The sociable 2015

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Sociable Issue

THE 2015 AWARDS EVENT EDITION #ssawards2015

DIVERSITY NETWORKING THE FUTURE WORKPLACE INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCES

Welcome from Sociable Surveyors Is your workforce efficient, effective, and competitive?

Do you draw from a truly broad talent pool to recruit the very best?

Is your firm as diverse as your clients?

This evening is all about celebrating the incredible successes of the winning interns of the Global Internship Scheme. These lucky students have interned with the best firms in the industry and gained invaluable experiences that will dramatically improve their chances of getting jobs. Those of you that aren’t students, we hope you can share some of your experiences with everyone over a drink after the speeches and awards.

We hope you enjoy the evening.

Are you an Inclusive Employer?

FACTS

Elliott and Sebastian

Since 2011 we have placed over 200 students on fully paid internships Will you work to deliver best practice across the 6 Principles?

1. Leadership and vision – true change must be driven from the top. The leaders of this industry need to share their vision.

In 2015 we received over 1,250 applications to the Global Internship Scheme Sociable Surveyors have helped raise over £20,000 for LandAid

2. Recruitment – more than avoiding unconscious bias are you recruiting from a wider pool? Outreach work in schools, career changers from teachers to soldiers.

3. Staff development – are we making the most of our staff’s skills? Do we give them the opportunity to thrive?

4. Staff retention – what are we doing to keep staff? If we cannot give them work life balance – they are moving out to sectors that can.

5. Staff engagement – the only permanent culture changes are those that are fully embedded within the firm, how can we involve all staff in finding solutions?

6. Continuous improvement – commitment to monitoring what is working and what is not, sharing best practice, and working together to drive through change.

Sign up to the 6 Principles, display the logo and agree to self-assess every two years – together we shall drive up the standards of our profession across the UK.

Join RICS on the journey to become an Inclusive Employer today.

For more info contact us at: qualitymark@rics.org 3

ProPerty news from every angle.

Damian Wild Editor Estates Gazette

Congratulations on joining the property industry. I’m not surprised you wanted to: its appeal to successive generations is obvious.

EstatEs GazEttE’s award-winninG tEam of journalists producEs ovEr 40 articlEs a day*, 7 days a wEEk. that’s morE nEws than our compEtitors combinEd. With specialists covering every region and every sector, we bring you the most relevant and detailed news in the property market.

Whether you’re at your desk or on-the-go, improve your market knowledge and make better informed decisions with unrivalled property news coverage and market insight from Estates Gazette.

for details of the full range of services that we offer visit www.estatesgazette.com/aboutus

A broad spread of the sector was there too - from investors (Legal & General’s Bill Hughes) to advisers (BNP Paribas Real Estate’s John Slade) and developers (Urban Splash and Scarborough).

There’s the ability to create exciting places. The involvement in deals worth eye-watering sums. The opportunity to be at the heart of a global business. It’s fun, in ways that many sectors have lost.

And for the successful, the rewards aren’t bad either.

It wasn’t a one-off either. Last month Chancellor George Osborne led a delegation to China comprising of the property industry and local authorities to further fuel the northern powerhouse.

But property has always lacked one thing: credibility in Westminster and Whitehall.

Despite contributing at least £100bn to the economy each year, it has never been taken seriously as a business force.

And why do I mention this? Well, the property industry has always been an exciting place to work for all the reasons I began with. Add to that a government that believes in its power to deliver change and there will be few more fascinating places to be.

Local politicians have always been keener on developers than government ministers.

And with even the biggest propcos employing relatively small numbers, they have never enjoyed the access to Downing Street that a BP or a Tesco might expect.

But this summer that may have changed: on an unprecedented tour of south-east Asia at the end of July, the Prime Minister championed the UK property industry like never before.

I was on the trip and saw first-hand David Cameron and several Cabinet colleagues emphatically endorse the work of this industry, hopefully marking a turning point in that relationship.

5 * 15,071 news articles published 20/06/13 – 20/06/14

IN A CHANGING WORLD CHOOSE AN ADVISER WHO CAN OFFER YOU SOMETHING DIFFERENT

LANDMARK DEALS

FINANCIAL SERVICES AND PRODUCTS

Guest Speakers CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER John joined BNP Paribas Real Estate as UK Chief Executive in June 2012.

