Our Day in the Life series takes you behind the scenes at Richborough, introducing some of the diverse expertise across our business and offering a closer look at how strategic land promotion works in practice.
Our latest interview is with Melissa Slaney-Smith, Senior Disposals Manager, who works with housebuilders and delivery partners to find the right buyer for our sites nationwide.
What does a typical day involve for a Senior Disposals Manager?
I manage multiple sites at various stages of the pre-marketing, marketing and disposal cycle, so no teo days are quite the same. One day I might be reviewing a sales pack ahead of a site launch; the next, scrutinising bids to ensure they’re robust and credible and deliver the best possible value. On other days I could be chairing interviews with housebuilders or joining legal calls to help progress negotiations.
What do you enjoy about your role?
I enjoy the social side of my role and the opportunity to meet people across the country, whether that’s colleagues in our regional offices, housebuilders, agents or other industry contacts. As Richborough operates nationally, I’m exposed to a variety of markets and networks, giving me a valuable insight into how land and property sales differ from region to region.
What do you enjoy about working for Richborough?
I really value the culture at Richborough. It’s such a fun place to work and everyone is incredibly supportive. There’s also a real willingness across the business to learn from each other and embrace new ideas.
Coming from a housebuilder background, I’ve found the team genuinely interested in my experience and keen to explore different ways of working, which makes it a really collaborative environment.
What is your proudest achievement with Richborough?
One of my proudest achievements was securing my first disposal at Richborough last year. The sale completed just four months after launch, thanks to the commitment, responsiveness and collaborative approach of both the landowner team and the buyer, which kept the transaction moving smoothly from start to finish.
That collaboration helped us avoid unnecessary delays and move the site closer to delivering much-needed new homes for the local village.
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to enter the field of land promotion?
Build strong relationships, ask questions and don’t be afraid to seek advice from experienced colleagues.
The land industry is built on collaboration, so you’re always learning from the people around you.
How do you unwind after a particularly challenging project or day?
Spending quality time with my family in the evening is what makes me happiest – a chance to relax and reconnect after the busy-ness of work. A glass of wine usually helps too after a particularly challenging day!