When US-based tech giant Katerra shut down operations in June, it sent a ricochet through the construction technology sector.  After raising billions of dollars’ worth of funding, the Softbank-backed modular pioneer collapsed under debt following the pandemic.  Now, four of the group's former executives have joined forces once more to lead the US roll-out of another modular start-up, one much closer to home. On this episode of Tech Talk Radio, EG head of content Emily Wright is joined by Janet Stephenson, Kassi Mast, Eva Talbot and Jennifer Caldwell; the Seattle-based team which will run the US arm of London start-up Modulous.  The expansion follows Modulous’s £5m capital raise from investors including Blackhorn Ventures, Cemex Ventures, Groundbreak Ventures, Goldacre and the UK Government's future fund.  For more on how these four former Katerra executives plan to harness their pre-existing skills to lead this expansion and why being a team of four women was a happy coincidence based on talent and talent alone, tune in to this week's episode of Tech Talk Radio.  

In this week’s round-up of news from the team at EG, deputy editor Tim Burke hosts as a poor man’s Jess Harrold, and is joined by news editor Pui-Guan Man and residential editor Emma Rosser. The trio discuss Landsec’s moves to pick up a new outlets portfolio as well as a piece of the Bluewater shopping centre; Bradley Baker’s promotion to chief executive at developer Co-Re; the L&G executive with the most fun job in real estate; and more. Disastrous driving lessons and car racing in the Square Mile also make an appearance, although not together. Finally, there’s a slightly-less-well-thought-out-than-usual quiz in which – spoiler alert – everyone really is a winner.

Hybrid working looks to be here to stay. That not only means that offices need to work harder than ever before to lure tenants back but a wide range of other asset classes must up their connectivity game.   On this episode of Tech Talk Radio, EG head of content Emily Wright is joined by Wiredscore president William Newton and Watkins Jones head of divestment and asset management George Dyer to discuss just that.  Wiredscore research has revealed that over half of Europeans consider their internet to be better at home than in the workplace. As the world gears up to embrace hybrid working, it is clear there is more to be done to ensure that connectivity is supporting hybrid working across a number of asset classes including offices, BTR and purpose-built student accommodation.  "The key thing now for us as developers is to design places where people want to live and a critical part of that now is also where people want to work," said BTR and student accommodation developer Watkins Jones' Dyer. "For us, connectivity is a key part of that as well as looking at how we can integrate things like business lounges and co-working spaces into our buildings and really create an environment where people are happy to live and work."   Newton said: “Looking to the future, we don’t think the productive home-working we saw during the pandemic was a temporary shift. This is a new way or work and a better, more constructive way for people to live their lives. We are now incredibly well set up for remote work and landlords should be thinking very carefully about setting it up for people who want it.”

On this episode of Tech Talk Radio, EG head of content Emily Wright speaks to Insurami chief executive and founder Majed Chaaraoui and head of partnerships Jack Sibley.  Launched in 2019, Insurami effectively operates as a large-scale Deposit Guarantee platform for commercial real estate and is currently used by companies including The Howard De Walden Estate, Level39 and Huckletree.  Rather than forking out a hefty deposit in one go, tenants pay a monthly fee to the platform for a Deposit Guarantee. This then pays out to the landlord – up to the maximum cover value of £600,000 – if there is a default on the lease. Off the back of last month's announcement that Fasanara Capital has joined existing investors including Global Founders Capital, Entrepreneur First and Clocktower Ventures in a £42m raise to facilitate Insurami’s expansion, the duo reveal what those growth plans will entail.  They also explain why they believe their tech solution will release billions of pounds worth of otherwise illiquid funds caught up within the real estate sector. 

The office market in Cambridgeshire is flourishing as rents head towards the £50 psf level but a shortage of available land could hamper future growth, according to Bidwells senior surveyor George Craig. Bidwells leads the Cambridgeshire On-Demand Rankings for transacted space, with 822,813 sq ft disposed so far this year. It is a market led by the technology cluster that has formed around Cambridge University which seeks to attract the best talent the various colleges produce. One of the biggest success stories this year has been Roku, which specialises in streaming services including Peloton, whose growth through the pandemic has seen it expand from 20,000 sq ft to 116,000 sq ft. Craig expects the £50 psf barrier to be broken early in the new year, but says landlords will need to think creatively about repurposing existing stock as land is in short supply.

