Programme overview:
Our 2026 Placement Year Programme runs for one year, starting on 15 June 2026. This Programme will provide you with a unique introduction into the investment management industry and how the Real Estate department operates within this dynamic sector.
You will be given introductory training alongside the other Placement Year colleagues across the firm and more specific training within the Real Estate team, as well as opportunities to network with people across the business. During your internship you will be assigned to one of the teams on the UK Direct Real Estate desk:
- Real Estate Fund Management – managing a portfolio of property assets to deliver a set level of performance
- Real Estate Asset Management – managing specific assets and their tenants within a portfolio
You are not guaranteed a specific team; allocation is dependent upon business needs and individual interests, and you may rotate around different teams over the course of the year
Who we’re looking for:
We are seeking motivated and proactive individuals who are passionate about real estate and eager to build a career within private markets. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a genuine interest in property, investment, and sustainability, and possess the ability to work collaboratively within high-performing teams. We are looking for applicants who are curious, adaptable, and committed to contributing positively to both our team and the wider organisation.
Required skills and capabilities:
- We are interested in hearing from candidates who are currently studying one of the following areas:
- Built Environment, Real Estate, Architecture, Quantity Surveying
- Geography, Urban Planning and Land Economy
- Sustainability, Environmental Sciences and Climate Studies
- Demonstrates a strong understanding of real estate investment fundamentals, appreciating the importance of long-term value and income.
- Stays curious and informed by following property, economic, and sustainability trends, and summarising relevant sector news.
- Shows accountability and accuracy through confidence with numbers and spreadsheets, analysing rents, property values, yields, and sustainability data, and creating clear charts and tables in Excel.
- Communicates effectively, producing clear written and verbal updates, research summaries, and insightful questions.
- Collaborates well with colleagues across property, sustainability, and investment teams and is ready to support the team wherever needed.
- Demonstrates adaptability by adjusting to new projects, shifting market conditions, and changing investment priorities in a dynamic environment.
- Is open to feedback, asks relevant questions, and explores opportunities across different real estate sectors.
Some of your tasks may include:
- Assist the Fund Management teams with reviewing new and existing opportunities across their portfolio. This may include researching investment opportunities, conducting valuation analysis, undertaking due diligence and creating reports for the Investment Committee.
- Support the asset management team with their activities, such as repositioning assets, driving the letting of vacant space or improving the sustainability characteristics of the buildings. This requires participating in onsite meetings with stakeholders, including agents, architects, building managers and contractors.
- Working with the Sustainability team as they review existing assets to ascertain the quality of our buildings and design strategies to improve them and lessen the impact on the environment.
- Taking ownership of a data management project, such as the quality of tenants across a portfolio, the sustainability characteristics of a portfolio or mapping lease expiries. This requires being knowledgeable using Excel and its functions.
The team:
Schroders Capital Real Estate is part of Schroders Capital, the private markets division of Schroders, and stands as one of Europe’s largest real estate managers, overseeing more than £29 billion in assets across 1,000+ properties. Our team operates from 25 cities worldwide and comprises over 400 investment professionals.
Our multidisciplinary team combines local expertise with global insights to identify high-quality investment opportunities and deliver sustainable value. We have a strong focus on both financial results and positive environmental and social impact, underpinned by the work of our integrated Sustainability and Impact Investing team. Our culture emphasises collaboration, research-driven analysis, and operational excellence, enabling us to respond to global trends and deliver tailored portfolio solutions for our clients across a diverse range of real estate sectors.
Knowledge, experience and qualifications we’re looking for:
- An honours degree or equivalent in Real Estate, Urban Planning, Land Economy, Geography, or a closely related field is required. Other degree subjects will not be considered.
- You will be studying on your Undergraduate programme and taking a placement year between your second and final year.
- A good working knowledge of document production software, including Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
- The ability to understand our target audiences
