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Department of Geography

 

Peter Williams: ‘From Cambridge Geography to the Olympics’ – photos from this talk

5pm, Monday 10th March 2008, Large Lecture Theatre

Urban Regeneration and affordable housing are big government priorities, and money is pouring in. But there is a huge shortage of skilled workers in specialisms like town planning, regeneration, housing and many of the allied building trades like quantity surveying, project management and running complex building and refurbishment schemes.

Salaries are rising and conditions of service (holidays, flexible working, in house training) are still good in the public sector. It is a much more dynamic sector than its public image would have it.

Geographers do well in these areas.

Peter Williams read Geography at Peterhouse from 1974-1977, then moved to London to do a year’s theology before joining the Housing Department of Newham in East London. He was able to make use very directly of things he learnt at Cambridge in the 30 year career he has had in Newham. He has had many different roles from managing large estates, refurbishishing private sector housing, managing homelessness services, and most recently in Adult Social Services housing vulnerable people.

Peter is involved in the development of the Olympic village in Stratford, and has great insights on how affordable housing is really being delivered in east London and the Olympic legacy. He will also talk about career paths into these areas of work. He is uniquely placed as he is also external examiner on the Middlesex University Housing post grad. course.