What do you do at MRG?
I partner with residential businesses, primarily recruiting senior roles into the BTR and PBSA space.
What are you most proud about that you have achieved in your career to date?
Building two separate recruitment brands from scratch is definitely something that I am very proud of. When I started in recruitment in 2006, my old boss and I sat in a windowless room and over the next 13 years built one of the most recognisable and successful property recruitment businesses in the UK – with over 60 staff. In 2019 I set up my own recruitment business, placing key people with some of the world’s best regarded and most successful property companies.
I am also extremely proud of the resilience that I have shown in being able to loyally support and delight my clients – even in turbulent markets. The property and recruitment worlds have seen a lot of ups and downs over the past 18 years so I have certainly developed a lot of character!
I am also pleased to have been involved with the emergence of the UK Build to Rent market, helping to establish many industry leading companies and careers. It has been fascinating learning about more mature “multi-family” markets across the globe and seeing the UK implement its own build to rent sector and identity.
How did you get into recruitment, and why?
By complete chance! I had been living and working in Spain for 7 years when I decided to return to London, where I am originally from. I had been working in property sales and exhibitions for 4 years and everyone I spoke with said that I would be good at recruitment. Doing recruitment in the property sector seemed like a natural fit since people and property combines my two biggest interests! The rest is history…
What energises you about working in this sector?
I am inherently curious and inquisitive so I absolutely love finding out about people and what makes them tick. I also love exploring new places and buildings. I LOVE architecture and property, old and new – so I always find it fascinating visiting the properties and communities that I work with.
I also love being a trusted partner to people and seeing their careers and businesses thrive.
What’s the biggest thing that’s changed in recruitment since you started?
Clearly technology has changed not only recruitment but the entire world we live in over the past 18 years. However, for me, the other thing must be how residential property is regarded. It has become a lot more professional through the advent of industry regulation and qualifications, but also through the quality and scale of new buildings. When I started in property, there was often a certain snobbery towards residential property from those that worked in the commercial property sector. Now it is viewed as a viable and interesting asset class in which to invest, as well as in which to work and develop a career.
What’s one thing that most people don’t know about you?
I can give you a reflexology treatment whilst speaking fluent Spanish!
What’s the best advice anyone has ever given you?
DO sweat the small stuff. It’s the tiny noticeable things that set you apart and make a difference. “People will forget what you said and forget what you did, but they will never forget the way you made them feel”.
What three words would your colleagues use to describe you?
Funny, honest, loyal.
And finally, who would play you in the movie about your life?
Emily Blunt – quirky, determined and snorts when she laughs really hard!
Get in touch with Emma for an informal chat about how she can help you and your recruitment needs.