The transition to adulthood from university is never easy, institutionalized for almost the entirety of our lives and set free after 2 decades sheltered from the real world. It’s normal to feel scared, alone and uneasy. Becki felt all those things, and after extensive research, she decided that graduates required more support and guidance than what was readily available. Enter: Grad Life by the Horns.

For those who aren’t familiar with the show - Grad Life by the Horns is a podcast covering every element of graduate life. From the existential dread that accompanies the last few months of university, to entering the graduate wasteland jobless and £30,000 in debt, this bi-weekly show will offer practical advice and comforting stories to help ease your stress.

In this episode, Becki dished up a wealth of advice for graduates who are desperately seeking a route into the industry, as well as addressing challenges and risks which grads may face along the way. It’s an essential listen for those just getting started and employees who are looking for innovative ways to attract young guns, ready to make serious waves in property.

In addition to her role at Knight Frank and her side hustle, Grad Life by the Horns, she writes for The Independent and has featured on the BBC. Since graduating from the University of Sheffield in 2019, with a degree in International Relations and Politics, Rebecca has focused her efforts on building her career while also maintaining her passion for mental health activism through journalism.

At the age of 26, Kemi was told that she was diagnosed with bone cancer, as a result, her left leg was amputated above the knee. Part of her recovery was feeling safe in the knowledge that, whilst she was recovering in hospital, her role was being reserved by SAY Property. 

Throughout this interview, Kemi unravels myths on disability within property and how employers can ensure they address ableist hindrances within office environments. Currently 1/5 of the UK’s population is disabled, but only 4 million of the 14 million disabled people are in full time employment.

In addition to being a multi-awarding associate, she is a member of Notting Hill Genesis' Development and Assets Committee, and a board member for Women In Social Housing (WISH) London. 

To round things off, she also had one of our favourite downtime tips to date: Head to Coal Drops Yard to experience the free street carnival (with a Notting Hill vibe) with lots of music, speakers and sound systems, crafts and food trucks. Where can we sign up?

In the late 2000's, Andrea regularly attended events hosted for property professionals as an industry journalist, writing for a variety of publications including Property Week. The lack of female presence on stage was a regular phenomenon and she was ready to make a change. A change to shape the future of females within property.

Women Talk Real Estate offers a practical solution to increase the visibility of women in the industry. Connecting female professionals with speaking and press opportunities and offering tailored training for women on all aspects of building a successful stage and media presence. 

Visibility matters. For the individual, it brings about better business opportunities and career progression, and it also challenges stereotypes and provides role models for the benefit of the whole industry. Women Talk Real Estate is a completely free platform, with a database of over 700 females who are eager to make their mark on the industry. 

Prior to Women Talke Real Estate’s inception, Andrea worked in the European commercial property sector for more than 20 years, and has a specialist knowledge of the workings of the industry and a wide network of senior contacts. Her first ten years were spent as a journalist, including seven years as editor of EuroProperty, a monthly financial title that focused on investment and development trends in the industry. 

After that, Andrea worked for commercial property trade bodies, including the Urban Land Institute, as well as three years at INREV, an industry association based in Amsterdam, as a Director and Interim Chief Executive. This was followed by a year in Hong Kong, where she was Director for ANREV, INREV’s Asian sister organisation. 

On her return to the UK, she worked as Head of Marketing and Communications EMEA at CBRE Global Investors where she supervised the corporate and programme marketing, press, branding and internal communications in the region. 

Andrea is a regular speaker and panellist at industry events as well as a media spokesperson and regular contributor to industry magazines. In 2008, she won the Outstanding Industry Contribution Award at the IPE Real Estate Awards for her contribution to the development of the European fund management industry. 

Andrea brought her experience of public speaking to the studio, resulting in a highly energised and rewarding conversation. Get to meet the right people with devcast...

At the age of 23, Michela had almost completed her degree in psychology, it was at this point when she faced head-on the realisation that she was about to embark on the wrong career path.