John has supervised a planned expansion and repositioning of the UK arm of BNP Paribas Real Estate. Under John turnover has risen by 40% and the brand is now recognised as a UK market leader.

JOHN SLADE

Prior to BNP Paribas Real Estate, John was the Chief Executive of Accrue Capital. He was previously joint Chairman of Capital Markets and Managing Director of International Investment at DTZ and Executive Head of CBRE’s City business.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Chris Grigg joined British Land, the UK’s second largest property company, as Chief Executive in January 2009.

British Land has two major businesses: its Office and Residential portfolio is focused on London whilst its Retail & Leisure portfolio is focused on high quality retail locations around the UK. Its total portfolio is valued at about £12bn today.

R

DEVELOPMENT JV

SAFE PAIR OF HANDS

MARKET INTELLIGENCE

BNP PARIBAS REAL ESTATE THE REAL ESTATE ADVISER FOR A CHANGING WORLD

CHRIS GRIGG

Chris was Chief Executive of Barclays Commercial Bank until November 2008, having joined the bank in 2005. Prior to Barclays, he was partner of Goldman Sachs where his career spanned 20 years.

He is a Non-Executive Director of BAE Systems plc, a member of the Executive Board of EPRA (the European Public Real Estate Association) and Board of the BPF (British Property Federation).

TALK TO OUR EXPERTS AT WWW.REALESTATEFORACHANGINGWORLD.CO.UK OR CALL 020 7338 4000

WE ARE DELIGHTED TO BE SPONSORING THE SOCIALABLE SURVEYORS ANNUAL AWARDS 2015

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Emma Sinclair Co-Founder EnterpriseJungle www.enterprisejungle.com

Exceptional people go to KnightFrank.com/recruitment/graduates It goes without saying that at Knight Frank we are passionate about property, but it takes more than passion to make us the best.

Our success is due to our people and we place great emphasis on recruiting the very best graduates globally.

To find out more visit our website or call +44 20 7861 1163

Recently described as a tech head who will “be running the universe one day”, Emma is emerging as one of Europe’s leading business women. Amongst a long list of distinctions she remains the youngest person to have floated a company on the London Stock Exchange, having done so at 29.

Networking with your peers is easy. Social media – including Facebook and Twitter – allow you to keep in touch with those you already know as well as track people you are interested to meet. Follow journalists covering sectors that interest you as well as people in jobs you find appealing. Engage in conversation – but only if you have something interesting to say.

Emma now co-leads global software company EnterpriseJungle. She regularly commentates on TV and contributes to newspapers. Her ability to inspire and her belief that her entrepreneurship can change the world led her to become UNICEF’s first Business Mentor in 2014.

Go to talks. Many businesses and government backed initiatives host events with interesting and inspiring speakers. Ask a question as it’s a great way to get noticed in a crowded room - and it gives you an excuse to approach the speaker afterwards. I always remember ‘that one person’ who asked a smart question in a crowded Q&A.

It’s often said that it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.

None of us know exactly where we’ll end up in life but many of us are excited to get started: Start to study, start to live a more independent life away from home, start to work, start to impact the world, start to climb the career ladder.

If there’s a reception afterwards, stay.

Be brave, introduce yourself and have an ‘elevator pitch’ ready. So named because it should be able to be delivered within the timeframe of a short elevator ride, it’s a snapshot of who you are and what you want to do.

Those reading this might be forgiven for thinking that if I had my time again I might not go to university but rather, I would have gone straight to a full time job. Or I would have chosen to study business given my obvious inclination towards the world of commerce.

Or that committing four years to university did little to foster my entrepreneurial spirit. You would, however, be wrong. With the benefit of hindsight, I wouldn’t change a thing.

Remember names - and where and when you met people - making notes on business cards you receive so you don’t find that card in your pocket a few days later … and draw a blank.

Even if you are not sure what you want to do once you graduate, cultivating an interesting circle of people can not only help when it’s time to find a job but your new and widened circle can serve as everything from a source of advice to mentoring.

University is the most fantastic incubator for young minds and a critical catalyst for creating an all important network for the rest of your personal and professional life. The power of a network is just as important a part of that process as gaining qualifications.

When interesting people connect, without fail…. interesting things happen.

