Peter Allen

Employer: The Ethical Property Company

Area of work: property management

Qualifications: mathematics, architecture, University of Leeds

Working with not-for-profit organisations

I started work here as I was finishing my masters. I was attracted by the ethos of the company, which lets office space to organisations in the not-for-profit sector. I began as a property manager and learned on the job. It helps if you have an analytical mind and can learn how to solve problems. I manage our four office buildings in London (in a team of three) and one in Brighton. That involves everything from specifying and commissioning improvements to looking after budgets and service charges. One day I could be in front of a computer, the next I could be wielding a screwdriver.

I also deal with longer-term strategic issues such as reducing energy use, which is my particular area of expertise (my masters covered advanced environmental and energy studies) and something that is becoming increasingly important in managing buildings. I work with our investment team on specifications for new properties, as well as with the team who find new tenants. We have a closer working relationship with our tenants than at a conventional property company, and involve them in decision making.

One of my highlights was the refurbishment of Development House, an eight-storey 1950s office block in London. This involved replacing all the heating and cooling plant and putting in data cabling – with tenants in the building from the beginning. There were only four of us working on the project, so it was hard work. But 18 months on, we’ve got a good working building and happy tenants.