows students to apply what they’ve learned in a practical setting, transcending theory.
HBD’s transparency has been key to the programme’s success. The team shares its plans and visions with students, working closely with our lecturers to develop briefs that challenge the students’ skills. The students then pitch their ideas, receiving invaluable industry feedback that helps shape their concepts into practical solutions.
Over the past 15 years, I’ve built strong relationships with organisations like HBD. These partnerships are vital for our students across the whole university. Our students give fantastic feedback and proudly showcase their projects at exhibitions and on social media. They appreciate real world experience and industry connections.
Looking to the future
Looking ahead, I want to involve students even more by inviting HBD colleagues to careers and job fairs, giving everyone another chance to engage and share stories and expertise. This exposure to potential future employers will help our students immensely.
We can also work together to address macro challenges like the skills shortage. Innovative businesses like HBD see the value in working with students who could one day join their teams, and projects like this ensure that students are better prepared for the workforce having been given actual real world experience.
We will continue working with companies like HBD to support our students and contribute to industry challenges, continually improving and expanding our partnerships. Our work to date has seen students gain jobs, placements, and invaluable employability experience. The confidence boost they receive is tremendous, and I’m excited to see where this partnership will take us next.