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British Land British Land’s York House makeover estatesgazette.com, 18th July 2015, written by Damian Wild

Just as a retailer needs a flagship store to project its brand, so too does a developer with world-class aspirations require an HQ that is best in class. How else can you convince clients and staff of your development chops? Too many, sadly, fall short, with offices that are long on cost efficiency and short on vision.

light-reflective yarn. And there are now three times as many plants as people.

Inspiration was drawn from offices around the world – from Silicon Valley to Sydney’s celebrated Macquarie Bank HQ. But it is a new stairway at the heart of the office that is the biggest physical change.

It is designed to encourage staff to get active and move around the office.

In the past few weeks, another developer has joined the ranks of the relatively small number seeking to buck the trend.

Space lost by taking out floor area for the staircase was recovered by removing some storage areas and a kitchenette, downsizing the server room, centralising the cloakrooms, lockers, and stationery cupboards and introducing unified modular desks across the firm.

British Land’s multi-million-pound overhaul of its York House offices near London’s Marble Arch, W1, aims to combine the comforts of home with the relaxed air of a Silicon Valley start-up.

After a year of turmoil – the property giant’s 250 staff stayed in situ – chief executive Chris Grigg believes the project has delivered on his ambition to create a space that would help staff retention and motivation and also impress clients.

The change has also created a space – known, of course, as the British Landing – for monthly all staff events.

It was a project driven through by Grigg and chairman John Gildersleeve, a veteran of many a retailer’s boardroom.

Little has gone unaltered by designer Linda Morey-Burrows, principal director at interior design practice MoreySmith, who worked with Mace and Como for construction and with GVA Acuity for project management.

“We were a little bit radical,” says Grigg, pointing out that six months of work followed six months of planning.

“There were people here

Breakout and informal meeting areas have been rethought. There is more natural light, with materials chosen to refract and reflect light, including white furniture and paintwork, and carpets made of

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at the beginning who were not sure we’d get the response in terms of different behaviours. But all the early signs are that people are using the staircase and breakout areas a huge amount.

We’re getting lots of meetings with people bumping into one another on the staircase, sitting down on sofas around the coffee machine, so there is a great increase in dialogue.”

Morey-Burrows says the merging of work and home was a consideration. “People spend so much time in their offices that we draw on some of the projects we do in the residential sector as well,” she says.

“People want to feel more comfortable and relaxed and almost like they’re at home. So the diversity of the meeting rooms, the softer finishes, the more comfort factor and human factor we have brought into the design here is important in the workplace.”

Energy use at York House had already been cut by 43% in recent years, and the revamp should bring further savings.

BL was also determined to buy British wherever possible - from linen, cotton and wool mixes to leather, stone and steel.

But not everything has changed. The art collection for which BL is well known is in evidence on every wall. And Grigg has kept the Roy Lichtenstein prints in his own office.

British Land has, of course, put an emphasis on sustainability, too.

More than 900 items of office furniture have been reused and recycled.

Every lightbulb in the office is energy-efficient and all new fridges have A++ energyefficiency ratings.

He is in no doubt that this domestic overhaul will make the propco better at delivering for clients, not least in minimising business disruption. “As ever with real estate, you know your mistakes will be there for some time,” he says.

“We’ve learned things that will make us more sensitive.”

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retention as well as reinforcing company THE How MULTI-GENERATIONAL ethos. can an employer motivate, WORKPLACE include, reward and encourage staff who Demographic that today’s aren’t physicallydata partshows of an office culture? workforce is technology aging with many companies As identified, plays an important nowinemploying fourto generations of people role this – helping bridge the gap in the workplace – of all aofteam whom need to be between being part and flexible considered. working.

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CULTURE often as standard, designs“culture” will take as in to Forbes recently identified account the multiple systemstoday, required to the hottest topic in business with flexible workingand often at themore forefront. run a building include efficient Recent legislation has given integrated technologies and people systemsthe to right to request this newfrom styleHVAC of working, manage these services, to and with increasing office costs it makes lighting and security. great business sense and is a way to Culture stand out when recruiting and retaining staff. The growth of co-working spaces is Forbes recently identified “culture” as the similarly impacting on the workplace with hottest topic in business today, with flexible people now having the freedom to choose working often at the forefront. Recent a space to work away from the main office legislation has given people the right to whilst remaining connected. request this new style of working, and with increasing costs it makes great Allowing people office to work away from the business sense and is a with way its to stand office, however, comes own out when recruiting andas retaining staff. The cultural issues such staff engagement growth of co-working is similarly and retention as well asspaces reinforcing impactingethos. on the workplace people company How can an with employer now having the freedom choose a space motivate, include, reward to and encourage to work the main office staff who away aren’tfrom physically part of anwhilst remaining connected. office culture?

