Your Career With Us
Welcome Spicerhaart is one of the UK’s most innovative estate agency groups, combining the largest independent residential sales and residential letting branch network with a rapidly growing financial services and legal business. We work together with thousands of customers every year, using multi award-winning marketing and leading smart technology to help buy, sell, let or rent property. We generate revenue in excess of £100 million. None of this would be possible without the drive, dedication and determination of the 1,500 plus people that we employ.
Our Nexus team based in head office strive to gain our branches new properties to sell and let, in addition to assisting with out-ofhours phone calls, allowing for longer opening hours and ensuring our branches do not miss any business opportunities. These ground breaking practices provide a vital competitive advantage in this fast-paced and challenging industry.
Alison Beech Managing Director
As Managing Director of one of the UK’s major independent survey and valuation firms, it’s my pleasure to invite you to find out more about us and to consider a career at Valunation.
We hire people who have passion, commitment, and talent. We value our professionals and, as one of the UK’s most progressive residential surveying companies, you will find a place to grow and develop, supported by first class training and technical expertise. An obsession for excellence and great pride in the service we deliver. You have the opportunity to be part of our success.
Spicerhaart Land and New Homes is part of The Spicerhaart Group, the largest principal owned, independent estate agency group in Europe.
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Our core beliefs
• Family
• Customer Obsession
Driving business
We work together as a family for the benefit of the whole. We communicate freely, are open, honest and passionate about what we do.
We are obsessed with delivering an industry leading service both internally and externally.
Everyone at Spicerhaart is encouraged to perform to the highest professional standards and exceed our clients’ expectations by delivering a first class service.
Working in our industry is hard work; you’ll need to be determined and resilient. It’s a highly competitive industry which demands constant
These professional credentials are demonstrated by our membership of the Property Ombudsman.
innovation to stay ahead of the game. In short, it’s a challenge. It is also highly rewarding, enjoyable and a lot of fun. We don’t sell people anything they don’t want. We help people and that provides great job satisfaction.
• Independence through Profitability
We value our independence which is maintained by generating profits sufficient to invest in our business and reward our stakeholders.
Our people are our business, which is why we go to great lengths to recruit the best people possible to come and work for us; people who are committed to
• High Performance Culture
• Reputation
• Continuous Improvement
• Respect
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going the extra mile for our customers, Together we aspire to the highest professional standards in our industry. We will develop our people to fulfil their potential, have a winning mindset and achieve our standards of behaviour and performance. Profitable market share is our mantra.
ensuring they come back to us time and time again. In return, we provide excellent training, support and incentive schemes to make sure that everyone at
Our reputation is built on our high standards of honesty, integrity and professionalism, which we seek to apply in everything we do.
Spicerhaart is well rewarded for their efforts.
We strive to continuously improve and have a thirst for enterprise and innovation.
We treat everyone as an individual; we care about each other, our partners and our communities.
We are proactive and there is nothing more satisfying than following up on a lead and booking a valuation where we are then instructed to sell or let the property.
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Recognition and reward
We reward great performance and celebrate success. This is achieved by regularly reporting results and publishing league tables so that you can compare your performance to that of your peers. We create a competitive environment that promotes a culture of excellence and drives people to greater success. Some of the ways we recognise achievements are: • Regular incentive competitions • Regular team awards evenings • Annual company conference
Our Family Residential Sales Residential Lettings Land and New Homes Financial Services Legal Services Property Surveying Services Corporate Sales
Annual Company Conference 2012
Annual Company Conference 2013
Annual Company Conference 2014
As a part of Spicerhaart we are always looking to support other areas of our business in their growth, development and business success. Together we are a family and together we will be better, stronger and more successful. Miami Incentive Winners 2013
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Your career path
Training and development
Your career is important to us and
Training begins on your very first day.
we always aim to promote from
You will meet your regional team and be
within. We aim to attract and recruit
introduced to your team. In the first few
the highest calibre individuals who
weeks you will attend a comprehensive
receive an industry-leading training
induction programme which is designed to
and development programme. In this environment, our people are able to realise their potential and achieve
Your attitude is the vital ingredient
introduce you all of the Spicerhaart brands and give you the knowledge you need to succeed in your role. The following day
success. All members of our senior
you will be introduced to compliance and
management team started in entry level
become integrated into your individual
positions and have progressed through a structured career path.
At Spicerhaart your attitude will determine how successful you can be.
•
Negotiator
Our top performers understand that
•
Sales Negotiator
success is a choice and they choose to
•
Senior Negotiator
•
Assistant Business Development Manager
•
Business Development Manager
•
Sales Manager/Training & Development Manager
be successful time and time again. We are looking for people who are: • Positive and proactive with a ‘can do’ attitude
team for more extensive role training with your BDM. Training and development programme Soon after joining you will receive a Training & Development Programme (TDP); a document designed to guide you through all the development steps of your career and maintain a record of your progression in these steps.