Jess Harrold is joined by deputy editor Tim Burke and news editor Pui-Guan Man for the latest weekly round-up podcast, with good news on the menu. Tim discusses how the real estate industry appears to be recovering from the worst of the Covid-19 crisis, with the latest results showing some major players turning profits and occupiers eager to take space. Pui digs into details on British Land's largest half-year profit since 2015, and tackles more of the week's news. But who will come out on top in the quiz of the week?

The latest episode of the EG Property Podcast continues our Investing through Auctions series with a practical podcast focused on how to buy in the new normal The pandemic saw a massive shift to online auctions and brought with it a rise in newcomers to the auctions market. In this 30-minute episode EG editor Samantha McClary chatting with head of sales at 574 Max Mason and managing partner of Harold Benjamin Vijay Parikh to learn more about how to buy at auction, the increasing importance of due diligence, how to make sure you get the very best deal – and don’t get carried away – and how online auctions are proving to be key in attracting a more diverse buying group to real estate.

Last week, the government introduced its anticipated legislative proposals on commercial rent arrears recovery for debts accumulated during the pandemic. They take the shape of the Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill – introduced into Parliament last week – and a new Code of Practice for landlords and tenants. To discuss the background to the proposals, the detail contained in the draft legislation and what it will mean for landlords and tenants, EG’s professional & legal editor, Sarah Jackman, is joined by Helena Davies, property litigation partner at law firm Brabners. Listen as they get to grips with the scope of the proposals and how the proposed new legally-binding arbitration process might work in practice.

In this week’s episode of Bricks & Mortar, EG’s Sarah Jackman is joined by Nina Zeilerbauer and Clare Coe of real estate recruitment specialist Madison Berkeley for a look at the employment market in the real estate sector. They attest to one of the busiest periods that they’ve ever seen, with lots of people – of all levels and across a range of sectors – on the move for a variety of different reasons. As a result, attracting new staff and retaining existing employees has become increasingly important, with factors such as remote working and flexibility playing a key part in the discussion. Both stress that communication is central to understanding the needs of existing employees and that counter-offering to someone who is intending to move elsewhere often isn’t productive. Tune in for the full discussion and their thoughts on the direction of the employment market over the coming months.

Jess Harrold is joined by deputy editor Tim Burke and London & offices reporter Alex Daniel for a wide-ranging round up of the week's hot topics. Daniel updates listeners on the office market and the surging interest in 22 Bishopsgate, including from Apple - and explains why controversial tower, The Tulip, has failed to get off the ground. Burke tackles the future of flex with the latest from some major players, and highlights some powerful content in this week's magazine featuring trans people in real estate sharing their stories, including the EG Interview with District Technologies founder, Lee Butz. Harrold himself weighs in with the details on the Covid rent arrears arbitration process introduced by the Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill - then puts his colleagues to the test in the quiz of the week.

In this episode of the EG Property Podcast EG editor Samantha McClary sits down with JLL UK chief executive Stephanie Hyde and global head of sustainability services and ESG Guy Grainger to reflect on two weeks of COP26. Both relocated to Glasgow for the full duration of the event, attending numerous discussions to make sure they were learning more about exactly what real estate can and needs to do to ensure that it plays its very important role in helping to solve the climate challenge. In this 20 minute discussion, they share invaluable insights from COP26, what has inspired them most and why now is no longer the time for pledges and goal-setting but for real and thoughtful action.

When the pandemic gripped in March last year, the nation's auction rooms fell silent. Bidding, buying and selling went online and gavel-wielders had to become instant masters of more sophisticated technology. But what was it like for the ballroom-junkies to suddenly have to adapt to a virtual world? And what, if anything, would they keep as we head back to the auction room? EG's senior writer Piers Wehner talks to Allsop partner Richard Adamson, Mountview Estate's head of sales and acquisitions John Herne, and Prideview's principal Jesal Patel to find out whether the future of auctions is in or out of the room.

As COP26 continues in Glasgow, EG’s Sarah Jackman takes a look at how the dilapidations process can be made greener. Joining her to discuss the topic are Jon Rowling, technical partner and dilapidations specialist at TFT, Siobhan Cross, real estate dispute resolution partner at Pinsent Masons, and Allan Clark, head of sustainability and facilities compliance at Pinsent Masons. Rowling discusses why green dilapidations are receiving increased interest and highlights measures that could be adopted to make the process less wasteful, while Cross discusses how a more sustainable approach – such as retaining an existing fit out – could work from a legal perspective. Clark provides the occupier perspective and reflects on achieving the right balance between acting sustainably, while at the same time safeguarding business interests.

