Close Brothers Property Finance has launched “Tomorrow’s Developer”, a network to support the next generation of housebuilders. The move comes amid the lender’s survey of the younger generation, which found that 85% felt more could be done to help them progress as SME housebuilders.
The survey also highlighted the major barriers to entry as funding (85%), sourcing sites (52%) and planning (45%)*.
Close Brothers Property Finance is launching a programme of events designed to support a new network of aspiring property developers. Tomorrow’s Developer seeks to address and remove the barriers preventing younger generations from starting their Small to Medium housebuilding businesses.
The Home Builders Federation predicts that a third of the housebuilding workforce is due to retire in the coming years, a trend which Close Brothers believes could have been accelerated by the Pandemic. Through the Tomorrow’s Developer network, candidates will hear from expert professional speakers, and access practical toolkits spelling out how to attract funding, source sites and secure planning. Candidates are also encouraged to network and engage with their peers to learn and share best practice through a number of networking and round table events throughout the year.
Andrew Argent, Business Development Manager, Close Brothers Property Finance, said: “For decades now the number of SME housebuilders has been in decline – with 80% fewer developers now operating than 30 years ago. To reverse this trend and plug the widening skills gap, we must find ways to help young people to start their own enterprises. Tomorrow’s Developer is the start of that journey and we’re very excited to help lay the foundations for the future of housebuilding in the UK and provide tangible, practical and concrete advice on how to break down the barriers to entry into property development.”
An attendee at the inaugural launch event added: “The event made me feel very motivated to drive my business forward. The impression I gained was that Close Brothers have really bought into the process of assisting SME’s to grow and are prepared to put time and effort into making this a reality. I found new contacts from the event most of which I have already been in touch and hope to further strengthen these at future events.”
Potential applicants for the Tomorrow’s Developer network should ideally be between the ages of 25-35 and have at least two years’ experience within the property/construction industry. While not essential, it is recommended that applicants also have experience in the completion of a small project whilst also having some equity behind them.
Credit: Source link
