Property brands back local space design challenge

Agency brands Knight Frank and Savills are among 12 of the largest real estate consultancies in the UK behind a new competition to encourage more young people to consider property as a career.

The Property Needs You competition asks people age 16 and above to submit a design idea for a local space, with internships awarded to 5 winners.

All types of spaces – including buildings, parks, schools, streets and stations – can become the focus of the design with entrants able to portray their vision in a variety of formats, from sketches to mood boards, virtual creations to 3D models.

As part of the application, entrants are asked why they chose the particular space to redesign, and for their vision of what the space could become. 

Alongside the internships, three runner-up prizes include school/college workshops.

A worksheet is available for schools and colleges wishing to undertake the challenge as a team project. Young people can also enter the challenge on an individual basis.

Allsop LLP, Avison Young, BNP Paribas Real Estate, Carter Jonas LLP, CBRE, Colliers International, Cushman and Wakefield, Gerald Eve LLP, JLL, Knight Frank, Lambert Smith Hampton and Savills are all backing the challenge as part of their work with Property Needs You.

Hebe Williams, graduate recruitment manager at Savills, said: “The idea behind the challenge is to encourage young people to think creatively about their local environment, and a particular space they’ve chosen to redesign, thinking about the potential of the space. In particular, thinking about what it could do and who could use it, and the impact that could have on their life and the lives of others.

“Young people are responsible for the built environment of the future, from where we live to where we go to school, work and play. The challenge is a chance for entrants to really consider the role they could play in positively influencing the built environment, local communities and ultimately, people’s lives. And of course, the 5 internships on offer will give winners the chance to gain valuable work experience with one of the world’s top property firms.”

The challenge closes on the 17 December 2023 and can be entered at: https://www.propertyneedsyou.com/property-needs-you-challenge