The industrial market in Kent is enjoying its strongest ever year thanks to ease of access and hugely competitive rental values, according to Caxtons Commercial director and head of commercial agency Mark Coxon. The Radius On-Demand Rankings for Kent reveal Caxtons Commercial has transacted almost 220,000 sq ft across 20 deals so far this year. Chief among these have been two 70,000+ sq ft lettings to Argos and DHL. Coxon says M25 industrial rents in Kent are 50% the level seen at prime sites to the north and west of London, despite journey times to the city centre being the same. Some 3.5m sq ft of industrial space was let across the county this year compared to just 850,000 sq ft last year. The biggest challenge is finding development land, something not helped by some potential sites being bought by the government for use as lorry parks.

Jess Harrold is joined by head of content Emily Wright and, dialling in from Glasgow during COP26, editor Sam McClary for a lively conversation on environmental, social and corporate governance matters. McClary sends her message to the sector that real estate can and should be leading the fight to solve the climate crisis, while Wright offers her thoughts on what ESG means for real estate. In addition, they discuss the highlights of this week's timely ESG special in the pages of EG and online.

Jess Harrold is joined by partner Michael Stacey and associate Pauline Lam, both from Russell Cooke, to discuss the recent county court ruling in Fairhurst v Woodard – a nuisance and breach of privacy claim between neighbours which involved use of Ring doorbell cameras. Stacey and Lam address the breach of privacy and data protection issues raised by the case, how they were handled by the judge, and the implications for residential landowners looking to protect their properties. In addition, they consider the position for commercial landowners.

Haunted by technical difficulties, delivery people and other distractions, Jess Harrold is joined by editor Sam McClary and residential editor Emma Rosser, all in high spirits for a Halloween episode of EG’s weekly roundup – including their bleary-eyed rundown of all the fun of the EG Awards. McClary shares her experiences of co-hosting the event with actor David Harewood, and Rosser talks through her bumper build to rent special in the latest issue of EG. But will these brave victims survive the horror of the quiz of the week?

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has outlined his spending plans for a “new economy post-Covid” – but what will his Autumn Budget mean for real estate?   With business rates, housing, planning, levelling up and REIT taxes among the key points, there is plenty that the industry will need to digest. In this Budget special, news editor Pui-Guan Man is joined by Melanie Leech, chief executive of the British Property Federation, Mark Prisk, former housing minister, strategic adviser to Handley House and chair of Saltaire Housing and Vivienne King, chair of the Shopkeepers’ Campaign to discuss what lies in store for property – and the missed opportunities.

Jess Harrold is joined by head of content Emily Wright and EGLSM debutant Phoenix Deutsch, recruitment account manager and member of EG’s diversity and inclusion committee, for the latest weekly podcast. Deutsch talks through the extensive work being done internally on D&I at EG, including our new mission statement - and shares her own views on the state of equality in the sector. Wright shares major merger news from the world of tech, and discusses the powerful new article series Unheard Voices, which offers a "safe space" for those who have suffered from discrimination, harassment and other mistreatment in real estate to tell their stories anonymously  

Take up of logistics space in the West Midlands is at almost twice the five-year average but uncertainty created by Brexit, Covid and a global shipping crisis are increasingly forcing occupiers to ask for short term leases thus presenting difficult decisions for landlords, according to Darby Keye director Chris Keye. Darby Keye is a niche industrial specialist which has nevertheless risen to second in the Radius On Demand Industrial Rankings for the West Midlands region after transacting 605,174 sq ft of space so far this year. Only JLL has disposed of more space in the West Midlands, where geography makes it a competitive marketplace for the logistics sector. Keye says pent up demand, exacerbated by a shortage of available space, means that landlords are frequently able to hang out for long term leases, but some units are being taken for as little as three months as occupiers look for short term solutions to ride out the current supply chain chaos. He believes the industry needs to work more closely with occupiers to deliver space best suited for their future needs.

This week, Bricks & Mortar host Sarah Jackman is joined by Hollis’s head of ESG Consulting, Katherine Beisler, for a catch-up on its new junior board. Established earlier this year with the intention of nurturing talent and increasing diversity of thought within the organisation, Beisler reflects on her own experience of being elected to the 12-strong board. It’s an opportunity that has helped her to foster greater contacts within the organisation and hear a range of different perspectives, as well as broadening her understanding of what’s going on within the business. Tune in to hear the full discussion.