Inspired by her Grandfather’s successful tyre company, and breaking the Southern American mould that women's purpose wasn't to work, Michela chose the route of real estate development in order to support renovating the land which her family's company sat on. Fast forward to 2020, Michela now leads development for some of the most innovative and sought-out projects across the capital and UK.

Her knowledge of multifamily projects makes Michela an expert in the build-to-rent space. Earning herself the position as Board Member of British Property Federation Build to Rent Committee and United Kingdom Apartment Association as well as Vice Chairman of Urban Land Institute.

There's only one way to discover the key to Michela's success. Listen to the podcast.

London - one of the most innovative technology hubs the world has to offer - and Notting Hill Genesis brought social housing into the tech-mix. Partnering with Asos to create an innovative platform which releases the transaction administrative burden from both business and customer.

But this episode isn’t all shiny and slick. The duo discuss the overlooked skill shortage which the industry could be facing and why it’s taken 18 housing minister’s in 20 years for the market to finally have a positive outlook.

If that didn't make you want to listen, Andy also revealed he went to school with a certain Irish rock star...

At the age of 15, Jamie launched a career in estate agency, chasing the ‘suit and tie’ lifestyle was his definition of success. After facing the worst financial credit crunch in a hundred years, Jamie applied for the first season on the Apprentice and appeared on the show just a few months later, starring as one of the first professionals to stand alongside Sir Alan Sugar’s hit TV show. At the age of 31, Jamie launched his own estate agency which almost instantly revolutionised the traditional estate agency model; no ties, no clipboards, no desks, no water coolers. Haus Properties was born. Jamie is now recognised for his highly innovative approach to property sales and marketing and his expert use of social media.

This episode lifts the lid on one of the fastest selling developments in London and exposes what it’s really like to be a contestant on The Apprentice.

To find out how Jamie Lester Consultancy can support you and your business, visit the website here. Driven by a desire to make the new homes recruitment process as hassle free as possible for our clients and candidates, deverellsmith provide a 360-degree new homes recruitment and career service, supplying sales and marketing, administrative, after-care and completions staff to industry leading developer and consultancies. Speak with Georgia Zambakides to learn more – Georgia.zambakides@deverellsmith.com.

Andrew Deverell-Smith is joined by B6 CEO, Paul Massey, for the launch of devcast… USA.

For 26 years, Paul was at the helm of Massey Knackal brokerage business, which became unquestionably the number one real estate investment brokerage in New York city. Leading up to its sale at Cushman and Wakefield Paul was accredited with developing some of New York’s biggest real estate brokers and the Massey Knackal D&A spreads throughout much of New York’s brokerage landscape. After leaving Cushman and briefly foraging into New York politics, Paul set up B6 real estate advisors in July 2018 with a goal of becoming the number one mid-market investment sales and capital advisory brokerage in the States.

This episode explores how Paul achieved success in one of, if not the, most competitive real estate cities in the world.

To learn more on B6 and how Paul’s team can support you visit the B6 website here. deverellsmith’s US office offers strategic talent solutions and consultative approach which enables us to connect your organisation to talented people who truly represent your values, fit your culture and have the skills and expertise to drive your real estate business forward. Visit deverellsmith US here.

IR35 is tax legislation, set to take effect in April 2020, designed to stop workers ‘disguising’ themselves as a contractor, rather than an employee for tax benefits. Clients are responsible for making a Status Determination Statement (SDS), as to whether IR35 applies to each contractor. 

Throughout this informative discussion, Adam and Julian spoke about the risks that the rule change poses to end users and the supply chain, what HMRC expects of businesses who choose to use contractors and how they should prepare for the changes coming in April 2020. 

To hear more on the topic, Adam will be joining Julian in November along with Catriona Watt of Fox & Partners and Clarke Bowles of Clearsky Accounting who together will be forming the panel for a bespoke briefing on the topic at the first devtalks… event of the season. For more information on the event, visit the event page here.

In episode 3 of devcast... Laura Croggon catches up with founder of The Daisy Chain, Louise Deverell-Smith. Louise reveals how having kids provoked an idea for an innovative online career platform and explores the key benefits of flexible working.