Centrick launches industry-first property training academy

Leading national property specialist Centrick has announced a major investment in high quality training and development with the launch of a dedicated centre of excellence in the West Midlands.

Located at the company’s Birmingham headquarters, the new state-of-the-art academy will promote excellence in the building and estate management sector. The new initiative is part of the company’s £1 million investment in both people and technology solutions and is designed to build on the company’s existing digital learning platform.

The Academy comes at a significant time for many, in the face of an increasingly complex building safety landscape and a need to grow and retain the strength of talent required for the future.

Mayor of the West Midlands and WMCA chair, Andy Street, said:

“I have always seen improving skills as a mission critical objective for the West Midlands, because training can be transformative for not only businesses and the economy but also individuals, giving them often life-changing opportunities to improve their skillsets.

“As a region, we have done great work in providing free training for thousands of people, but it’s also vital that the private sector contributes too, bringing their own expertise and investment into specific sectors.

“That’s why I’m so impressed by the vision shown by Centrick, who are leading the way with initiatives like the Academy.

“Centrick’s investment in this new Academy is great news for the region and will help not just to train and nurture their own team but also provide a dedicated facility to help the wider region build on considerable property skills, cementing its place as a cornerstone of excellence across the UK.”

Centrick’s ground-breaking Property Management Centre of Excellence will be known as ‘Centrick Academy’ and will take immersive learning to a new level, according to people director Gemma Powell.

The industry-first dedicated training facility is aimed at growing grass-roots talent and raising both technical ability and service standards for Centrick staff and the wider property management community.

Gemma said:

“We’ve always been extremely proud of our learning platform, Academy, which allows all teams and team members to learn and grow in the flow of work. Now we’re combining that with a physical, state-of-the-art space that takes immersive learning to a new level.

“The industry is constantly changing and new legislation is introduced regularly. Centrick has always been determined to keep team members updated on matters that affect the industry.

“With the launch of our new centre of excellence we will be at the forefront of sharing the very latest knowledge and expertise and we are aiming to set a new gold standard in property management across the UK.”

The 3,500 sq ft Centrick Academy will feature high-tech AV equipment to facilitate all kinds of blended learning, from e-learning to classroom-based, conference style and webinars, all with interactive features that allow remote and in-person participants to learn and grow together.

As well as core safety, compliance, operational and property management training and support for professional qualifications including IRPM, RICS, Propertymark and AAT, the academy will also deliver softer skills training as well as management and leadership training to enhance and grow the industry-leading service that Centrick is known for.

Centrick group managing director Phil Johns said:

“Across all divisions of our business we take care of one of the most important elements in our customers’ lives – their homes. We know just how important homes really are and our teams feel that really deeply. They genuinely care about the homes and residents that we look after, from building and estate management to portfolio management, build-to-rent, PBSA and housing developments.

“We want to continue to set a new gold standard in service across the industry by nurturing our people and growing talent, not just in Birmingham but across the wider UK. That means growing grassroots talent by training them to the highest possible standards. Centrick Academy allows us to do this in a consistent and inclusive way. The addition of a state-of-the-art physical space shows our commitment to our people, our clients and the residents we serve.”