With the spotlight shining on Estates Gazette’s 15 rising stars, the property industry is in a position to celebrate the talent we have. These fresh faces are the future and are in a position to shape the industry positively.
The need to find rising stars across the sector is a challenge we all face daily. Recruiting the right talent to make the most of the opportunities that are presenting themselves is fundamental to a market as busy as that which we are experiencing.
As a result of the most recent recession, graduate recruitment was frozen, alternative degrees to property were chosen and those with RICS-accredited degrees were forced to choose alternative career paths.
This has created a “missing slice” of talent in today’s market at the level of the newly qualified and senior surveyor level candidate.
But where there is a cloud, there is a silver lining. The UK property market is resilient and employers
are responding to these challenges with alternative hiring strategies.
In this climate, employee retention is more important than ever. But as the market returns, external opportunities are flowing in and employees are seeking them. The counter-offer culture is rife, but there are pitfalls to this. While it can solve a short-term recruitment problem, once the feeling of flattery subsides, many of the original problems still exist.
Businesses need to listen to employees and treat them well throughout their careers instead of reacting to a letter of resignation. Companies with the best employee retention rates are the ones which ask the questions they don’t want to hear the answers to, but are prepared to respond regardless.
We are also seeing success stories with companies that listen to market advice and seek an alternative solution to their ideal hires.
Instead of sticking to the profile of a zero to three-year chartered surveyor, companies are increasingly investing in graduates. These will be the rising stars of 2020.
In addition, the freelance market is growing month by month with clients taking on highly experienced chartered surveyors who can slot in immediately and ease a headache, while the permanent solution is being battled out in this competitive market.
So let’s celebrate these rising stars and their contribution to the industry in the years to come – but don’t forget the future bright young things who are already hot on their heels.
Rob Joslin, co-founder/director Capstone Recruitment
