Agents Together has launched, a foundation of estate agents which will provide advice, mentoring and coaching to agents looking to grow their business.
The foundation said the COVID-19 pandemic could provide an opportunity for agents to come together with a new way of thinking and a new approach for the future.
Agents Together is led by chief executive Sarah Edmundson, a former estate agents and a training provider.
It was founded and funded by Michael Bruce, who has been in the industry for more than two decades as former chief executive and chairman of Burchell Edwards Estate Agency Group and former co-founder and group chief executive of Purplebricks.
Edmundson said: “Our ambition is to help estate agents, to support our industry and together change minds to bring about a brighter future for everyone.
“Our vision is for a healthier industry – and we know that healthy minds and healthy businesses will create a healthy industry.
“Our founder members, Kenny Bruce, Stephen Brown, Michael Day and Christopher Watkin have played an integral role in shaping the focuses of Agents Together, and I would urge anyone who shares our vision to get involved and help change estate agency for the better.”
The immediate focus for the foundation will be supporting those navigating the difficult obstacles presented by the Covid-19 pandemic.
There will be a free to join mentor programme, giving business owners access to some of the UK’s most successful businessmen and women.
There will be a speed mentoring series, offering 30 minutes of focused mentoring with business and industry leaders, while the foundation will produce a video skills video series with thought leaders entitled Winning Ways.
There will also be an information hub to promote the wellbeing of estate agents, as well as a video content series giving tips and advice to promote positive mental health.
Agents Together said it has established a connection with the Agents Giving charity.
The board of trustees includes former head of communications for Virgin Group Will Whitehorn, chief executive of Mortgage Advice Bureau Peter Brodnicki, chief executive of Ellipsis Entertainment Andrew McGuinness and head of field sales at Moneypenny Samantha Jones.
Along with the input of these individuals, an industry survey was commissioned to garner opinion on how best to provide support and encourage greater collaboration.
Uncertainty (50%), growth in transaction numbers (43%) and adapting to new ways of working due to social distancing (30%) were cited as the biggest challenges facing the industry.
Over 65% of agents stated they would access a free mentoring scheme for advice and training and when asked about mental wellbeing, while 48% said supporting mental wellbeing was a key issue for the industry.
Despite the unprecedented two-month industry shutdown, 64% of agents were ‘optimistic’ or ‘very optimistic’ about the future supporting the view that the coming months offer a unique opportunity for the industry to come together and flourish.
Michael Bruce said: “Agents Together is a Foundation born out of hope that the impact of Covid-19 has presented a collective opportunity to come together to change the narrative for estate agency.
“Our mission is to ensure we do not miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to support each other through the difficult times ahead, embracing the power and energy of the industry to build towards a better future, raise professional standards and change perceptions to unlock a greater understanding of the role and worth of a professional agent.”