“You can’t avoid it. It is here to stay.” John Davies, head of sustainability at Derwent London, knows that the ESG agenda is now inescapable for real estate companies large and small.  In this 30-minute podcast, recorded as part of EG’s upcoming ESG special, deputy editor Tim Burke is joined by Davies, DWF senior partner Melanie Williams, Stride Treglown sustainability director John Wright, and Evora co-founder Ed Gabbitas to discuss the challenges in embedding an ESG strategy into a property business — and their advice for businesses making their first moves in this area. For more ESG news, analysis and commentary from EG, head to https://www.egi.co.uk/sustainability/

Jess Harrold, Emily Wright, Pui-Guan Man and Tim Burke make their triumphant return to EG's recording studio for a full-spirited reunion in the first ever in-person episode of EG Like Sunday Morning. Pui and Tim round up the major news stories of the week, Emily airs her views on the return to the office, and the whole team share their lockdown indulgences and life-changing experiences from the pandemic.  

In this second of two EG Property Podcasts looking at the power of difference, EG editor Samantha McClary asks whether real estate has really moved from tolerating difference to embracing and celebrating them. Joining her in this 40 minute discussion are Sasha Covington, chief operating officer in JLL's UK valuation advisory business, Michael Toft, head of care homes at Octopus Real Estate and Canary Wharf Group's managing director of people and culture Jane Hollinshead. Listen in as the trio discuss how much further real estate needs to move and what actions it has to take if difference really is to be celebrated.

On the latest episode of On the Case, Jess Harrold is joined by Nick Trompeter QC, of Selborne Chambers, to discuss the decision in London Trocadero (2015) LLP v Picturehouse Cinemas Ltd and others [2021] EWHC 2591 (Ch); [2021] PLSCS 165 – a significant unpaid rent claim arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic. Trompeter, who acted for the successful landlord, addresses the defences to the claim raised by the cinema chain tenant, and how the High Court dealt with each of them. In addition, he looks at the implications of this judgment together with earlier unpaid rent rulings, considers whether any real grounds of defence are left open to tenants, and offers his thoughts on whether his type of claim may be pursued by more landlords.

For the latest Future of Real Estate podcast, Damian Wild joins an investor tour of Birmingham to learn how the city is pitching inward investment opportunities. The council is the 20th biggest land owner in the country and, with the Commonwealth Games and HS2 on the horizon, believes it is on the cusp of a golden decade. He asks leader Ian Ward and interim chief executive Deborah Cadman why they believe their investment story stacks up.

As London returns to its pre-pandemic bustle, under the surface lies a changed city. The experience of the past 18 months, and the increasing importance of sustainability and work-life balance, has led to a fundamental rethinking of the office and workspaces more generally. Or has it? In this episode of the EG Property Podcast, EG editor Samantha McClary is in discussion with Matt Flood, head of occupier markets at LandSec, Mark Shepherd, a partner at DWF and James Shannon, chief product and technology officer at Essensys to uncover more about what the role of the office really is, what is it that is most important to occupiers and how can technology and collaboration ensure that London remains a resilient city. Listen in to find out.

In this first of two linked EG Property Podcasts, host  EG editor Samantha McClary talks to Real Estate Balance managing director Sue Brown, head of HR at Savills Noel McGonigle and Pierre-Etienne Accarier-Francoz, an associate in the development team at Oxford Properties about changing attitudes to difference in the real estate sector. This 30 minute listen covers everything from how working environments are changing to reflect the needs of a more diverse workforce to whether the industry has moved from tolerating difference to embracing.  

Sometimes the first step towards progress is being totally, even brutally, realistic. And when it comes to an issue as complex and politically sensitive as delivering affordable housing in a city like London, a healthy dose of realism can work wonders - especially for those who are committed to finding solutions to this thorny, and increasingly pressing, problem.   Realism is what will ensure laurels are not rested upon. It is what will drive those who want to make a change to differentiate between what Government says and what Government does. Realism, for all its grounding in the sensible and pragmatic, is what could drive the creativity we desperately need.   “Those organisations out there that truly want to deliver affordable housing are just going to have to find creative solutions to do that,” said Square Roots managing director Barbara Richardson on an EG podcast focussed on how the industry can deliver more quality, reliable and affordable accommodation in the capital and how it can better service the frontline workers on whose service the city depends. “In the next three to five years I really don’t think the political system is going to help very much,” she added. “While I would like to think they are behind us, speaking about something and putting it into practice are two very different things.”   Tune in to hear more from Richardson, The Lowe Group's Tim Lowe and Dolphin Living chief executive Olivia Harris on how creative solutions from the industry will be the driving force behind instigating real, long-term change when it comes to delivering affordable housing solutions for London's keyworkers.   

