All-afternoon lunches may be a thing of the past, but there are some innovative approaches to networking that will appeal to today’s young property professionals, including the ski slopes, writes Christopher Walters
Recent uncertain times in the property world have rather dampened the promotion of networking as an integral part of the industry. In the boom years, working lunches often stretched into the afternoon but, due to the recession, young professionals in the real estate industry today have less opportunity to cultivate professional contacts.
A young surveyor now is less aware of the importance of networking and the positive effects a large web of contacts can have on the future growth of his or her career.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. With an upturn in the market, traditional networking events are coming back, including some big players who are keen to get involved with younger surveyors. Current networking opportunities for young professionals include the established Surveyor’s Sevens, RICS Matrics events and Sociable Surveyors, to name but a few.
Networking events aim to focus on fostering relationships right through from graduate level, and are gaining popularity as people rediscover the benefits of face-to-face conversation in a relaxed, informal atmosphere.
For instance, the PropSki welcome drinks event on 7 November, hosted by Macdonald & Company, provided exactly that. Held at the Après Bar in London’s West End, it was aimed at the younger generation of property professionals, and well over 100 attended.
In attendance was the PropSki committee (with which I am involved), a group of like-minded young property professionals who want to provide a fresh, new look at building relationships within the industry while carving it up on the pistes and sampling a little après ski in the Alps. The seven-strong committee has targeted the wider property market, moving away from the traditionally outgoing agency types to embrace the likes of building surveyors, fit-out specialists, funders, developers, lawyers and architects.
In its first year, we took 100 property industry professionals, with ages ranging from 23 to 38, for a week on the slopes of Val Thorens, France. On 11-18 January 2014 it will make a return trip, with sponsorship provided by Estates Gazette, Macdonald & Company, Jones Lang LaSalle, REVCAP Advisors, GVA, Freedmans Law, Tetris Projects and Goldcrest Land. More than 100 people, representing over 35 companies, are booked to go.
Just like the Sociable Surveyors networking group which is able to hold its functions on dry land, a week of skiing in the Alps with like-minded individuals provides an excellent opportunity for business relationships to blossom.
It might be done through a letting or investment agent introducing a potential opportunity to a fellow agent, or a developer looking for finance to get a project out of ?the ground.
Networking today is not like it used to be, but it still has the same basic principles. Essentially, it involves meeting people face-to-face in a relaxed atmosphere that doesn’t remind you of being at work.
Complimentary drinks are considered a bonus but not strictly essential, and a headline personality from the industry will always attract interest.
There are many industry events for surveyors to take part in, but the challenge has always been to generate continuing interest by keeping attendees up to date with what the event is trying to achieve.
PropSki, a not-for-profit organisation, simply wants to offer a trip that appeals to those who love snow, sun and the Alps. For more information, go to www.propski.co.uk.
Christopher Walters is a PropSki committee member and a surveyor – valuation advisory at Jones Lang LaSalle.
