Land Trainee

**About Us**:
There has never been a better time to join Tilia Homes in an industry that is fast paced, exciting and rewarding.

Our vision for Tilia Homes is clear; to become a top five housebuilder within five years and we are already laying strong foundations for growth with the acquisition of new land and investment.

We realise at the centre of our plans are our people and as such are looking to invest heavily in them through development, support, and of course remuneration.

Join us and be part of a business that prides itself on creating desirable, stylish homes for families to live in and enjoy for many years to come.

**What Tilia Homes can offer you;**
- 26 days holiday with additional bank holidays
- Holiday Buy Scheme;
- Bonus Scheme
- Company Pension Scheme
- Life Assurance
- Employee discount on a new Tilia home
- Retail discount portal
- Employee Assistance Programme
- 24/7 GP

**About The Role**:
We have an exciting opportunity for a Land Trainee to join a friendly team working from our Western region and based at our office in Exeter on a permanent basis. You will be an integral part of the land team, assisting the Land Director in helping the business to secure land opportunities to support its short
- and longer-term growth plans.

**Responsibilities and Duties**

**Site Searches**
- Research local plan, IT systems and land registry to identify suitable short and longer term opportunities and their availability
- Research the planning history of development sites and provide appropriate advice
- Strategically selecting locations to undertake planning searches, considering 5 year land supply position/planning status/market values/business need etc
- Evaluate potential sites based on technical and planning constraints **Site Acquisition**
- Assist in identifying suitable sites for pursuing in the context of the Business Plan and land buying criteria
- Contact landowners/their agents and assist in discussions/negotiations
- Manage coordination of technical packs, securing affordable revenues, and other information to feed into the land appraisal
- Assist colleagues in Commercial Department in producing a land appraisal
- Preparation/review of heads of terms, Investment Committee packs, legal documentation **Networking & Market Awareness**
- Build effective relationships with landowners, agents, promoters, competitors etc to keep them appraised of land buying requirements and identify any opportunities they may have
- Gather and share market intelligence/”gossip” from land agents (land values, contracted and non-contracted deals, who’s active etc) **Land/Property Disposal**
- Assist with sales of S106 affordable housing to Registered Providers
- Assist in sales of surplus land assets including self build plots, writing sales prospectus, researching planning and technical constraints on site, local policy, and market values, reviewing offers
- Conduct site viewings with potential purchasers
- Monitor planning process after exchange (if applicable) to ensure successful completion **General**
- Develop and maintain an understanding of the land appraisal system
- Ensure databases are kept up to date (land leads, bids made and their analysis and retrospective review)
- Assist in the management of the Land Bank
- Gain knowledge of all technical aspects covering the acquisition and development of land and associated legal agreements

**About You**:
**Knowledge Skills and Experience**
- Interest in buying and selling land for residential development and other uses
- Willingness and keenness to learn
- Self-motivated, resilient, diligent, ambitious, creative with problem-solving skills and an eye for detail
- Show initiative and possess a “can do” attitude with a “problem identification - solution proposal” approach
- Team player, but able to work alone as required
- Possess strong commercial acumen to achieve business results
- Good understanding of Microsoft office suite - outlook, excel and word
- Excellent organisational and time management skills
- Good written and verbal communication skills, with well-developed interpersonal and customer service skills
- Full UK driving licence

**Desirable**
- Understanding of land appraisals and how to generate land value
- Experience in project management