As identified, technology plays an important role in this – helping Allowing people to work away from the to bridge the gap between being part of a office, however, comes with its own cultural team and flexible working. issues such as staff engagement and

introduction of new technologies, TECHNOLOGICAL EVOLUTIONS demands from different We now take the Internet, mobile generations, cultural expectations computing and videoconferencing for granted, but have communication we yet realised the - but and increased impact of “the Cloud”? what will the impact be?

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This increased level of connection has We are now better connected and have positively influenced building design. immediate access to the information Now, often as standard, designs will and technology we need – meaning our take in to account the multiple systems workplace is no longer confined to a single required to run a building and include building. more efficient integrated technologies and manage these services, This systems increasedtolevel of connection has from HVACinfluenced to lightingbuilding and security. positively design. Now,

a physically and digitally connected Demographic data shows that today’s world and expect this to be reflected in workforce is aging many companies their working lives.with These generations now employing four generations have been responsible for someofofpeople the inworld’s the workplace – all revolutionary of whom needdigital to be newest and considered. businesses and are comfortable with both a wide range of mobile devices and athe Gen Y and Millennials were born into idea of a and public internet life – for world these physically digitally connected generations the line between personal and expect this to be reflected in their and work hasThese beengenerations blurred. working lives. have been responsible for some of the world’s newest With numerous forces impacting the and revolutionary digital businesses and future of the workspace, designs must are comfortable with both a wide range be innovative, inclusive and connected. of mobile devices and the idea of a public With the current erosion, and eventual internet life – for these generations the demise, of old demarcations between line between personal and work has been professions, places of work and any blurred. distinction between digital and physical workplaces it isforces at a business’s own risk With numerous impacting the to ignore theworkspace, changes taking place they future of the designs must– be must keepinclusive ahead ofand theconnected. trends to succeed innovative, With in the future. the current erosion, and eventual demise, of old demarcations between professions, ABOUT FOURFRONT GROUP between places of work and any distinction Fourfront a family of it companies digital and Group physicalisworkplaces is at a that help bring workplaces We business’s own risk to ignore to thelife. changes createplace inspiring workplaces notofonly taking – they must keep that ahead the embody your culture and values but also trends to succeed in the future foster productivity and wellbeing.

@FourfrontGroup

includes office and of fit-out, Fourfront Groupdesign is a family companies detailhelp andbring buildworkplaces (Area Sq), to traditional that life. We create fit-out and light industrial contracting inspiring workplaces that not only embody (Cube Interior Solutions), your culture and values butworkplace also foster strategy & design consultancy (360 productivity and wellbeing.

Design Studios) as well as commercial Our comprehensive offering furniture solutions, service move management includes office (Sketch design and fit-out, detail and archiving Studios). and build (Area Sq), traditional fit-out and light industrial contracting (Cube Interior The four companies that together Solutions), workplace & design form Fourfront Groupstrategy offer a shared consultancy Design Studios) commitment(360 to develop genuine as well as commercialwith furniture solutions, partnerships clients, achievemove management and archiving (Sketch Studios). delivery of world-class service levels, an innovative approach The four companies that together form and exceptional end results.

Fourfront Group offer a shared commitment to develop genuine partnerships withour clients, These are the values that underpin achieve serviceand levels, place asdelivery one of of theworld-class UK’s strongest an innovative approach and exceptional fastest growing businesses in the field, end results. with a turnover in excess of £130m.

These are the values that underpin our place Fourfront Group as one of the UK’soperates strongestfrom and our fastest London office in W1, campus growing businesses inSurrey the field, with a in Egham, ouroflogistics turnover in and excess £130m.centre in Heathrow.

Fourfront Group operates from our London office in W1, Surrey campus in Egham, and our logistics centre in Heathrow.

Fourfront Group

info@fourfrontgroup.co.uk www.fourfrontgroup.co.uk London: 020 7291 9404 | Regions: 01784 274000 12

About Fourfront Group Our comprehensive service offering

Shape YOUR Future 40% of our board joined us as graduates

Charley Allen Savills Tokyo Intern 2014

Back in April 2014 when I applied for a Sociable Surveyors Global Internship with Savills, I never imagined that I would actually be lucky enough to win.

