devcast...

In this episode of devcast, Hannah Taylor sits down with three influential leaders shaping the rental living sector to explore their remarkable journeys to the C-suite and discuss the biggest challenges facing the industry today.  Our guests share candid insights on:  Non-linear career paths and taking leaps of faith   The importance of curiosity, asking for help, and learning from mistakes   Buil...

In this episode, Georgia Zambakides, Executive Director at deverellsmith, sits down with Tabitha Allingham to discuss the current state of the new homes and later living recruitment market. They explore why some candidates are moving while others stay put, and what both job seekers and hiring managers need to know in today's cautious market. Connect with deverellsmith Website: www.deverellsmith.co...

In this episode, we sit down with Steven Tennant, Managing Director of Development at Ballymore. We discuss his unique career path from a paperboy in Yorkshire to leading major projects across Europe, his candid views on the London property market, and why the current challenges are more complex than the global financial crisis. Steven also shares insights into Ballymore's strategy, the critical i...

In this episode: ✅ Career progression advice for agents ✅ Exit plans and equity deals for senior leaders ✅ The impact of Renters Reform ✅ Why the best talent matters more than ever Key Takeaway: Work backwards when considering a career move - understand what you actually want before jumping ship. The COVID boom is over, and it's time to focus on quality operators. This is where property meets...

Trying to choose between build, technical, or commercial? Your career path in construction matters. In this quick update, our specialist recruiters map out the 2025 hiring landscape, revealing which roles are in high demand, the global hotspots for talent, and how to position yourself for success in the coming year. #ConstructionRecruitment #CareerAdvice #BuildYourFuture

In this episode, we sit down with Katie Rogers, CFO at Greencore, who left a traditional accounting career at PwC to help shape the future of sustainable house building in the UK. She shares her 15-year journey from Telford Homes auditor to CFO/COO, and dives into the challenges of property finance, scaling a business, and building homes that are both green and affordable.

In this episode of devcast, we sit down with Sameh Muhtadi, CEO of RAK Properties, to explore how he’s reshaping luxury real estate in Ras Al Khaimah and beyond. From his early days as a civil engineer rebuilding airports to leading one of the UAE’s most dynamic developers, Sameh shares powerful lessons on leadership, brand-building, and the art of excellence.

What makes a community truly sustainable? Dominic Richards, chair of Our Place, joins Georgia on DevCast to discuss the philosophy behind sustainable placemaking, the failures of the planning system, and how housing can become a catalyst for social good. Discover more about Deverellsmith here: https://www.deverellsmith.com/who-we-are/

Build-to-rent currently represents just 2% of UK rental stock. Within three years, that figure is predicted to treble. In this candid discussion, property recruitment specialists Hannah Taylor and Tommy Lambourne explain what's driving the institutional landlord revolution and what it means for careers in rental living. Discover why private landlords are exiting en masse, how hedge funds and pensi...

In this episode of devcast, Ryan Doyle sits down with Polly Ogden Duffy, Managing Director at John D. Wood & Co., to explore her inspiring 20+ year career in estate agency. Polly shares her journey from starting in property at 18, to leading one of London’s most established brands. She opens up about resilience, leadership in a competitive industry, balancing a demanding career with family life, a...

In this episode, Will and Tommy discuss the evolving landscape of real estate management. They delve into the impact of flexible working, the challenges of retaining top talent, and the significant wage inflation affecting the industry. They also explore new career paths, such as working client-side for developers, and the unique pressures of managing high-end properties. The podcast offers valuab...

Guests Vicky Skinner - CFO, Urbanest Georgia Zambakides - Executive Director, deverellsmith

They discuss: Why top talent isn’t actively looking and how to reach them Candidate motivations and risk aversion in a challenging economic climate The rise of single-family housing and diversification trends across real estate sectors Practical job search advice for candidates in 2025 Why finding a mentor could be the best move for your career progression Whether you're hiring, job hunting, or si...

In this episode, Tess, a Senior Manager at Deborah Smith, and Alice, a specialist in new homes sales and customer service, discuss the ins and outs of temporary recruitment within the real estate sector. They highlight why summer is the busiest season for temp roles, as holiday cover creates excellent opportunities for those looking to break into the industry, particularly candidates from hospital...

From art student to estate agent Bertie originally studied History of Arts at Leeds and wanted to work in the art world, but his dad's clients convinced him to learn the ropes at Russell Simpson first. He joined at 21 just before the 2008 crash and didn't do a single deal for his first year - not exactly the smoothest start! Despite being naturally shy and reserved, he stuck with it and eventually...

The accidental beginning Guy Horn's journey into social housing began somewhat unexpectedly. Fresh out of university in 2015, he and his business partner, David, were simply looking for a way to make money without working for someone else. They discovered they could buy terraced houses in Greater Manchester for £50,000 and learned about an opportunity to house homeless families while generating re...

Reimagining Broker Success A significant portion of the conversation centres around CBRE's innovative "affiliate model," a self-employed brokerage approach that provides flexibility while maintaining quality service standards. Unlike traditional employment models or other self-employed setups in the industry, CBRE's approach uniquely provides brokers with instructions and leads rather than requiri...

Our expert panel discusses the premium skills driving higher compensation, strategies for talent acquisition and retention, and the impact of global talent movement on the UK market. The panel includes: Andrew Deverell-Smith - CEO and Founder of deverellsmith & Hintel Georgia Zambakides - Executive Director Chris Litras - Director, Investment, Development & Construction Ryan Doyle - Senior Busines...

Overcoming Challenges in UK Housing Delivery The government’s ambitious goal of delivering 1.5 million homes within this parliamentary term is undeniably bold. Bob Weston, Chairman of Weston Homes, highlighted the need for significant action to meet demand, particularly given a 40% drop in housing output and a decline in first-time buyers due to limited mortgage support schemes. Robert Mulryan, Di...

From rugby fields to real estate Jonathan has had quite the journey - starting in professional rugby before transitioning into the corporate real estate world. Reflecting on his career shift, he acknowledges that the structured, high-pressure culture of traditional agencies didn’t quite align with his vision. Instead, he and Richard sought to create a space where agents could thrive in an environm...

A non-traditional route into property Parul began her career studying politics and working in the public sector, where she qualified as an accountant. Seeking a faster-paced environment, she transitioned into management consultancy, spending six years tackling challenges for large organisations and travelling extensively. After starting a family, Parul sought a better work-life balance. At that ti...

Back to the beginning This podcast episode features the journey of Tom, a chartered surveyor who started his career right after earning his degree from Reading University. He began in consultancy with Montagu Evans, where he quickly honed his skills and gained diverse experience working with high-profile clients, including Landsec and British Land. A pivotal moment came when a client from Landsec...

In this episode, David Young provides valuable insights into team dynamics, emphasising a strengths-based approach to exploring how to build high-performance teams. Andrew Deverell-Smith delves into how David Young started and built his career within sports psychology and topics such as understanding group vs team dynamics, leveraging super strengths and finding the perfect balance between challen...

Nicola is the owner of a renowned and award-winning estate agency nestled in the vibrant Colmore BID district. Since establishing the company in 2004, Nicola has steered the company to prominence, earning it a respected reputation as one of Birmingham's premier residential agencies. She shares her inspiring journey to success, her commitment to the Colmore BID and what plans she has for the upcomi...

Hosted by Andrew Deverell-Smith, Global CEO and founder of deverellsmith & Hintel, listen as they dive into Nick’s back-to-front way of getting into the property market, how he came to work at Pocket Living, his favourite parts of his career so far and the challenges he finds with regarding the politics of the property industry. Listen to the full episode now.