Eleanor Purser

Regeneration manager, English Partnerships

Eleanor Purser, 33, is a regeneration manager with national regeneration agency English Partnerships' southern England region. She is responsible for helping to build the private-public partnerships established to bring forward housing developments on urban brownfield and surplus public sector land.

What has been your most beneficial career experience to date?
When I joined Llewelyn Davies Yeang I was responsible for producing a draft regeneration strategy for a bid to the North Staffordshire Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder. At an early stage in my planning career, I had to develop a detailed understanding of the area's housing market, economy, transport, spatial planning issues and consumer preferences.

What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?
When I wanted to move out of IT work I was advised to do an MSc in sustainability, planning and environmental policy. It was a big change and a risk, but it was my passport to a job in regeneration.

What's the best training you've had?
The urban design modules in my MSc established my sense of the key components of place-making, such as the importance of lively streets, high-quality public space and appropriate scale. This understanding of urban design continues to be central to my work. I also enjoy lectures run by bodies such as the Urban Design Group and the Building Store.

What book would you recommend?
The Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs shows that the best and most vibrant built environments are those in which people enjoy working, resting and playing. She discusses the essential elements of place-making in order to attract and retain visitors and residents.

What do you wish you'd known when you started out?
That there's such a breadth of careers in the built environment. Both the private and public sectors should encourage wider awareness of the stimulating and varied careers available in the sector.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

1998: Does an internship at the European Commission 1999: Becomes an internet strategist at IT specialist Fujitsu

2002: Gains an MSc in sustainability, planning and environmental policy at Cardiff University

2003: Joins urban design company Llewelyn Davies Yeang as a consultant

2005: Becomes a regeneration manager at English Partnerships.

Interview by Helen Holtom