At that stage I had very little experience in the industry and so made the most of the video application to get my personality and passion across and hoped that would be enough.

ownership are regarded separately and so when you buy a unit in a condominium, you are also ascribed a percentage of the land that the property sits on and these prices are usually stated separately.

Unlike in the UK, land is far more valuable than buildings, which are never over a hundred years old there, given that they have to be rebuilt regularly due to frequent earthquakes. The team almost fell off their chairs when I told them I live in a six hundred year old house!

“THE TEAM ALMOST FELL OFF THEIR CHAIRS WHEN I TOLD THEM I LIVE IN A SIX HUNDRED YEAR OLD HOUSE!”

My internship ended with a bang, as I was able to sit in on an overseas closing deal of an office building. It was a fantastic experience and brought an amazing two weeks to a perfect end… and a permanent job offer on Savills’ Graduate Scheme! I cannot thank Elliott, Sebastian, Christian Mancini and the Savills HR team enough for having given me this wonderful opportunity.

Luckily it was, and on 12th September 2014 I headed to Japan where I spent a week traveling around on the speedy Shinkansen trains before my two-week internship in Savills’ Tokyo office.

Despite the perfect Japanese that I had managed to learn in the month prior (!), I didn’t have to use it all that much as I was working with the English speakers in the office. My main research project involved researching companies that had recently relocated offices.

Do you have what it takes?

Become the future of Savills

However, little time was actually spent in the office due to all the visits I made with both the office and residential teams to some of Tokyo’s prime developments including Mori’s impressive mixed-use Toranomon Hills which at 255m tall, is Tokyo’s tallest building.

Business is done very differently in Japan and understanding cultural nuances is key to being successful, even something as simple as exchanging business cards is interesting to witness. A big difference is that land ownership and property

savills.co.uk/graduates

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Sam Fitzell Nabarro, British Land & Savills Hybrid Intern 2014

As I embarked on the third and final instalment of my hybrid internship with Nabarro LLP, I was slightly apprehensive about what to expect, given my own lack of knowledge with regard to the goings on at a large law firm. My nerves were calmed somewhat by the fact I had already visited Nabarro’s impressive offices at London Wall, having previously attended a networking event there during my time at Savills.

Furthermore, alongside another intern, I was asked to undertake a research project on the recently booming private-rental sector. This fulfilling task demanded that we sift through large quantities of schemes, carefully selecting only the most appropriate, then display and present them in a coherent and concise manner.

Aside from the property world, a particularly useful facet of Nabarro is its proximity to the Museum of London, which allowed me to explore the history of the city during my daily lunch hour and momentarily return to my roots as a Classicist.

The layout of the firm with its small offices, despite being wholly unlike the property companies I had just worked with, did allow me to work closely with several different members of the team and build strong working relationships.

Overall, this experience was utterly enlightening and ultimately necessary, from which I was able to truly appreciate the importance of experienced and professional lawyers in facilitating the smooth transactions of the property world.

During my time at Nabarro, I often shadowed various members of the real estate team in an assortment of meetings, from client pitches to project overviews. However, despite their differing topics, all of these affirmed to me the acutely intricate and precise world of property law.

FIT-OUT

OFFICE DESIGN

LIGHT INDUSTRIAL

FURNITURE

WORKPLACE CONSULTANCY

Fourfront Group is a family of companies that help bring workplaces to life. We create inspiring workplaces that not only embody your culture and values but also foster productivity and wellbeing. @FourfrontGroup

Fourfront Group

info@fourfrontgroup.co.uk www.fourfrontgroup.co.uk London: 020 7291 9404 | Regions: 01784 274000

“I often shadowed various members of the real estate team in an assortment of meetings, from client pitches to project overviews.”

Moreover, I was often entrusted to carry out independent projects during my internship. Firstly, I was required to produce an infographic on a recent talk about PPPs (public-private partnerships), a task which allowed me to improve my skills in both presentation, and analysing and condensing information.

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Making property as diverse as the Notting Hill Carnival Property is becoming like Notting Hill Carnival. Yesterday evening, Sociable Surveyors hosted its fourth annual awards event at the Spitalfields offices of international lawyers Allen & Overy.

The event was the largest of the year for young property professionals and attracted more than 350 people.

