Daniel’s Work Experience with Peel Waters

Daniel Ingham is a Geography student, currently studying at University of Liverpool. Daniel spent time with the Peel Waters team this summer and shares what he learned from his experience.

My Week of Work Experience at Peel Waters

Spending a week with the Peel Waters team provided me with a valuable insight into the scale, complexity and ambition behind major regeneration projects. Throughout the week, I had the opportunity to experience a wide range of departments, from development and planning to finance, marketing and asset management, giving me a rounded understanding of how large-scale developments are delivered.

From vision to delivery

Day One: Development, Regeneration and Master planning

The week began with a visit to the Vivere Residences start on site construction ceremony at Manchester Waters alongside James, Emma, Nick, Kate and their partners – the Forshaw Group. Witnessing the start of a project after what can often be lengthy planning and approval processes highlighted the great sense of achievement and excitement that accompanies these milestones.

Later, I visited the Wirral Waters regeneration site with James, where Richard provided an overview of the long-term vision for the project. It was fascinating to learn how Peel Waters is transforming underused dockland into thriving communities, employment opportunities and vibrant public spaces.

I was particularly interested in the story behind Miller’s Quay, where the colourful residential buildings have been designed to celebrate the area’s rich maritime heritage and historic dockland activity.

I also had the opportunity to observe a masterplanning meeting between Peel Waters and Broadway Malyan, gaining first-hand insight into how large-scale regeneration strategies are developed and refined through collaboration.

Research and Regeneration

Day Two: Regeneration in Practice and Marketing Projects

The following day included a site visit with Bob, who showed me several completed developments at Salford Quays. Seeing projects after completion allowed me to appreciate the lasting impact of regeneration and how initial concepts are transformed into successful places where people live and work.

Pete then assigned me two projects that gave me valuable experience in both research and marketing. The first involved developing ideas for a potential rebrand of an industrial park within Wirral Waters, requiring me to research the local history and identity of the area to create meaningful naming proposals.

My second task involved preparing website content for several properties and land opportunities that were due to be featured on the Peel Waters opportunities page. These responsibilities provided an excellent insight into the day-to-day work undertaken by the marketing and development teams.

I also attended a planning meeting concerning a site at Chatham Waters in Kent, where I gained a greater appreciation for the level of detail, technical consideration and coordination required, even for relatively small development sites.

A remarkable history and an exciting future

Day Three: Finance, Asset Management and Community Regeneration

On Wednesday, I explored the financial side of the business with Jonny, learning how closely project costs, income and financial performance are monitored to ensure developments remain commercially viable. This gave me a greater appreciation of the importance of financial management in supporting successful regeneration projects.

Afterwards, I joined Pete and Phil on a visit to a vacant site previously used for storage that is being prepared for reintroduction to the market.

Later that day, James and Emma invited me to attend a meeting at Trafford Town Hall, led by Leader of Trafford Council – Councillor Tom Ross, discussing the future potential of Pomona Island as a destination for cultural events and community activity.

I was particularly interested to learn that Pomona Island was once home to Britain’s largest concert venue, the Royal Pomona Palace, highlighting the site’s remarkable historical significance.

Working to a Professional Deadline

Day Four: Project Delivery and Commercial Property

Thursday allowed me to focus on completing the projects assigned by Pete, helping me develop my time management skills while working towards a professional deadline.

During the day, I also joined Pete, Bob and Paul on a site visit to inspect refurbishment works on a recently acquired warehouse. This visit demonstrated the significant investment required to modernise large industrial buildings while ensuring they comply with current health, safety and regulatory standards.

I also observed discussions between agents and landowners regarding the ongoing search for prospective tenants, giving me a better understanding of the importance of communication and relationship management throughout the commercial property process.

Presenting Proposals

Day Five: Presenting Ideas and Heritage Regeneration

My final day began with another visit to Wirral Waters, where I presented my proposals for the industrial park rebrand. Receiving constructive feedback from the team helped develop both my presentation and communication skills while demonstrating the collaborative nature of decision-making within the business.

The day concluded with a guided tour of the historic Central Hydraulic Tower at Wirral Waters, where potential partners were being introduced to the site. This provided further insight into the investment process, heritage-led regeneration and the role that government funding and grants can play in bringing significant regeneration projects to life.

Key Takeaways

Overall, my week at Peel Waters was an incredibly rewarding experience. It provided me with a genuine understanding of the multidisciplinary expertise required to deliver transformational regeneration projects and allowed me to develop both my professional knowledge and practical skills.

I am extremely grateful to everyone at Peel Waters for taking the time to share their expertise and for making me feel so welcome throughout the week. In particular, I would like to thank James for organising such a varied and memorable placement.

The experience has further strengthened my interest in the property and regeneration sector, and I look forward to applying everything I have learnt throughout the remainder of my studies and future career.