In this episode of the EG Property Podcast, EG editor Samantha McClary is talking all about London’s continuing attractiveness as an investment hotspot with Rasheed Hassan, head of global cross border investment at Savills, Katherine Ekers, a partner in the commercial real estate team at Forsters and James Edwards, managing director of Evans Randall Investors. Over the next 30 minute conversation Hassan, Ekers and Edwards share their insights on how investor interest may have changed as we start to rebound from the coronavirus pandemic, how ESG are three letters on everyone’s lips and just how confident London can feel for its future prospects. All that and much more as we ask, how do investors see post-pandemic London?

In this episode of the EG Property Podcast we turn our attention to the increasingly fascinating world of life sciences. The UK life science sector was thrown into the spotlight during the coronavirus pandemic as experts in Oxford, Cambridge and London lead the way on vaccines. But there is more to life science than vaccines. And there is certainly more to life sciences in the UK than just the golden triangle. EG editor Samantha McClary is joined on this episode by a trio of experts – Emma Goodford a partner at Knight Frank and head of national offices with an increasing focus on the life science sector, Stuart Grant, Co-Founder of CoreLife Investors, adviser to Brookfield’s Real Estate Group,  and CEO of Harwell Campus with some 25 years of real estate experience to draw on and Richard O’Boyle, executive director of We are Pioneer, with some 17 years of investment track record. Over the next 30 minutes they discuss the power of the web that life sciences can bring to the UK. About how success is not just about the Golden Triangle and clusters but about an interconnected collaboration of innovative businesses that can together turn the country into a centre of excellence. It is a fascinating listen with a bounty of insights to take away. Listen in and enjoy.

On World Mental Health Day, deputy editor Tim Burke and offices reporter Alex Daniel join host Jess Harrold for another weekly round-up, including an extensive look at the results of EG's latest Wellbeing Survey. Tim digs into the detail of the survey results, not least the effects that the pandemic and home-working have had on the real estate industry's collective mental health - and the further impact anticipated from a return to the office. Speaking of which, Alex has major news that underlines the rising appetite for office investment in the city - and shares a particularly smart example that may be heading onto the market. But can these two titans of property knowledge be separated in the quiz of the week? And can Jess shamelessly shoehorn in a plug for the EG Striders Steptober fundraising efforts for LandAid? The answer to that last question is absolutely yes: http://join.landaid.org/fundraisers/EGStriders    

Ahead of this week’s World Mental Health Day, EG has published the findings of its third annual survey of wellbeing and mental health in the real estate industry. As companies explore whether a return to some degree of post-Covid-19 normality is now possible, we wanted to know about real estate professionals' wellbeing during the pandemic.  In this 35-minute podcast, EG deputy editor Tim Burke is joined by Juliet Smithson, head of operations at LionHeart; Louise Ashley, human resources business partner at Savills; and Clara Dawson, HSE and wellbeing business partner at The Crown Estate.  Our guests discuss the findings of this year’s survey and the wellbeing lessons real estate should take from the pandemic. For more wellbeing and mental health coverage from EG, head to our dedicated hub. 

Retail is bouncing back with a bang in Wiltshire with vacancy rates plummeting and a slew of independent operators offering a bright glimpse of the future, according to Myddelton & Major partner in commercial Dean Speer. Myddelton & Major, which operates mainly across south and mid-Wiltshire as well as neighbouring Hampshire and Dorset, comfortably tops the Wiltshire Radius On Demand Rankings in deals numbers, and sits a close second for transacted space in the county. Its core market is Salisbury, which last year became the UK’s first full fibre city, and Speer is optimistic about the future. Speer says retail void rates in Salisbury, which had to overcome the effects of the Novichok poisonings before covid arrived, have fallen from 12% - 8% as independents – including a fishmonger – take space across the city and occupiers line up for vacant BHS and Debenhams units. Industrial is also a strong performer with occupiers ranging from specialist art companies to suppliers of Japanese garden products.

