Jamie Lester, the former estate agent who came third in last year’s Apprentice programme, has launched a new career as a trainer to the industry.
Lester, 30, began in estate agency as a Saturday boy 14 years ago, and went on to found his own overseas property business at the age of 24.
He is now offering training, chiefly aimed at people who have anything from no experience to five years in the industry.
Lester, who is doing some TV work including Comic Relief, is due to be hosting a Dragons-style awards evening for industry suppliers at this year’s Property Professional Show.
The show takes place at London’s Olympia on May 10 and 11.
To contact Jamie, visit jamielester.com
Or to find out more about Jamie, visit www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/web_pages/Book-Jamie-Lester
Comments
Julian O’Dell. You say “Not all trainers/consultants are "former" agents … I am a partner of Thomas Morris Estate Agents who won 6 industry awards last year including The Negotiator's "Independent Estate Agency Chain of the Year". The key words in all that are “I am a partner” note the present tense, not past tense. Well done for winning the award you did – I wish I’d won it. You obviously run a successful business and a successful training company, but what I object to (and what Peebee read correctly) is a “former” estate agent (who apparently failed in his previous role) holding himself up as a shining example for the rest of us to follow.
You might find some folk are as touchy about the cliché that teachers can't do as Estate Agents are about the accusation that they over value property.
.........that estate agents were actually 'trained'? It doesn't show.
Inspired student...: The point that Taff is making is that someone from relative Agency obscurity is now heralding himself as the pill for all ills. On his LinkedIn profile, his main achievement (and takes up the lion's share of the page...) is coming third on The Apprectice.
Hey - nothing wrong with blowing your own trumpet - but as I have said here many times, a wren fluffing up it's feathers and pretending it is an eagle is only going to end up a dead wren.
His 'career' appears to have been limited to the best of times - when any T, D, or H could succeed. ANYONE can 'teach' how to sell in a boom market.
Julian is another entity altogether. Not only has he been there, done that in all market conditions - he is still doing it today!
THAT is the difference - and I think Taff was making that point - that is how I took his post, anyway.
Just when you thought it could get any worse........
P.S- Julian O Dell @ TM Training helped my company win 5 top awards last year. They offer exceptional training. Give them a try and you will see what a real TOP trainer can do for your company!
Oh dear.
Julian, I don't think you need bother with folk like Taff; they haven't actually got the wit to think things through.
It is lucky for him that someone bothered to teach him to read and write rather than concentrating on a career as an author.
People like you inspire and motivate, it takes a special kind of person to give other people the tools to become successful.
You don't need to be part of this debate, what you do is a different thing to what this unshaven pseudo celeb is attempting to do. I doubt very much that he has the fortitude and motivation to drive the miles you do and I certainly don't think the recipients of his training stand any chance of benefiting from what he has to offer.
You are a good bloke Julian and are well respected in the industry, go and enjoy the weekend.
Interesting stuff...and some great points made. However, Taff's comment at 10.46 warranted a specific response from me.
Not all trainers/consultants are "former" agents. For reference, I am a partner of Thomas Morris Estate Agents who won 6 industry awards last year including The Negotiator's "Independent Estate Agency Chain of the Year".
Alongside this business I am also an estate agency trainer/consultant and director of TM training & development, who won last year’s Sunday Times "Estate Agency Supplier of the Year" Award. We provide training and consultancy services to numerous sales and lettings agents throughout the UK and have ongoing contracts with some exceptional award-winning firms.
I am mindful that the credibility of the trainer is crucial to the success of any course and that estate agents are a demanding audience in terms of content, delivery and in particular, value for money. I have heard interesting stories over the years (including one just this morning) about other trainers who promote ideas to agents which are impractical, inappropriate and sometimes entirely irrelevant to current market conditions.
By contrast, I deal only with proven, practical “nuts and bolts” best practice principles which improve sales, instructions and/or management performance. This is in part due to my continuing role as a practising estate agent.
TM training & development has grown as a result of repeat business and recommendation to such an extent that we now have two of us out on the road, with my colleague Peter Chapman (former MD of Chesterton Residential and a very successful agent in his own right) fulfilling a similar role to mine.
High quality training and consultancy help to close the gap between performance and perfection – and in challenging times, that has to be a very wise investment. Our clients certainly hold that view...
I am troubled by the bad collar/tie/ knot combo in this photo.
Take yourself to to Jermyn Street and get some advice. Top Shop is not a good look!
More hair on your chin than your head will always make your head look upside down.
