Who’s up for shaping the future? Logistics real estate is one of the most sought-after asset classes for investors. The European logistics real estate market is growing steadily, driven by structural shifts toward global trade, changes in consumer behavior and e-commerce growth, and the reconfiguration of supply chains.
“Ten years ago, logistics real estate was the ugly duckling on the job market,” says Wouter de Vries, HR business partner, Prologis Northern Europe. “But the environment is changing, and logistics real estate has caught up regarding attractiveness for young talent. In particular, the move from brick-and-mortar retail toward e-commerce affects our sector.” Logistics real estate plays a vital role in e-commerce, and e-commerce is the fastest-growing component in the Prologis portfolio, presently accounting for more than 20 percent.
Ahead of what’s next
“Because the logistics landscape is changing, which in turn affects our business, we need to be innovative,” explains de Vries. “Thanks to our company’s size, we have the ability to be the first to experiment and innovate. This factor makes us an exciting employer and well prepared to deal with this changing environment.”
Logistics real estate means job security and being part of a continuing transformation in the sector. Compared to other areas in real estate, the development cycle is short—12 to 24 months from inception to completion—so individuals participate in an entire project, from idea to final facility, over a short period of time. With a team of approximately 70 people, Prologis Northern Europe manages a portfolio comprising more than 5 million square meters, so employees assume responsibility quickly and can build a rewarding career.
Consolidation of roles
“To have a successful career in logistics real estate, a combination of diverse skills is needed,” says de Vries. “The ability to think both commercially and technically puts you in the best position to manage valuable projects and work with and coordinate external service providers. Because the customer is at the center of our business, we need to deliver excellent customer service.”
Prologis offers the opportunity to develop these skills. Working in property management provides an understanding of how buildings work. Being a leasing officer or market officer teaches how to close deals. A financial job adds further experience. Prologis offers a combination of these skills sets in its Northern European graduate program.
“You could start a career at Prologis during or after your studies—in property management, project management, leasing and development, as well as other crucial functions, such as finance and marketing,” says de Vries. “At Expo Real, we are excited to meet with future real estate professionals to learn about their views and discuss career opportunities. Our company is open to new ways of thinking and looking for people willing to share their ideas with us. Innovation is what keeps us going, and we are looking for creative people who are open to considering things from a different perspective.”
If you want to be part of this booming sector, meet us at the EXPO REAL CareerDay on October 9, 2019, from 09:00–14:00, entrance west. We will raffle off a limited number of free entrance tickets for Expo Real. Please register here.
Visit Prologis at Expo Real in hall C2, booth 211. We look forward to meeting you.