2021 has been encouragingly busy with my pivot into providing more online training programmes paying dividends.
My compliance courses (AML, Consumer Protection Regulations and GDPR) run on an open basis every month and my six module Sales Skills Excellence Programme runs on a revolving basis. I have run four Sales Skills Excellence series’ so far in 2021 and have new programmes starting and booking for September and mid-October. Delegates can be booked on the complete series or individual modules, as required.
I have run many of these sessions for individual businesses on a bespoke basis. To date in 2021 as well as open courses, programmes have been run specifically for Johns and Co, EXP Realty UK, Knightsbridge Estates, Bond Oxborough Phillips and White & Sons. Courses have run for between ten and one hundred delegates in each session.
I am currently running my five module Mind Your Own Business programmes on a bespoke only basis for individual businesses.
Details on all programmes including dates, times, costs etc can be found on my website and bookings can be made online here with card payments via Stripe.
Running so many of my business activities now using online technology has been made more efficient by the recent installation of superfast broadband and a VOIP phone system. I now have average download speeds of 285 Mbps, upload speeds of 47 Mbps and latency of 3ms. What a positive difference. It doesnt mean that I can run an hour of training in just fifteen minutes but the faster connectivity certainly improves the user experience.
I continue to work for many individual estate agency and other property businesses in my capacity as a mentor and consultant and exciting projects this year have included sales and acquisitions, selection and implementation of new technology platforms, setting up new businesses and departments, compliance audits and lettings health checks (LINK), assistance and involvement in recruitment and staff development.
I continue to provide copywriting, content and management for several agent’s websites, social media channels and I produce monthly newsletters that are distributed to their databases.
I continue to be regularly invited as a guest on various webinars and podcasts – including interviews this year with Christopher Watkin, Vanessa Warwick (Property Tribes), Ken Hume of James Alexander’s Buyers and Sellers Podcast, Marion Ellis’s Surveyors Podcast, Chris Buckler for Letting Agent Today, two interviews for Conveyancing Matters, the future of the internet for Eye Spy 360, as a panel guest on an Agents Together webinar on mentoring and, most recently, as a panellist on the Data Security Forum hosted by Finch. Many of these can be seen or heard via my website here.
I am also continuing my involvement as a Founder Member of the charity Agents Together and, as well as helping steer the direction and actions undertaken, I am an active mentor and have completed six mentoring programmes over the first year for individuals across the industry. The charity has helped over 300 mentees during thsi period as well as providing valuable resources and support in areas such as wellbeing, mental health and sustainaility/diversity in the work place.
At the end of May my fellow Directors and shareholders will successfully complete the sale of Glanty (teclet) to OnTheMarket and so, with a newly constituted statutory board, my role as a Non-Executive Director will come to an end. I am, however staying involved as an external adviser, part of the management team and, as a shareholder.
I have also been invited, and have accepted, a position as the estate agency “expert” on the advisory board of an exciting business which uses blockchain technology to seamlessly join up software platforms such as estate agents CRMs and conveyancers case management systems in order to better facilitate speed, sharing of information and communication. More news in due course.
I have also had a few discussions with businesses seeking Non-Executive Directors and I thank them for their approaches and interest. It is however absolutely vital to me that any such involvement and commitment with a business is one where I can both add value and where there is no conflict with existing relationships. My door is always open to talking.
Finally, May 16th saw Integra celebrate its 18th birthday having incorporated on 16th May 2003. It has been a great journey so far and I am very proud of what has been achieved.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of my clients, customers and friends for their custom and ongoing support.
Michael S Day MBA FRICS FNAEA FARLA
Managing Director