I suppose you COULD classify Recruitment as Sales. I know one company I used spent a whole day trying to persuade me to take a job 20 miles from home (when I wanted a new job CLOSER to home) and £2k less than the basic I wanted.
And it wasn't even a job I wanted....
Anthony Hesse: Nope - it was a question.
My tongue never left the middle of my mouth...
FTAO: PeeBee who quotes:
"Sales - 14 years. Again - does Recruitment qualify as 'Sales'? I don't know..."
I presume that was a tongue in cheek comment?
Many years ago BK (before kids) I was a freelance management and sales trainer earning approx £800 per day. You really only can train a maximum of three days a week and probably only 40 weeks a year as companies do not train all year round (Christmas, holidays etc etc). Out of your fees come all your outgoings including handouts, travel and hotel bills unless you can cut a fab deal, tax, phone etc. He will need to show his training has made a quantifiable difference if he wants repeat business and recommendations.
If he's any good he should make more money selling houses especially if he is limiting himself to estate agency sales training only.
I have worked with Jamie and he's a good bloke,
If anyone wants a mortgage I can help!
Erm... 'scuse me. Now you all know I failed my Maths 'O'-Level in 1978 (but only because i WANTED to...) - but even I have a problem adding up Mr Lester's career span.
According to his LinkedIn profile:
Specialities -
Sales (14 years)
Property (14 years)
Training (8 years)
Recruitment (8 years)
Consultancy (5 years)
Public Speaking (2 years)
Let's take the 'property' bit. He's 30. Started as 'a Saturday boy' 14 years ago. That's fine and good. There's the 14 years. EXCEPT, 1998-2001 he was an Estate Agency Recruitment Consultant, and from 2001-2004 a Recruitment Manager apparently in the Hotel/Leisure industry! That's an ADDITIONAL 6years 2 months according to his bio...
Sales - 14 years. Again - does Recruitment qualify as 'Sales'? I don't know...
Look - I ain't knocking the kid (much...). He's got cojones, which is more than I can say for some. He apparently 'sold' an awful lot of foreign property at the height of the market - and left the scene in 2009 when we all know it was sh!tter than sh!t. Can't blame him, really... was bad enough selling on our own little patch of green without trying to convince folks that Mouldainovia is the new Las Vegas!
Have you seen the quality of 'Sales Trainers' out there? I reckon he'll do okay-ish.
After all, everyone is born a virgin...
PeeBee
'Qualified' Estate Agency Sales Trainer (but only let loose once - then re-designated 'dangerous'... ;0) )
Exactly my thoughts taff, if I remember correctly, his property business went bust?? Surely more success and experience is required before one can position themselves as an industry expert. Also agree with Lord Sweetex.
"Added by Taff on 2011-03-11 10:46:01
Perhaps there's a lot of truth in the old saying "Those who can do - those who can't teach."
....
"And those who can't teach, teach Gym"
Woody Allen, circa 1975
Never met the chap (and probably never will) but it amazes me that "former" estate agents set up consultancies to train current estate agents. The first question I ask myself is "If these people are so good, why aren't they STILL estate agents?" After all, if their ideas are so brilliant, they'd be making a killing.
Perhaps there's a lot of truth in the old saying "Those who can do - those who can't teach."
What do you want to decipher Chris Holmes post for the blokes obviously a normally educated estate agent of the brainless nurd design.
Jamie, just the right man for the job, still waiting for him to let us know the name of the largest river in London though?
Chris Holmes, there is and was no such thing as a Home Inspector!
Prostituion is a profession
Could someone with GCSE English please decipher Chris Holmes post?
Who he?
Just a little bit of information for Lord Sweetex. An esate agent is not actually a profession in the ruest sens eof the word. The role of a Solicitor or Doctor is a profession and the last profession to be created by government was the Home Inspector profession.
Finally as a "professional" why hide behind the handle Lord Sweetex and if thats not a swipe what is?
This isn't a snipe at Jamie or what he is trying to do but.....
Given the publicity machine exposure of Jamie over the last few weeks including his PR photos my impresion is that Jamie's training will be only suitable for young London Agents who drive liveried Minis and Smart cars.
This market wil hopefully kill off the last of the oiks and my industry will return to being a profession. Rightly or wrongly my opinion is that Estate Agency does not need people who haven't got to grips with a razor and don't know how to use a collar and tie.
Cheap suit, plastic shoes and a right to use the bus lane! Sorry Jamie but that is how you come across to me.
If that is your intended market and you are not interested in travelling further than the Circle line, Great, Good luck.
Those boys don't need any training, they know it all already.