Demi - Barley Homes intern 2026

My internship with Barley Homes has given me the opportunity to gain practical insight into the residential development industry. I study Quantity Surveying at Anglia Ruskin University, and it has been amazing to see all the knowledge I’ve gained so far unfold in person. Working within a small development team has allowed me to learn directly from the Head of Barley Homes and the two Development Managers. I gained an understanding of the different stages of development, from land assessment and planning through to design, viability and construction.

Throughout my internship, I have undertaken research into housing delivery, planning and development, while delivering three major presentations to the team to develop my confidence in communicating. This really helped me a lot because I can be quite shy when it comes to presenting PowerPoints. It also helped me deepen my research skills as well as speaking more confidently. 

I attended stakeholder meetings and gained insight into how different professionals and organisations contribute to the development process. One of my highlights was meeting with Lovell Homes, a home developer, where I was able to gain a better understanding of the contractor's perspective and how developers and contractors work together.

My experience has also given me a much greater awareness of Suffolk and its communities. Through site visits, market days and community engagement, I have seen how development decisions affect different areas and the people who live there. I particularly valued being involved in the community consultation for School Lane in Bardwell, as it showed me the importance of understanding local views when developing a site. 

Alongside my Barley Homes work, I have worked as part of an intern group on the Landlord Retrofit Hub, developing my project management, research, communication and data analysis skills through surveys and market promotions.

Overall, my time at Barley Homes has strengthened my understanding of the development industry while giving me valuable exposure to planning, construction, stakeholder engagement and community consultation. Most importantly, it has helped me understand how the different stages and people involved in development come together to deliver homes and places that respond to both commercial and community needs. It has also encouraged me to continue developing my technical and commercial knowledge as I progress towards a career in construction and development.