Two UK graduates have set up a dedicated property network to give younger professionals free access to education and networking at the start of their careers in real estate.
CREation was the idea of Harri John (Cushman & Wakefield) and Rosanna Lawn (YOO). It aims to create an inclusive network for students, graduates, apprentices and newly qualified property professionals. It will provide individuals from all backgrounds and sectors the opportunity to build their network and gain a better understanding of industry ‘hot topics’ that have the ability to impact their career in the near future.
Rosanna Lawn, co-founder of CREation, said “Through our personal frustrations, we identified a gap in the networking scene for those starting their career in property: the difficulty of accessing leading industry events or networking organisations, often due to the high expense.
“We are often told that building connections is paramount to success in property, yet we aren’t provided with the tools to do so. We wanted to provide the opportunity for people to grow their network from the point that they enter the industry.”
CREation will host quarterly events free of charge for attendees, first in London before expanding to the UK regions. The first event ‘The Benefits of Connections in Modern Real Estate’ held on Tuesday 23 January will include speakers from Cushman & Wakefield, British Land and WeWork. The fully subscribed event has attracted over 400 attendees in 8 days, from different levels within the industry.
Harri John, co-founder of CREation, said, “We want to provide a forum for the voices of the younger generation of our industry, but also a place where we can learn from more established professionals. Young professionals are the future of the property industry and CREation can help address the appetite for additional early career development opportunities.”Industry leaders, including Cushman & Wakefield, Knight Frank, Colliers International and Lambert Smith Hampton are backing the venture.
Colin Wilson, Cushman & Wakefield’s Chief Executive Officer, EMEA, said: “We were persuaded by the boundless enthusiasm of founders Harri and Rosanna, who were eager to meet others who shared their ambition of a fulfilling and rewarding career in property. We are excited at the opportunities for professional growth that CREation can provide.”
Alistair Elliott, Senior Partner and Group Chairman, Knight Frank said: “It is clear to me that the real estate industry has never been more dynamic. Ensuring the right engagement with people early in their careers has never been more important. Providing the right environment for networking has to be a core ingredient and in this regard I am delighted that Knight Frank have taken a pivotal role in supporting CREation.”