In this episode of the EG Property Podcast, EG editor Samantha McClary is joined by a quartet of experts to discuss the role that the booming life sciences sector could and should be playing unlock social value across the UK. Life science clusters have been successful at creating high-value jobs, but are often dependent on outside recruitment, so how can developers, universities and entrepreneurs ensure they maximise ‘social value’ for local economies - including employment, educational and supply chain opportunities?  EXPERT PANEL: Ryan McKenzie, associate director, economics and planning, Savills   Steve Duffield, site director, Wilton Centre Dr Thomas Meany, CFO, OpenCell Jane Holt, business development director, University of Southampton Science Park

JLL's launch of JLL Short Stays in partnership with Lavanda last month is set to plug a gap in the market with a platform "to rival Airbnb".  JLL director Sam Winnard and Lavanda's chief executive Frederik Lerche-Lerchenborg joined EG's Emily Wright on the latest episode of Tech Talk Radio to reveal the thinking behind the launch and why they believe the residential sector needs to be better when it comes to embracing flexibility.  The new booking platform has been launched to offer business and leisure travellers professionally managed and fully flexible short-term rental accommodation in the UK. "We realised there is a huge amount of demand for medium term,  quality inventory," said Lerche-Lerchenborg. "People are relocating. People are in between long-term tenancies and the relationship with the office is changing. People are increasingly looking to book 3-month or 6-month stays, especially around the UK. But finding that high quality inventory is very difficult. "We have a whole load of different partners including JLL clients but also other big asset managers like Greystar and Blackstone which means we have a lot of inventory." JLL's Winnard adds: "With the short and long let markets, it has become more confusing as to what sits where. Applicants are coming to us with demand for 4 or 5-month tenancies. Ultimately we are seeing a closing in of two markets that aren’t as polarised as they once were." The duo added that while Airbnb has dominated the short stay space for a number of years, they are hoping to access a more specific area of the market as people hunt for corporate relocations.  "Logging on and booking via an app like the Airbnb experience is what people want," said Lerche-Lerchenborg. "It is the perfect moment in time for this as the real estate market is maturing and we can deliver this technology to create a platform people want. "I'd say to anyone looking for this sort of flexibility 'don’t accept the residential market as it is. Ask for more, ask for better and demand flexibility'."

Senior writer Piers Wehner and court reporter James Lumley join Jess Harrold for EG's latest weekly round-up. Lumley tackles a pair of major judgments arising out of the pandemic - an unsuccessful challenge to the Caffè Nero CVA, and a ruling that the Picturehouse chain must pay up for rent arrears at its flagship cinema at London's Trocadero. Wehner looks at Labour's conference pledge to scrap business rates, and how the industry has responded to such an ambitious plan - and, as the country is gripped by a fuel crisis, shares what he has learned about electric vehicles and the "chicken and egg" problem standing in the way of more widespread adoption.

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” So said Leonardo da Vinci, a man who knew a few things about problem solving. As the application of technology and digital innovation to solve problems within the real estate sector continues to dominate strategies across the board, the power of simplicity comes into increasingly sharp focus. Of the many efficiencies offered by real estate tech, using digital technologies to expedite long-standing processes remains one of the most business critical. And while the rationale behind this strategy is simple, actually implementing the right tools for the job remains a challenge. Fitting then, that this should be the discussion point for our latest episode of Tech Talk Radio. EG Head of Content Emily Wright was joined by Teresa Lee, vice president of Roundhill Ventures, managing director of Search Acumen Andrew Lloyd and Marcus Moufarriage, founder and chief executive of Ility to talk about how even the simplest ideas need careful execution. “It is pretty well known that the real estate sector is quite behind in tech adoption,” said Roundhill Ventures’ Teresa Lee. “That means a lot of the things we are seeing now are what we perceive to be quite simple. But that also means there are a lot of opportunities to move the needle quite quickly. So, it is a great thing the technology is here, even if it is a little behind other industries.” Ility’s Marcus Moufarriage agreed adding: “I think it’s a good thing there is movement at all because there has certainly been a tendency for owners and the real estate sector more generally to say 2we took the risk, we built the building. Now we are getting 20% and we will just go to the Cotswolds and come back in 15 years when your lease is up and renew you. It used to be a very light touch and very low service. But that’s changing.” Search Acumen’s Andrew Lloyd said: “There has been no real pressure on the industry to change until recently. If you look at any sector that has gone through modernisation or digitisation it always starts with the simple, time-consuming things first and then moves its way into more complex operations. But you have to do the simple stuff first.” True. But that doesn’t mean it is any easier to tackle these problems in the first instance. Steve Jobs once famously said: “Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple.” So, how can the real estate sector clean up it’s thinking? The answer really comes down to necessity. The panel universally agreed that the pandemic has left real estate with no choice but to innovate and, by default, find that simpler state of mind and start to break down straight-forward problems. The biggest challenge will be separating out the tech companies with something to offer, and those cashing in on an industry now under intense pressure to change. Quickly. Search Acumen’s Lloyd said: “There are lots of firms jumping into the space. There are many solutions to problems that don't exist out there.” Ility’s Moufarriage agreed although added that the pressure is on the tech side fo the equation too, now more than ever. “It always amazes me that the smoke and mirrors gets as far as it gets,” he said. “I don’t think 2021 will be the year things unravel but I think next year it probably will for those who can’t actually deliver when real decisions are being made. Ongoing uncertainty means that decision-making process is a bit stalled right now so I think there is still room to wing it a bit. But if you are out there not really solving a problem and what you offer is not digital transformation but is just dressed up as that then the cracks will start to show.” So those are some of the pitfalls. The panel also took some time to consider the signs of success. How does a real estate business measure how impactful their tech strategy has been? How do they know when they have played their cards right? “Question number one, are we still in business?” This is how Search Acumens’ Lloyd would kick off the analysis. “Have we survived? Are we able to trade and continue to be successful in our market space? Are we winning market share over our competition? Is this tech working for us as an investment?” Roundhill’s Lee added: “You need to set very specific goals for whatever technology you are trying to implement. So if you are implementing a new property management system, then you should know what you expect like decreasing the cost by 25%. The goal should be as tangible and specific as that. Treat it like any other project.”

