The engaging and academically demanding classroom-based programme in which students learn about the fundamental forces that affect urban regeneration has involved 100 ULI volunteers, been delivered in 42 schools  and reached more than 1200 young people this academic year.

The UrbanPlan workshops focus on the redevelopment of a site in a hypothetical town, with students grouped into teams to form property companies responding to a call for proposals from a fictional local council (made up of ULI volunteers). The prize of the competitive process was an invitation to the celebration event at City Hall, where students had the opportunity to hear from, and network with, senior leaders from the property industry.

Former ULI UK chair, Chris Choa (vice president at AECOM) welcomed the winning teams, highlighting the success of the programme and congratulating all students on what they had achieved. Feedback from the schools involved has been overwhelmingly positive and students from Copthall School gave a presentation on how the UrbanPlan programme had had a positive impact on them.

Invited guests had the opportunity to hear from David Kong (partner, Foster + Partners) who was involved with the design and build of City Hall and explained its role in the regeneration of the surrounding More London area.

The UrbanPlan programme has a wider role to play in inspiring a new generation into the real estate industry and Elizabeth Rapoport (director of content, ULI Europe) presented on ‘how and why cities are changing’ and how young people can make a difference in the future of cities and urban spaces. Two young professionals from CBRE (Aaron Reid and Coree Beccles) gave a talk on how they had entered the industry as surveyors and why they love the built environment.

The eventful day closed with a speed networking session, facilitated by EdComs, with a number of industry bodies (including Property Needs You, Pathways to Property, RICS, RTPI and UCEM) so that students could find out more about starting a career in the property industry.

Schools that were invited to the celebration event included:

• BSIX sixth form college
• Central Academy
• Christleton High School
• City and Islington Sixth Form College
• City of London Academy (Southwark)
• Copthall School
• Harris Academy Greenwich
• Lordswood Girls’ School
• Raines Foundation High School
• Reading Girls School
• Regents High School
• Sir George Monoux College
• Sir Simon Milton Westminster UTC
• St Marylebone CE School
• St Paul’s Way Trust School
• St. Saviour’s & St. Olave’s School
• The Langley Academy
• Westminster Academy
• Westminster Kingsway College
• Whitefield School