• Great communicators who enjoy working with people • Resourceful and able to work on their own initiative • Organised, disciplined, hard working and resilient • Focused on providing exceptional customer service and maintaining the highest professional standards at all times
Your training & development will be a combination of classroom based learning with our training and development team, self-learning and on the role learning with your manager and colleagues. Your TDP is a comprehensive plan that will lay the foundations for a successful career. Your development will never cease Training and development is ongoing as you progress through our structured career path. Senior Negotiators are invited to join our Management Preparation Programme. This gives you the tools you need to
Do you have the drive, determination and desire to succeed in a career with us?
succeed in team management. As a team manager you will then be eligible for the Management Development Programme. Successful Team Managers will be
Helping you to succeed
invited to attend our Senior Management Development Programme.
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Negotiator The purpose of the role is to support our branch network by handling inbound telephone enquires from new and existing customers. You will be required to handle a high volume of calls whilst maintaining an excellent level of customer service. This role includes selling the features and benefits of our property valuations, arranging viewings, data entry on a variety of systems and cross-selling any additional services. Individual and team targets need to be met and this brings the potential to
• Providing excellent customer service at all times • Making calls to customers in order to sell products and services that we offer • Hitting personal and team performance targets • Taking advantage of opportunities to cross-sell our products and services • Delivering a high standard of customer service • Building and developing relationships with branches
activity. The role demands a highly
• Giving the branches as many opportunities to list as many properties as possible
self-motivated, ambitious, target-driven
• Effectively managing a call back diary
earn commission as a result of successful
individual who is also self-managed, flexible and has an excellent telephone manner.
Senior Negotiator
As a Negotiator your responsibilities will
You will need to have previous sales or Estate
include:
Agency experience and enthusiasm when
• Providing excellent customer service at all times
talking to people on the phone. Excellent
• Handling a high volume of inbound calls
with the ability to talk to all types of people.
• Outbound calling to vendors or landlords to arrange viewing appointments for their property • Hitting personal and team targets • Taking advantage of opportunities to cross-sell our products and services, ensuring we find as many valuation appointments as possible to grow market share
communication skills are essential, along Working within a team environment you need the desire to succeed. The purpose of the role is to sell the features and benefits of our property valuations in order to increase the amount of properties listed within our branch network. Individual and team targets need to be met and commission is earned as a result of successful sales activity. A call back diary is maintained to ensure all leads
• Building and developing relationships with our branch network
are dealt with and followed up to ensure no
• Entering client’s personal details onto the company’s database
follows that of a Sales Negotiator but with
Sales Negotiator The role demands a highly self-motivated,
opportunities are being missed. The role added responsibilities: • Supporting the Assistant Business Development Manager
has an excellent telephone manner.
• Managing the team when the Business Development Manager or Assistant Business Development Manager are not available
Responsibilities include:
• Dealing with complaints
ambitious, target-driven individual who is also self-managed, flexible and
• Motivating and supporting colleagues • Assisting colleagues with any system
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Assistant Business Development Manager
Training Assistant
A similar role to that of a Senior
duties to the Training and Development
Negotiator, but more for those who are
Manager and, if required, deputise for
looking to progress into a management
them on induction and training courses.
role. The role is broken down to 50%
You will be required to carry out similar
opportunities and 50% supporting the
Training and Development Manager
BDM. The role follows that of a Senior
Through the training and development
Negotiator but with added responsibilities:
role you will be required to support the
phone activities securing new listing
• Supporting the BDM • Managing and driving the team when the BDM is not available • Dealing with complaints • Managing data and ensuring it is called effectively
Business Development Managers on a daily basis: developing their team’s knowledge and objection handling techniques through silent monitoring and observations of call coaching. The training role also comprises these responsibilities:
• Liaising with branches to drive data loading and answering branch queries
• Improving every Negotiator’s performance through training
• Motivating and supporting colleagues
• Using training and development plans as soon as a Negotiator’s performance dips
• Assisting colleagues with any system /customer issues • Holding morning meetings • Assisting with 1 to 1s, call coaching and development plans
Business Development Manager (BDM) Leading a team of up to 16 members comprising an Assistant Business Development Manager and Negotiators, you will take responsibility for your team’s sales
• Using progress and development plans to motivate Negotiators in building their careers • Implementing and maintaining the new starter induction process, until the individuals are signed off as competent • Reviewing and compiling market and company updates in order to ensure we continue to create business opportunities whenever possible
figures and performance management.
• Scoring call quality for every Negotiator
Each of your team will receive monthly 1
• Side by side call coaching
to1s and their performance monitored
• Holding training and coaching sessions when required
on a daily and weekly basis. As well as monitoring your team’s performance and driving them to hit and exceed targets, you will also be responsible for working with your branches to grow market share, through data loading and phone numbers. Relationship building as well as sales skills are the key elements of this role.