The mixed crowd of students, graduates, and established professionals came along to hear British Land’s Chris Grigg and Hammerson’s David Atkins share their views on how to get ahead in the industry.

numerous exhibitions over the UK over the coming months and each firm will recruit five apprentices annually.

A week earlier we’d stood in warm sunshine at Notting Hill Carnival eating Jerk Chicken and watching the brightly coloured floats pass by and the contrast was noticeable. Despite the audience of surveyors being a relatively diverse mix of

And a great number of our previous interns have come via non-traditional routes. We’ve introduced many people to the industry that might not have historically had the chance to shine.

Our hope is that this initiative will help

Article was originally published in 2015 by Sebastian Abigail & Elliott Sparsis – Co-founders of Sociable Surveyors

Sociable Surveyors has recruited over 150 interns globally for property companies and agents. Our video application process allows talent to shine through, regardless of the applicant’s background. Many of these work experience hires have resulted in candidates going on to secure extremely sought after graduate placements.

“THE FAMOUS CARNIVAL CREATES AN IMAGE OF WHAT A TRULY DIVERSE WORKFORCE MIGHT LOOK LIKE” people, it definitely wasn’t as diverse as the crowds we were stood in at Carnival last weekend. But, it is a reflection of a changing industry.

companies to face the future with a more diverse workforce.

Diversity goes hand-in-hand with networking. Agents from all walks of life want to be the first property person that springs to someone’s mind at the next new tech start up needing more office space.

Progress in this area is definitely underway. Awareness of the need to widen the cultural mix of the student intake is being championed by Property Week. The Changing the Face of Property (CTFOP), initiative launched in November 2013 by all the major agents clearly demonstrates a willingness to recruit from outside the traditional fold.

The agents have agreed to engage with at least three state schools to encourage students to consider a career in property.

Property Needs You – the CTFOP brand focussed on bringing diverse young people into the industry is exhibiting at

The benefits of a more diverse workforce are best illustrated in an everyday example: look what happens when you work on a large development project.

Architects, asset managers, project managers, planners, agents and lawyers make up a positive carnival of players, each with opinions as diverse as their backgrounds.

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Outside of work, a party made up of property folk, designers, lawyers, other professionals, people working in tech and fashion is significantly more fun than being stuck in a room with people talking about the same thing, isn’t it? If we are more accepting of people from different backgrounds, so our networks grow.

property people, are there not? But think for one moment about those whose own diversity and willingness to meet with those outside the property ‘club’ allow them a unique point of difference. Give them a few years and they will have networks that make the traditional ones look positively dull.

Everyone can play their part, by presenting property to people from all walks of life as an open and inclusive industry that is fun and rewarding. We should help people where possible to get work experience, not just in the pursuit of winning new business or keeping clients happy, but instead direct people towards entry points to the industry that are based on merit.

The famous Carnival creates an image of what a truly diverse workforce might look like. A new melting pot of skills and backgrounds from a wider pool of talent to the industry can only be welcomed especially by those committed to equality, greater diversity, and the progression of our industry. As we are quick to be involved with emerging markets, so must we be quick to embrace an emerging pool of talent that will help shape the future of property.

There are already plenty of networks in property that give access to more

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Nick Katz, FRICS Co-founder & CEO

PropTech – The Future Keep your ear to the ground, you’ll be hearing and seeing the hashtag #proptech a lot more in 2015. It stands for “property technology,” an emerging sector in the technology space where entrepreneurs, incubators, accelerators, and now corporate real estate players are looking to create, improve and invest in technology that can improve how property is dealt with and experienced.

property market, alongside recording record breaking levels of venture capital moving into the wider tech sector in London, and you’ve got one hell of an exciting mix brewing.

It’s amazing it has taken this long to happen, but buildings last for a long time, development cycles are relatively slow, and the people that control the market tend to be less technologically inclined.

For these reasons, perhaps it shouldn’t be that much of a surprise that real estate is one of the last frontiers left to be disrupted by technology.

