Monday Meets Victoria Steventon - Head of Property Management

Meet Victoria Steventon , our Head of Property Management. Since joining Derwent London in 2019, Tory has led the Property Management team, overseeing the operational performance of our entire portfolio. She ensures that our buildings run efficiently, safely, and sustainably whilst prioritising the wellbeing and satisfaction of our occupiers.

What’s keeping you busy at the moment?

There is always lots going on in the Property Management team. Our key focuses at the moment are driving the operational portfolio to achieve our net zero targets by 2030, and decarbonisation, which involves multiple teams and lots of innovative ideas. We are always looking at ways to remove the use of gas from the portfolio, reduce our overall energy consumption and ensure that our buildings operate at optimum efficiency. Our Intelligent Buildings, which are digital, consciously wired and independently responsive, play a big part in helping us to achieve this. Operationally, we also work very closely with our service partners to reduce emissions within our supply chain, whether through the use of electric vehicles, consolidated servicing or new technologies.

How did you get into the property industry?

My degree was in modern languages, and when I graduated, I had no idea what I wanted to do next! By chance, I saw an advert for CBRE’s graduate scheme which prompted me to research the property industry. I liked what I found - it seemed to be a career that offered a great deal of versatility, so I went on to undertake a Masters in Land Management and then joined one of the graduate schemes.

What does a typical day look like for you?

There is no such thing as a typical day when you work in property management! The days vary greatly. One day might be spent in the office in design review meetings, catching up with the team, reviewing our team policy and strategy and meeting with our supply chain partners, and the next could be out in the portfolio inspecting our buildings to ensure our services and standards are as expected, and checking in with our occupiers and on-site teams. There are always lots of plates spinning and you have to be versatile and adaptable; ready to leave your plans for the day to deal with matters as they arise. 

What are some of the key challenges you face?

Property Management has evolved a lot over the years since I have been in the industry. I challenge myself and the team to continually seek where we can improve and do better than our competitors. Our Net Zero Pathway is certainly keeping us busy at the moment as we develop smart ways to deliver our business objectives within an operationally live environment, and this certainly comes with its challenges.

What has been your highlight at Derwent London so far?

I love how passionate everybody is about the company and its assets, and that they all genuinely care. The depth and strength of knowledge and expertise across the company amazes me. I take advantage of this everyday and am always learning something new from my colleagues.

What advice would you give to someone looking to get into what you do?

Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself. The best career decisions I have made have been those which scared me a little!

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I have two dogs, one of which is only four months old, so that takes up a lot of time, with plenty of walks in the forest, whatever the weather. I also love to bake and make a mean focaccia, even if I do say so myself!