My week of work experience at Socius: What really goes into development

During a week of work experience at Socius, Gillian gained a behind-the-scenes view of development, discovering how collaboration, sustainability and long-term thinking shape the places we create....

Before spending a week at Socius, I thought of development in terms of what you can see on the surface: planning applications, construction sites and finished buildings. By the end of the week, that felt like only a small part of the picture. What sits behind every project is a constant balancing act between people, priorities and constraints, and the week gave me a much clearer sense of how many moving parts sit underneath even the most straightforward-looking development.

One of the things that stood out most was the openness of the teams. Across every project, people were generous with their time and happy to explain not only what they do, but how their role connects to the wider process. It never felt like isolated functions; discussions about design, sustainability, leasing and delivery were all closely linked, highlighting how interconnected development really is.

My first task involved reviewing due diligence material for a new opportunity, which was a useful introduction to how much of development is shaped long before construction begins. A large part of the week was then spent on the London Cancer Hub, attending meetings with consultants including Arup and Gensler. These sessions provided a real insight into the complexity of masterplanning at scale, with conversations ranging from infrastructure and accessibility to sustainability and long-term growth.

Sustainability was a consistent theme throughout the week. BREEAM, NABERS, WELL and Biodiversity Net Gain were part of everyday discussions rather than separate workstreams. Alongside this, topics such as whole-life carbon, daylight and sunlight analysis, microclimate studies and circular economy principles demonstrated how sustainability is embedded in decision-making from the outset.

One of the most valuable aspects of the placement was visiting projects after discussing them in meetings. Seeing Mill Yard and Botanic Place in person helped connect presentations and discussions to the reality on site. Having watched both schemes evolve over time, it was fascinating to gain a better understanding of everything involved in bringing them forward, from leasing and asset management to design, sustainability and delivery.

Social value was another area that stood out. Before the placement, I tended to associate it with volunteering and community initiatives. Through discussions during the week, I saw how much more structured and embedded it has become within development delivery. Conversations covered local procurement commitments, education partnerships, careers programmes and work experience opportunities, all tracked through formal systems and measurable outcomes.

Alongside time spent with Socius, I also joined teams from Skanska and Morgan Sindall and attended the "Creating a Scientific Superpower Conference" in London. These experiences provided a broader perspective on themes such as housing delivery, infrastructure, life sciences and investment, helping me understand how project-level decisions fit within wider regional and national growth ambitions.

One phrase from the week has stayed with me:

"Buildings are the stage; people are the show."

By the end of the week, that felt like a fair reflection of how development really works. Buildings may be the visible outcome, but the real work lies in bringing together different perspectives to create places that work in practice as well as on paper.

Overall, the week gave me a much deeper appreciation of the development process and the level of coordination involved across teams. More than anything, it reinforced how many different disciplines come together to shape the built environment. Thank you to everyone at Socius for making the week such a valuable and insightful week.