Graduate Surveyor Review

I have had a highly positive experience at Knight Frank to date. The graduate scheme has provided strong exposure to the UK residential and commercial investment market, particularly within the Build-to-Rent (BTR) sector. I have been able to work on a wide range of live transactions and advisory mandates, which has accelerated both my technical and commercial understanding. The team environment has been supportive and collaborative, with senior colleagues actively contributing to my development.

My core responsibilities include supporting the underwriting and analysis of BTR, SFH and co-living schemes, undertaking market research and comparable evidence analysis, assisting with financial modelling (including DCFs and pricing models), and contributing to investment memoranda and client deliverables.
I particularly enjoy the analytical elements of the role, including building and reviewing financial models, assessing scheme viability, and interpreting market evidence to inform investment decisions. I also value the opportunity to work on live deals, as this provides practical exposure to transaction processes and client engagement.
During my time at Knight Frank, I have also completed a rotation within the Fund Valuations team, where I gained experience in loan security and purchase valuations for institutional clients. This provided a strong technical foundation, which I have been able to build upon in my current BTR Funding role.

I feel that I am given meaningful responsibility relative to my level, with opportunities to contribute directly to live projects and outputs. My work is regularly incorporated into client-facing material, which reinforces that my contributions are valued. They have been very supportive in providing guidance, feedback and opportunities to take ownership of tasks, which has significantly contributed to my development and confidence within the team.

How does your compensation package fairly remunerate you for the work you do?
Overall, I consider the compensation package to be fair for a graduate role within the industry, with a competitive salary and clear progression structure.
The most valuable benefits include:
Professional development support (APC and training), which is critical for long-term career progression
Exposure to high-quality deal flow and clients, which adds significant non-monetary value
Flexible working arrangements, supporting a good work-life balance alongside study commitments

The role is preparing me very well for a long-term career in real estate investment and advisory. I have developed a strong grounding in financial modelling, market analysis, and transactional processes. The breadth of exposure across BTR, SFH and co-living, combined with direct involvement in live deals, has provided both technical capability and commercial awareness, which will be highly transferable as I progress.

The level of support has been excellent across the team. My line managers from Early Careers have been particularly proactive in providing guidance, clear feedback and opportunities to take on. Support from HR and the wider graduate programme has also been well structured, particularly in relation to APC guidance and training. The team culture encourages asking questions and collaborative working, which has been key to my development. There are no material gaps in support at this stage.

Overall, my work-life balance is good and generally sustainable. Workload can fluctuate depending on live transactions and deadlines, but this is expected in a deal-focused environment. The team is understanding and flexible, particularly around study commitments alongside my MSc and APC. Hybrid working arrangements further support balance and productivity.

The culture at Knight Frank is professional, collaborative and inclusive. Teams are approachable and supportive, with a strong emphasis on knowledge sharing and development. The hybrid working model is well embedded and provides flexibility while maintaining team connectivity. Overall, the environment is positive and welcoming, particularly for graduates.

Knight Frank demonstrates a clear commitment to EDI through internal networks, events and awareness initiatives. These provide opportunities for engagement and education across the business. While progress is evident, continued focus on representation and consistency across teams will further strengthen the offering.

Yes

The rating reflects a consistently positive experience across the areas assessed. Support from the team has been strong, the working environment is collaborative, and there is clear exposure to meaningful work. While there are areas where continued improvement is possible (e.g. further visibility of wider initiatives), overall the experience aligns well with expectations for a graduate role within a leading real estate advisory firm.

The role has closely matched my expectations based on the recruitment process. The nature of the work, including exposure to live transactions, financial analysis and market research, aligns well with how the role was presented. The level of responsibility and client exposure has been in line with expectations, if not slightly exceeding them at times.