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Life with Valunation
“I joined Valunation in October 2013, having just graduated from Essex University with a BSc Degree in Psychology.
the word go I received thorough training and support. As a result of this I soon found myself in a new position working as the Management Assistant. This
the collation of the reports in the correct manner for the multiplicity of clients for whom we act. Remembering that getting it right first time is the correct message is important and something that is being honed and
moments to date and I believe the family
one the comfort of having people to back
as a Booker and immediately felt like part
orientation of the company aided me in
you up and support you in the event
I am looking forward to having the
of the Valunation family. The experience
believing in myself enough to succeed in
of difficulties, and having a dedicated
opportunity to meet with many of the
I gained in such a short amount of time
this new chapter.
team of bookers and admin staff is very
Valunation surveyors both in Head Office
sharpened each day.
reassuring. One might be forgiven for
and in the field over the next months, in
helped me greatly. I have been exposed
I thoroughly enjoy working as part of
stating that after some 43 years as a
order to bring my training and integration
to all kinds of the working world which I
Valunation and the Spicerhaart family
qualified surveyor there is not much to
into sharper focus.”
believe would not have happened have
and look forward to making an impact
I not come to work for Valunation. From
within this new role.“
“Leaving my engineering career behind, I graduated in Building Surveying in 1998 and in 2002 gained full chartered MRICS status.
I was delighted when I was offered the position ahead of 100+ applicants. When I joined the Valunation team I was
home based in Cardiff, I cover Cardiff East and Newport post codes and feel that the local knowledge I hold has added value and benefits with regards to assessing the current housing markets.
Over the past 12 years I have worked
What I enjoy most about this role, is that
in construction project management
every day offers up something different,
team straight away. I felt comfortable
and was employed by one of the largest
from visiting different parts of my patch,
and supported within my work role which
commercial landlords in Europe, which
to meeting and dealing with lots of people
made the transition from healthcare to
brought its own challenges and demands
from all walks of life, and carrying out a
I have always worked within a job
an office role much easier as it was a
which I enjoyed. Looking for a new
variety of instructions from our client base.
role which works with and supports
daunting prospect at first. My director,
others so when I saw the position of
managers and team leader and fellow
Central Booking Administrator within
colleagues are always there to support
Valunation, I applied immediately. To my
me and allow me to develop myself at a
surprise and delight I was invited for an
pace which is suited to me.
worked out well; with the patience
by the Spicerhaart Group has made my
Holly Hamilton Central Booking Administrator
I then joined Valunation on the 2nd of
I am a driven person who strives to achieve
December 2013. This was a fairly big
results and who enjoys a challenge. The
decision for me, which has fortunately
training and support I have been given
Valunation’s
transition from project management to
management team, and with some hand
my new role enjoyable and a memorable
career within the company and excited with
holding, I am now enjoying my new career
experience, which is in itself testament to
the possible prospects available to me.“
as a Registered Valuation Surveyor.
the organisations ethics and generosity.“
I am looking forward to furthering my
the company and all the feedback was excellent and a great place to work so
David Ford Chartered Surveyor
opportunity and a slight change in career,
and
through individuals who worked within
John Moore Chartered Surveyor
Living in the South East of Wales and being
welcomed and made to feel part of the
interview. I had heard about Spicerhaart
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new role is not the actual surveying but
Working for a large organisation gives
within the role and office environment has
“I decided to leave the healthcare industry after 10 years to follow the career path I really wanted which was to work in an office within an administration position.
remember, but the biggest part of this
promotion has to be one of my proudest
I started my career in Valunation working
Grace Bridgman Management Assistant
“I joined the company in January 2014. The role within Valunation has taken me back firmly to my roots as a working surveyor very much ‘on the tools’ every day, and this is the most fulfilling part.
professionalism
of
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Community
Final word
We believe that our business has a responsibility to invest in the local community. We undertake a variety of activities from supporting local school events and charitable fetes to sponsoring local youth and professional football teams. It’s part of our ethos to give something back to the communities in which we live and work.
We believe that the recruitment process is very much a two way street. We want to ensure that you are presented with the very best opportunity to learn about our company, the people and the culture so that you can make an informed decision. We have created some space here for you to make a note of any questions you would like to ask at your interview.
Disneyland Paris, 2012
Notes
Disneyland Paris, 2013
All employees actively support Magic Moments Children’s Charity. It was founded in 1998 and is dedicated to helping families with children who are suffering life limiting illnesses. The charity has raised more than £1,000,000 to support children’s hospices across the UK and enables Magic Moments to make dreams come true for youngsters and
Dragon Boat Race, 2013
their families. Over the years the charity has taken hundreds of seriously ill children and their families to Lapland to see Santa and to Disneyland Paris. In addition to individual fundraising, we hold various events every year including quizzes, Dragon Boat racing, charity balls and more. Local Fundraising
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Contact us Central Support Unit Valunation, Colwyn House Sheepen Place, Colchester Essex CO3 3LD t: 0808 083 4004 f: 01206 777689 e: bst@valunation.com
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