On Friday 24th October, we held our annual staff conference at The Studio in the centre of Birmingham.

This was our biggest gathering yet, bringing together over 100 team members, three of our trusted consultants, and a very special guest from the world of professional football.

This year's theme was Resilience in Customer Service, with sessions designed to help us understand ourselves better so we can relate more effectively to our customers. The event provides an important opportunity for the whole team to unite, recognise our successes, and set our sights on the future. With team members now based throughout the country, bringing everyone together face-to-face has never been more essential.

Business overview and celebrating success

Property Director Polly Dyer and Head of Operations Esme Williams kicked things off with a quick icebreaker before handing over to our founders, Joe Jobson and Brett Williams, who shared how the business has performed over the past year.

There was plenty to celebrate. In June, we won the ACE Award for Managing Agent of the Year. We've secured landmark instructions across the country and welcomed new faces to the team. Last financial year, we onboarded 5477 homes, helping us reach a major milestone: 25,000 homes under management. This growth was partly driven by our acquisition of Pennycuick Collins' lettings and block management portfolio – another significant achievement.

Later in the day, everyone had the chance to put questions to Brett, Joe, Polly and Head of Residential Asset Management Lucy Roberts during our Directors' Q&A session.

Looking ahead

Operations Manager Dan Lannon shared some exciting news about our upcoming upgrade to MRI Evolution. This new software will transform how we maintain properties, making it easier to manage data, track major works, and plan projects with detailed timelines and cost schedules. We're also introducing MRI Go, which will streamline building inspections and site surveys.

Resilience in sport

Our special guest was someone football fans will recognise: Paul Robinson, the former professional footballer who started his career with his boyhood club Watford in 1996 and went on to play 678 games across 22 years. His career took him from Watford to West Brom, Bolton, Leeds United, and – the best of them all – Birmingham City! Since retiring, Paul has moved into coaching and motivational speaking.

Interviewed by Senior Business Development Manager James Neale, Paul shared stories from his career highs and lows, emphasising how passion, drive, and determination shaped his success. He spoke about the importance of collective mentality in building an effective team and encouraged everyone to show pride in everything they do. For Paul, a winning mentality and unity are essential ingredients for success.

Team building and personal development

Gemma from Next Steps Consulting has worked with us since 2021, providing management and leadership training. She ran two sessions with Lucy Roberts throughout the day.

The first session focused on understanding ourselves better. Different coloured hats were placed around the room, each representing a different way of thinking. We worked through scenarios, examining problems from multiple perspectives to encourage better, more creative decision-making.

The second session explored empathy, linking the six hats approach to understanding our customers' thinking and communication styles - helping us build stronger relationships and deliver better service.

Staff Awards

Now for the highlight of the day! Everyone in the business had nominated colleagues who've stood out this year. Our categories were:

Rising Star: Recognises a promising individual who has shown significant growth, potential, and impact.

We're United: Celebrates an individual who consistently puts the team’s goals above their own and fosters a collaborative and supportive environment.

Never Settle: Recognises a person who continually strives for excellence and has made a significant contribution to improving working practices.

Positivity: Recognises an individual who consistently brings a positive attitude, providing others with a lift to create a supportive and motivating environment.

Leadership in Action: Recognises a team member who inspires others with clear vision, courageous decisions, and consistent support, elevating both performance and culture.

Calm in the Storm: For the person who keeps a level head under pressure and guides others through challenges with confidence.

Employees of the Year: Awarded to the individual(s) who has been nominated and recognised by their peers for their performance, contribution, and achievements throughout the year.

And here are our winners: