Name: Kate Robinson
Job title: Head of block management (London), Ringley Group
What I do: I work for Ringley Group, the residential advisory business offering property management and consultancy services to investors, developers, landlords and leaseholders. I’m lucky enough to lead an amazing team in my role heading up the property management team, where we support developers, freeholders, leaseholders, shared owners and renters in developments large and small. At a fundamental level, we ensure buildings under our management are compliant and safe, while also providing a great customer service – our business is about building relationships and making a positive difference to residents.
Why and how I got into the property industry: I’ve always been interested in the tangible nature of the property world and the impact it has on people’s daily lives. As my first step into the industry I was lucky to secure an apprenticeship with RSW (now James Andrew Residential). I trained under the property management arm and also worked with surveyors on the residential and commercial side.
After a few years I chose to specialise on property management, where I worked on residential, commercial and mixed-use properties and development, which gave me a comprehensive foundation for moving forward. I really found value through learning on the job, soaking up industry knowledge and expertise from experienced people around me – and this created great building blocks for my future career.
My first proper job: My first job was at a recruitment firm, which provided a strong basis to understand the power of relationships with colleagues and clients. As I moved into the real estate world there is commonality between both industries, in that they both centre on people, communication and building trusted relationships.
My first big break: I got my first big break by moving to HML Block & Estate Management, where I secured a position as a property manager. My move to HML gave me a new perspective on property management – I was pushed outside of my comfort zone, and learnt an awful lot as a result. It kickstarted my journey into large-scale block management, working with prestigious clients like Berkeley Homes, Barratt Homes and The Crown Estate. It was also my foray into managing site staff. It was a steep learning curve but I was lucky enough to have great people around me (both on site and in the office) increasing my level of understanding even further.
My inspiration(s): As the first women to be chief executive of the Crown Estate, Dame Alison Nimmo has had an inspiring career, creating places that benefit communities. Working with genuine care for society on huge projects such as the regeneration of Manchester city centre is an amazing legacy. Dame Alison and other senior female industry leaders have inspired me throughout my career and provided me with role models to look up to as I progress my property management journey.
The biggest challenge I’ve encountered to date: Since I started my career 19 years ago, the industry has changed significantly and senior female leaders are showing what is possible. I’m confident that when my daughters start work, there will be plenty of opportunities should they wish to go into the property sector. While the sector has changed for the better, there is no doubt that having two young children while working is still tough.
My greatest achievement/proudest moment to date: One of my career highlights was the smooth move-in phase of the first wave of residents at Circus West, Phase 1 of the Battersea Power Station redevelopment. Working on Europe’s largest regeneration scheme, the years of work behind the scenes, with the most wonderful development teams was an amazing experience. The accumulation of hard work in those years, to then see the first move in was remarkable.
On a more personal level, having developed a bespoke training programme at Ringley, it has been incredibly rewarding to watch staff, many of whom joined the business with no prior experience progress through the programme, gain their TPI qualifications via The Property Institute, and go on to build their own portfolio management careers. It is a journey that continues to make me proud.
The biggest misconception people have about the property industry: That the property industry is solely driven by profit. At Ringley we have always prided ourselves on being completely open and transparent on costs – not only with our clients, but with our residents as well. Our resident portal provides all details and documents relating to the building (including quotations, purchase orders, invoices as well as budget vs expenditure) on a real time basis. The overwhelming majority of property managers are trying to deliver the best quality service; but this is difficult in a challenging environment where health and safety regulations have doubled, leading to additional costs.
An important part of our role is to communicate these changes and why. We regularly post blogs on our website, send bespoke advice notes to clients detailing changes and how this will affect them, as well as residents. When the budget is sent out, a detailed letter accompanies to explain why increases may have been necessary. Showing this level of detail and providing complete visibility to residents instils a sense of trust.
This, along with constant communication in the form of regular resident meetings, monthly newsletters and drop-in surgeries, helps combat the notion that residents don’t have a voice and are not considered in decisions. The need to balance purpose, people and profit has never been more acute and combining these three areas will lead to successful places that work well for owners, residents and the local community.
My biggest bugbear about the industry/the one thing I would change about the industry: Not a bugbear as such, more the challenge that the property management sector is navigating, as I touched on previously. The new laws in place regarding health and safety (good news!) haven’t been formalised, as to who is supposed to pay for it. Management agents are tasked with explaining these changes to residents, who may not be familiar with the nuances of leasehold management and what it entails, and why service charge costs have increased.
Why I’m so passionate about DE&I: Everyone has had a different upbringing, life experience and perspective. Without diversity, equity and inclusion, people are missing out on broadening their outlook and self-development, by learning from and about others. With only one view, you can’t possibly be the best version of yourself.
Why I’m so passionate about ESG: On a basic human level, we have one planet, and making sure that it is a better place is a focus. ESG isn’t just a tick box, it’s to make sure what we do is better for everyone, in the future.
Where I’d like to be in five years’ time career-wise: I would love to continue to mentor the next generation of property managers.
Who I’d invite, living or dead, to a dinner party: Comedian John Oliver for his wit and dry humour. There is nothing better than laughing until your sides hurt.
Cleopatra – while often sidelined as ‘just a beauty’ was supposedly fluent in many different languages and ruled over an entire region. With equality, gender bias and pay still very much a topic of debate today, to believe that a female, a very young one at that, wielded such power is fascinating to me. I would love to understand the truth of the situation and if history is correct about what happened in that day and time.
And finally, Freddie Mercury – not only fascinating but an incredible voice to provide some wonderful entertainment
What I do in my downtime: I have two beautiful girls (aged seven and three) and the majority of my time is spent with them. However, my job and life entails constantly interacting with people so when I get the chance to take a moment I like to indulge in breathwork and reading.
The job I’d be doing if I was not doing this: Likely working for a charity like Shelter or Centrepoint. I did my dissertation on New Labour’s policy towards rough sleeping; housing and helping people less fortunate than myself has always been a passion. Social impact is a focus of mine, at Ringley I’ve had the opportunity to give back via our work with the Medi Oliver Foundation, as well as actively participating in fund raising for other charities, with all charity contributions made by staff then matched by Ringley.
My advice for someone just starting out: Don’t underestimate the power of communication and empathy. Even if you have nothing to tell someone, just letting them know you are on the case and are trying your best, goes a long way.
My motto/mantra: Just because you are right doesn’t mean the other person is wrong. You just haven’t seen life from their angle.
