Ben Lipman

Employer: Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd
University: University of Plymouth, sociology (2003)

I have relatives who work in property but it wasn’t until I happened to speak to a family friend who worked for a political consultancy property company that I first considered a career in this area. I went on to work for two consultancies before joining Sainsbury’s in September 2006.

Media management

I now work on the other side of things as I manage the consultancies that work with Sainsbury’s. My role involves co-ordinating the media and communications activities for all new stores, redevelopment and extension projects. This can entail political lobbying, liaising with residents in the area and dealing with press queries. With a team of consultancies up and down the country, it is important to ensure that they are conveying the right messages.
I work with a huge variety of different departments including planning, store development and asset management. This exposure to the diverse facets of property really keeps me on my toes. Whether I’m dealing with a lack of planning permission or writing a press release, there is always something that requires my attention. Sometimes it’s a struggle to manage multiple tasks while also hitting media deadlines, but it’s a question of prioritising. The development opportunities are also excellent – I’ve been on a variety of leadership training courses since I joined last year.

Job satisfaction

One of the highlights of my work so far involved organising a conference called ‘Think’ at the ExCel centre that focused on sustainability. Our chief executive was making a speech and I was responsible for ensuring everything ran smoothly. It was a very satisfying project to be involved in.