Phil came from a family who were in the building industry and always had an interest in it, just not in the same way. He said: “I was always interested in a career in the industry, but just not the cold, physical work side of it.”
After his A Levels, Phil Mayall was left wondering what next. A conversation with a friend led Phil to the University of Central Lancashire, where he enrolled in the HND Building Studies course. He chose this as it covered both of his interests, construction and property. Phil passed with a Distinction and moved on to BSc (Hons) Building Surveying at the University for his second and third year.
Talking about his time at University, Phil expressed that it had a “real impact” on his life. It’s where he met his wife, who was studying fashion. The pair have been married for 27 years and have three children together.
Phil was also an avid member of the University’s Rugby League team, where he played, captained and coached the team over the course of his degree. During this time, he also represented the North West and England in Rugby League. He earned himself the first ever “Full Rose” award at the annual sports awards and still has the tie he received as a prize.
"I’ve always took part in sport, and I think the teamwork and tenacity that this brings is really transferable to work."
— Phil Mayall, BSc (Hons) Building Surveying graduate
After graduating in 1996, Phil joined a small surveying company where he studied for his Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) professional qualification. He then moved into asset management and subsequently development at the Northern Trust Company. He eventually joined Muse Places, the largest urban regeneration development company in the country.
Working his way up the ladder, Phil is now the Managing Director of Muse Places. He is responsible for the overall performance of the company, ensuring that staff are happy and performing to the best of their abilities. He is also the Director for the company's two national partnerships, EFC and Habiko, and describes his current role as his “greatest achievement”.
Some of Phil’s other achievements include being named the ‘North West Property Personality of the Year’ in 2022. He is also a governor of Oldham College which is partnered with Muse Places to offer T-Level students experience and career opportunities in the property industry.
If Phil had any advice for graduates or prospective students, it’d be to “work hard, ignore imposter syndrome and keep an open mind as to where your career may take you.”