PROPERTY TECH FUNDING By country, 2014 ($m) 0

200

400

600

800

1000

US INDIA CHINA EUROPE COLUMBIA OTHERS

2013 marked a big change in this trend in the US, 2014 cemented it, and I think 2015 will see the UK become a global powerhouse. Property technology has seen the largest influx in venture capital ever, with investors injecting a record $1.4billion into proptech startups in 2014 (Crunchbase). Combine this capital infusion with the perennially white-hot

@SplittableUK +44 74 7291 9595 www.splittable.co

MY JOURNEY: PROPERTY INTO PROPTECH & US TO UK Now for a little about me: I was born in Islington in 1984, left in 1986, attended school in the states and graduated from Denison University in 2006. I jumped straight into commercial real estate: I spent my first year as an investment agent with Coldwell Banker Commercial, moved into office leasing with GVA Advantis, then into sustainability at a boutique consultancy before moving to London in 2010.

After getting frustrated with the slow moving deal cycles and with the corporate view of innovation = risk I made my leap into tech. I was introduced to the CEO of an exciting seed funded (seed in the United States means $2million!) commercial proptech business based in NYC. He had a similar background to mine, having started at Tishman Speyer on the investment side and then graduating to become Global Head of Sustainability.

I was immediately impressed by his vision to scale out a platform to match developers with service providers for commercial real estate projects.

The power of big data meant the glacial pace of procurement could be sped up 10x.

I landed on this lovely island at the height of the recession and as you can imagine had a tremendously difficult time getting a job with no network or track record of work outside the States. I finally convinced my way in to the UKGBC and then managed to become the Senior Sustainability Advisor for Colliers International.

MY BUSINESS: SPLITTABLE After spending a year as the Head of Europe for Honest Buildings based at the Open Data Institute in Shoreditch, founded by Sir Tim Berners-Lee, I felt I was ready to take on a challenge that needs a grass roots brand to champion: making the experience of living in a property better for regular people.

Splittable is a financial platform for housemates to manage and split all of their household expenditure, from rent & utilities, to groceries & nights out. Our mission is to help householders become better and smarter, by delivering an intuitive platform for the home that brings all the power of enterprise software to the consumer.

The market dynamics in London make this the best city to focus our efforts in initially, while serving as the most strategic location for us to expand globally. Hopefully with exciting businesses like ours, other startups mentioned in this PROPS piece and myriad others growing and those yet to be launched – we’re entering the most exciting time for innovation in property ever.

Make sure to keep checking the #proptech hashtag on Twitter, 2015 is going to be BIG. Nick is honored to be the youngest Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyor.

I teamed up with a Cambridge physics grad turned software developer that I had gotten to know well while both working at the ODI. We decided to take all my learnings in the CRE space and apply them to building Software as a Service (“SaaS) wholly focused on consumers and their homes.

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“Compulsory reading now - and part of the study curriculum over the next few decades” Mike Strong Executive Chairman, EMEA, CBRE Planet Property holds a chapter headed “Mainly for Students.” But those studying for a career in real estate were in mind when writing each chapter.

The book is set to serve as a primer.

Written in language I hope can be understood by readers yet to be versed in a sector more fascinating, more rewarding and more enjoyable than is widely understood.

THE WINNING FORMULA With 16 offices offering 19 individual services, Malcolm Hollis is in the driving seat when it comes to commercial building surveying.

From due diligence and dilapidations to neighbourly matters and M&E, Malcolm Hollis has the winning formula across all property sectors.

Enjoy life on Planet Property.

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malcolmhollis.com 00800 2266 2247 @mhollisllp

At Malcolm Hollis we love what we do.

We have a unique company spirit. Challenging and supportive. Enthusiastic and progressive. Successful and fun.

We’re independently-owned and independently-minded, not afraid to give honest advice or to be ourselves.

For more details on joining us visit malcolmhollis.com/work-with-us

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Charity Raffle

Provided by:

Charity

Fingers crossed your numbers are called out!

PLANT A TREE NO DIGGING REQUIRED!

RAFFLE PRIZES

1

Bottle of Vodka and free entry for ten people at Raffles private members’ club, Chelsea

6

Five tickets to Have I Got News For You live recording

“Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone else planted a tree long ago.”

Kindly donated by Hat Trick Productions

I stopped and was moved the other day when I came across this great quote of Warren Buffett’s. In 15 words it captures the transformative power that generosity, gratitude, and luck can have together.

Kindly donated by Raffles

2

£500 table, bottle of Vodka and free entry for ten people at Bodo’s Schloss nightclub, Kensington

7

£100 lunch voucher at Ziani, Chelsea Kindly donated by Ziani

And I thought some more about luck.

