Lisa Poyser, Sainsbury's Supermarkets

Lisa Poyser is a graduate retail development surveyor for Sainsbury’s Supermarkets. She studied theatre studies at Lancaster University and is taking a conversion course in property management and development at Nottingham Trent University while working.

How did you go from an English degree to a property career?

I got into property via my partner, who runs a building contracting firm. I used to help out part time with day-to-day admin work and decided on a career change when I realised I enjoyed helping out with his job more than doing my own!

Having some previous experience of working in property helped me settle in easily and pick up new terminology, but studying and learning on the job has just become another part of my life.

Tell us about your job as a development surveyor at a supermarket

As a graduate development surveyor and my role is to help coordinate development of new retail floorspace. This involves working on expanding existing stores, building new ones and looking at mixed-use developments, and one of the projects I’ve been involved with recently is a new low-energy store in Greenwich. There are huge numbers of people and organisations involved in this kind of development and I tend to come into contact with most of them. For example, I might meet with architects, planners and highways representatives to discuss the feasibility of a proposed development, or negotiate property and land deals with agents and private individuals. Working with such a wide range of people has built up my confidence and forced me to think on my feet.

What do you like best about your graduate job?

I've been given a lot of responsibility and it’s great to be able to take ownership of aspects of each project. I also enjoy being able to see a project through from the initial concept to the finished development. Although I usually work a 45-hour week, the work/life balance is good – which is great as I have two children.