South Wales is building back from the pandemic with a raft of industrial start-ups and with leisure operators keen to fill vacant space on the high street, believes Fletcher Morgan associate Matthew Jones. Fletcher Morgan is the highest placed regional independent agency in the Radius On Demand Rankings for South Wales with 338,699 sq ft of space transacted across 40 deals so far this year. Jones, meanwhile, has done the third most individual deals (22) for the whole of Wales, with only Knight Frank’s Neil Francis and Mark Sutton having done more. Jones says the office market has been the toughest in living memory but is starting to spring back to life, albeit with occupiers less interested in conventional leases. Small industrial units, meanwhile, are selling in their droves to local occupiers and the industrial estates of South Wales are now high on the priority lists of investment funds. Meanwhile, a variety of leisure occupiers are setting up in the high street, helped by the fact some 20% of the population of Cardiff are students.

In this 30-minute episode of the EG Property Podcast, something of a sequel to PedElle Power: Fundraising, bond building and making women more visible in real estate , EG editor Samantha McClary sits down with Avison Young’s Emma Turnbull, SEGRO’s Annabel Freeman and Simple Works’ Sinéad Conneely to share what the ride meant to them, what it means more widely for women in the built environment and how important the fundraising the event does is to charities like Coram. For those that might not know, the annual PedElle is a charity cycle ride for women across the built environment organised by Club Peloton. The ride, which raises money for Coram and brings women in real estate together, took place in the Cumbrian hills on 16,17 and 18 September. Some 35 women cycled more than 400km and climbed close to 7,000m (Everest, for comparison, is around 8,800m) over the three days. On day one, the cyclists were treated to The Struggle, an infamous climb in the Lake District that offers both lung and thigh-busting gradients. However, it was those tough climbs that reminded everyone on the ride exactly why they were there – to help the thousands of children who are struggling through life to find forever families and safe places to grow up. So far, the riders have raised more than £38,000 for Coram. If you’d like to help them top £40,000, please click here to donate. The ride was made possible with support from Avison Young, Citygrove, DP9, Forsters, Knight Frank and Legal & General Investment Management

Residential editor Emma Rosser joins Jess Harrold for EG's weekly round-up. Delivering a tour de force on resi issues, Rosser tackles the industry reaction to Michael Gove's new gig; his rebranded title as secretary of state for levelling up, communities and housing; and some of the major items on his rather long to-do list. In addition, she looks at the BTR reaction to the plans for a residential developer property tax (or resi deve levy, as it should be known), the rise and fall of The Collective and a new player entering the housing field. But, as she faces a one-off return to the classic quiz format, has she been paying attention to the remaining news of the week?

