The second instance of the International Certificate in Leadership for Property Development took place on the Monday 25 November with delegates attending from all over the world.
Senior leaders looking to update their leadership skills as well as their technical knowledge attended this five day residential course in Nutfield Priory, set in the beautiful Surrey countryside.
Technical training at this level was still highly relevant but delegates benefitted hugely from real life examples and professional advice on specific issues and challenges they are or will face in the future. The course combined leadership and technical training giving the opportunity to put newly acquired technical knowledge into use during the interactive sessions. Property experts together with an experienced executive coach covered a wide range of topics focusing on all stages of the property lifecycle.
The leadership training touched on self-knowledge, communication, developing your team, strategy and building personal resilience. Focusing on their in depth 360 reports, delegates had personalised coaching sessions with Sarah Smith, our highly experienced executive coach. Our aim is to provide delegates with training that will help them to achieve business goals, bringing about improved performance and personal growth. They will be attending a follow-up session with Sarah which will help them to monitor their progress.
Starting with Market Analysis Training delivered by David Dix, Kevin McCauley and Simon Brown from CBRE, delegates learned about past, present and possible future trends affecting the market as well as putting the theory into practice during an interactive investment exercise.
Learning about Finance on the second day proved to be more challenging but Dominic Reilly, Marick Capital, presented the topic in an enjoyable and highly informative style. Delegates were asked to present a proposal for financing a hypothetical property development, testing their communication and presentation skills in front of the trainers and their peers.
On Wednesday, Tim Fry focussed on Project Management, a subject which the delegates had the most experience in. Tim is currently Project Director for the new Research, Education and Clinical Care Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital, so getting his expert advice on actual projects and talking through real life challenges was not only beneficial but added a very practical dimension to the course.
Continuing this practical approach the next day, Deborah Rowland, Director of Public Sector Services Affairs, Sodexo, talked about the current trends in Facilities Management. Deborah shared her tips and tricks to overcome the most common challenges and provided advice on specific issues in a very energetic and informative style.
Framing the programme, James Petit, Managing Director and Head of Real Estate, UK and Ireland, Deutsche Asset & Wealth Management, a subsidiary of Deutsche Bank, shifted the focus back on to those who deal with property development on a daily basis. James’ presentation on Portfolio and Asset Management explored the topic from the asset manager’s point of view.
The course was a great success with the delegates and they were able to identify areas that they need to focus on in order for them to become better leaders and deal with personal challenges that come with their role. However, the course was much more than presentations and interactive exercises. In a relaxed and stimulating environment, delegates were able to exchange ideas, build relationships with their peers and get advice from highly regarded and knowledgeable experts. The level of engagement, the delegates’ willingness to share their knowledge and their eagerness to become better at their profession proved that the course equipped professionals to the highest level in true RICS fashion.
To find out more about our RICS Leadership courses, please visit our Online Academy. Alternatively, you can register your interest for upcoming courses.