NERC Real Estate Summer Placement

Natural Environment Research Council
Salary: 23493 per annum
Contract Type: Fixed Term 8 weeks
Hours: Full-time
Location: Polaris House Swindon Wiltshire
Closing date:8th March 2026
Interview: In person at Polaris House in April 2026
Start date: June/July 2026

The NERC Real Estate Team is responsible for managing a diverse portfolio of property interests across the estate including leases licences and other property arrangements that support the organisations operational needs.

In addition the team plays a key role in delivering a range of transactional and operational functions including supporting property acquisitions and disposals maintaining accurate property data and records and preparing reports to advise business decision-making. The team also is responsible for business rates management ensuring liabilities are accurately assessed and appropriately managed. Through this varied workload the Real Estate Team provides crucial professional property support to the wider organisation.

We collaborate with four NERC Centres namely:

• British Antarctic Survey (BAS)
• British Geological Survey (BGS)
• National Oceanography Centre (NOC)
• UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH)

As well as BBSRCs strategically supported research institutes and other partners.

About the Summer Placement

Student life is great but taking time out to gain experience of the workplace can be both a rewarding and invaluable experience as you choose your path ahead. We can offer you the opportunity to make a difference from day one. Everything we do has an impact globally and our Summer Placements are no exception.

This is an exciting opportunity to develop a broad range of skills and gain exposure to many facets of real estate management contributing to your personal and professional growth. Our small collaborative team will provide a supportive environment and a variety of interesting tasks each day.

The placement will offer insight into operational areas such as business rates management helping the student develop an understanding of how property liabilities are identified and managed within a large public sector estate. Throughout the placement there will be opportunities to build practical skills develop professional property knowledge and gain a valuable overview of real estate management in a sophisticated organisational environment.

There may be opportunities to travel to sites across the UK to experience our unique environmental science facilities and understand the relationship between the NERC Real Estate Team and the operational Estates Teams at the NERC Centres. You will also gain insight into how our work contributes to society as UKRI is a non-departmental public body of the UK government.

Summary of Key Duties & Responsibilities

We are seeking a motivated undergraduate student interested in developing their knowledge of the commercial real estate sector.

They will:

• Attend team meetings engage with colleagues and take accurate notes of meeting actions.
• Assist with tasks related to lease and licence arrangements (e.g. assisting with new agreements renewals rent reviews break options Licence to Alter and Licence to Underlet).
• Prepare data templates and input information into the property database.
• Review property registered titles and other real estate documentation ensuring documents are correctly filed and securely stored.
• Support the procurement of suppliers in line with government procurement regulations.
• Research relevant changes in legislation.
• Be willing to travel as required with potential overnight stays.

Person Specification

The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S) Interview (I) or both (S&I).

In order to apply for the role we are looking for the following:

Essential:

• You are in full time education at university and will be returning to university/your studies to complete your undergraduate degree once the summer placement has concluded (S)
• You have the right to live and work in the UK for the duration of the placement(S)
• Studying a relevant degree related to commercial Real Estate Management which may include modules such as valuations surveying property law and landlord & tenant law (S & I).
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office particularly Word and Excel (S).
• Planned and organised approach to work and meeting deadlines (S & I).
• Ability to work well within a team and show initiative (I).
• Strong interpersonal skills particularly in communication (written and verbal) and problem-solving (S&I).

Desirable:

• Ability to work independently using available resources to overcome challenge (I).
• Experience in data analysis (S & I).

Employee Benefits

We are offering a permanent position with a whole host of benefits including:

• 30 days holiday pro rata
• Flexible working hours.
• Easily accessible public transport links/ free parking.
• Excellent learning and development opportunities.

Link to more benefits: this job does not fulfil the UK Government minimum criterion for obtaining sponsored migrant worker status we will be unable to apply for sponsorship for anyone not eligible to work in the UK. At interview all shortlisted candidates are required to bring with them identification documents and original documents that prove they hold or can obtain the right to work in the UK.

You can check your eligibility here: Guidance

Please note that we can only accept a maximum of 2 applications per candidate.

Part of our application process involves submitting your CV and a cover letter. Your cover letter should address your suitability for the opportunity based how you meet each essential criteria stated in this advert.

Please note that we hold the right to close this vacancy early if a sufficient number of applications have been received.

If you have any questions regarding this placement please feel free to contact the early careers resourcing team via