Ever wondered about how to get started on the journey to becoming a chartered surveyor? Or how to receive formal qualification after building up your work experience in the industry? This week, Bricks & Mortar host, Sarah Jackman, catches up with Jen Lemen – chartered surveyor and author of a recently-published book on the subject – to find out what the options are for those getting started on their journey. They discuss a range of topics from what it means to become chartered to the benefits of doing so, as well as exploring the various routes including T-levels, A-levels, apprenticeships, graduate schemes and work experience. Jen reflects on her own experience of becoming chartered and offers practical tips for taking the next step.

Jess Harrold is joined by Tim Burke and Emily Wright for the latest weekly round-up podcast. Emily, making her eagerly awaited EGLSM debut, discusses her return to EG post-maternity leave, and the "crash course" in tech developments she undertook to get up to speed with a fast-moving sector... ensuring she could hit the ground running with this year's biggest ever EG Tech Awards. Tim tackles the big story of the week — the government reshuffle that saw Robert Jenrick out as housing secretary, and Michael Gove in. How has the industry reacted to the news? But, when EG's deputy editor and head of content go head-to-head in the quiz of the week, who will win the day?

In this episode of the EG Property Podcast, EG editor Samantha McClary wants you to close your eyes and image the scene. Because this episode is all about the moving picture. Audio is great, but one thing that the pandemic has taught us all is that asa global community, we love to consume TV and film. Film studios have more than just their big box, tall ceiling, no pillar physicality in common with sheds, the sector – like logistics – is booming. And nowhere more so than in Enfield. A part of London becoming so synonymous with TV and film production, that those in the business have re-named the North London borough, EnFlix. Listen in to this 50-minute conversation with Mark Bradbury, director of property & economy at Enfield Council, Becky Butler, head of operations at Location Collective, Helena McKenzie, head of inward investment & business development at Film London and Dan Holford, technical development director at SEGRO, to out more about how Enfield is making sure it can feed the increasing demand in the area for film and TV studios, what this growing sector of the market means for the regeneration of the borough and how the UK is fast becoming the place for TV and film production.  

In this episode of the EG Property Podcast, EG editor Samantha McClary is joined by Louise Ellison, outgoing group head of sustainability at Hammerson, and Richard Wilson, vice president of debt & capital structure advisory at Lazard, to talk all about the rise of green financing in real estate. Wilson, who advised Hammerson on its recent sustainability-linked bond, provides a dummy's guide to bonds, the difference between, green-, ESG- and sustainability-linked bonds, and a valuable insight into the future of green financing. Ellison talks about what the sustainability-linked bond will mean for Hammerson and how it further underlines the REIT's commitment to combating climate. All that and much more in this 30 minute listen. 

A year after prime minister Boris Johnson and housing secretary Robert Jenrick proposed the biggest shake-up to the planning system, the industry awaits the Planning Bill. Since the release of the planning white paper, a number of policies including the new standard methodology, affordable housing exemptions and permission in principle on small sites have already been vetoed and adapted. As reports anticipate further culling of controversial zoning and targets, industry experts weigh in on the biggest priorities for reform and accompanying new legislation in the coming months. EG residential editor Emma Rosser is joined by Ian Fletcher, director of real estate policy at the British Property Federation, and Victoria Hills, chief executive of the Royal Town Planning Institute.

In this 30 minute episode of the EG Property Podcast, EG editor and long time PedEller Samantha McClary sits down with three riders to find out more about the powerful impact the ride has had, not just for the charities it raises money for, but for the growing group of women in the built environment that are joining the PedElle club. The ride, run by Club Peloton, raises much needed funds for children's charity Coram, and this year is taking place on home turf. Over three days, some 40 women from across the real estate sector will ride more than 430km in the Lake District, Forest of Bowland and Yorkshire Dales and summit almost the equivalent of Everest. Listen in to hear how Natasha Rees, head of property litigation at Forsters, Alexandra Milne, director at DP9, and Emma Turnbull, an associate director in the leisure team at Avison Young, have been preparing for the ride, how the PedElle network has become more than just a cycle challenge and what being able to raise money for vulnerable children means to everyone involved. If you'd like to help the riders raise money for charity, visit https://justgiving.com/campaign/pedElle2020 Every penny counts.    

Jess Harrold is joined by news editor Pui-Guan Man and former EG editor (now director of market development) Damian Wild to review the week. Damian shares his experiences in Cannes, at September's slightly smaller scale MIPIM event, and his hopes of a return towards normality next March. Pui outlines the findings of Alison Levitt QC's 467-page report into the governance of RICS, the fallout at the organisation and the industry reaction. But, up against a serial winner, can Damian claim glory in his first ever appearance in the quiz of the week?