Two wicker baskets of vintage Champagne

We’ve all got good jobs; we’re well educated; we have somewhere to live (even if we can’t quite afford to buy); nice food; good friends.

Kindly donated by Bodo’s Schloss

3

£150 voucher for Roast restaurant in Borough Market

8

Kindly donated by Roast Restaurant

4

Kindly donated by Knight Frank

Two backstage tickets to a Channel 4 show

9

An Apple iWatch Kindly donated by JJ Homes

Kindly donated by Channel 4

5

www.amitandnaroop.com

With their support, she went back to school, took a couple of GCSEs and is now applying to colleges.

These are bright and able young people, often with loads of initiative, who are creative and resilient. But for many, there can be some massive barriers.

They need opportunity, support, and sometimes a great deal of skill and care to overcome those barriers and begin to make things better.

Which is where LandAid and the charities we support come in.

LandAid is the property industry charity.

We help change the lives of vulnerable children and young people. We find and invest in some of the most effective charities across the UK. We do that with money you help us raise.

Sometimes things get tough, but generally we’ve got the capacity, the support, and the means to make changes in our lives that can make things better.

We are very lucky.

Help us plant the trees to give young people less lucky than we are, young people like Kim, some welcome shade.

LandAid supports charities in London and across the UK working with children and young people who aren’t so lucky.

£100 Brent Cross shopping centre voucher

10 An off the peg shirt from

bespoke shirtmaker Emmett

Kindly donated by Brent Cross

Kindly donated by Emmett

24

You can give online at www.mydonate.bt.com/charities/landaid or by texting LAND14 £10 to 70070

Young people like Kim. Kim was homeless, living in a car with her Mum and working as a prostitute to make ends meet when the team at Jamie’s Farm, one of the many great programmes LandAid helps support, first met her.

She was only 16. Jamie’s Farm gave her the space, time and care to put a new life together. Combining great activities, safety, and trusting companionship, she said “They gave me the chance to realise what I wanted to get out of life and the confidence to know I could get there”.

Fancy providing some pro bono expertise to the charities we support? Or becoming one of our Ambassadors? Find out more about our work, the impact we achieve, and how you can get involved at www.landaid.org

25

Routes to Chartered Status

Charity Auction

Courses accredited by:

Use the auction paddle on the back page of this magazine so the auctioneer can see your bid!

AUCTION LOTS

1

Lunch for two people at The Reform Club in St James’s with Peter Bill, London Evening Standard columnist.

6

Guest authorship of a full page article in Estates Gazette Kindly donated by Estates Gazette

Kindly donated by Peter Bill

2

‘Dinner for 2 at Sushi Samba’, two tickets to a West End show and the Knight Frank chauffeur for the whole evening

7

Four Club Wembley tickets for England v France on 17th November Kindly donated by BNP Paribas Real Estate UK

Kindly donated by Nabarro & Knight Frank 3

Dinner for five people with Mark Ridley, Chief Executive of Savills UK at Savills’ Global Headquarters

8

Dinner with Matt Howell, MD of the RICS at Roux, Parliament Square Kindly donated by RICS

Studying with us offers: ➜ affordability - excellent value for money ➜ flexibility - supported online learning allows students to work

Kindly donated by Savills

alongside their study 4

Lunch for five people with Paul White, Chief Executive of Frogmore at Mark’s Club in Mayfair

9

Kindly donated by Frogmore Property

Tour of The Leadenhall Building ‘The Cheesegrater’ for 20 people followed by drinks afterwards

➜ progression - start your journey to Chartered Status

Kindly donated by British Land Proud sponsors of:

5 Lunch for three people with Mike Slade, Chief Executive of Helical Bar at Scott’s Restaurant, Mayfair Kindly donated by Helical Bar

A one hour shared lesson with an 10 instructor for two people at Bisley Shooting Ground including 50 clays and cartridges each Kindly donated by Bisley Shooting Ground

Established in 1919, The College of Estate Management remains the leading provider of vocational education for the real estate and construction sectors.

From Foundation to MSc we can help you progress your career as a surveyor.

We pride ourselves on our accessibility and strongly encourage widening participation. We attract students from all walks of life.

26

We partner with key employers to provide academic qualifications for their apprentices.

Find out more email enquiries@cem.ac.uk or call 0118 921 4752

www.cem.ac.uk

See Page 26 for the auction lots.