With a larger-than-life personality and a strong work ethic, let’s give a big Prologis welcome to our newest associate, Rob Poole. Some of you might remember him as an intern in the Project Management team in 2019, and now he’s back, with a new role in Development Management.
Talking about life at university, career goals, and the 9-5, we caught up with Rob to find out more about what makes him tick and what has brought him back to Prologis for round two.
After graduating from Nottingham Trent University, where he studied Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management, Rob was keen to start his career in commercial property. But what was it about logistics property development that caught Rob’s eye?
“I’d always been drawn to the construction sector, and I liked the idea of being in the office part of the time and onsite too. In this job, no day is the same, and depending on the project, I’m always doing something different. The blend of in office and onsite keeps the job fresh and interesting for me.”
Whilst studying, Rob found himself looking for an internship, and he was offered a position at Prologis:
“With warehouse and logistics space in such high demand, I knew that Prologis was in the right business, and I was excited about the opportunity to gain some experience. I knew that an internship at Prologis would be the right choice.
“Unfortunately, the final four months of my placement were affected by the pandemic, so I was working and learning from home, much like everyone else. Nevertheless, I still managed to learn a lot from the people I was working with!”
“My internship was my first flavour of the 9-5 – it’s a big step up from university! I gained valuable first-hand experience of what it means to work in the dynamic world of logistics sector development. I got a great look into the inner workings of development supply chains and how the whole process works.
“Securing capital, finding the land, planning, site construction, project management – there is so much that goes into the life cycle of each and every project. And of course, I made loads of contacts!
“Above all, my internship at Prologis gave me a real insight into where I wanted my career to take me.”
Now approaching the end of his first month in his new role, the future is looking bright for our latest recruit:
“I feel like I’m fitting in well – I had the best first week I could’ve asked for! The team around me are wonderful, there’s always somebody there to answer any questions. Everybody has made me feel so welcome.
“Probably the biggest thing that has surprised me is the scale of the company. Prologis is so much more than just logistics – the company’s dedication to wider issues, such as sustainability and delivering social value, is something that resonates with me. It’s great to work for a company with such positive values.
“I might only be two weeks into my career at Prologis, but I am already thinking about how things might develop in the future. I want to become a real part of this business; part of the furniture if you will. Prologis does so much good work for customers and communities and I’m keen to get involved in everything.
“The next step for me will be to get qualified as a chartered surveyor and project manager, either through APM or RICS. Eventually, I want to be managing my own vertical build.”
So, what would Rob say to other undergraduates looking for a similar internship?
“If you are offered an internship at Prologis, don’t think twice! Mine was probably the best choice I’ve ever made. You learn so much more through hands-on experience.
“Career-wise, the main thing I’ve learned so far would be that property development is a relationships business, and the small things matter. The more you can do for others, the better.
“Overall, I just want to reiterate how grateful I am to the team around me – everybody has been brilliant, and I am looking forward to continuing to work alongside them.”