The property industry would be devoid of thousands of recruits if it were not for careers advice passed down from father to son.
Dads uncles and grandads have played a greater role in recruiting people into property than any careers adviser or recruitment consultant.
Hearing about daddy’s long champagne-fuelled lunches building launch freebies and fat finder’s fees are just too much for a young lad to resist.
With Father’s Day fast approaching – Sunday. 15 June – Property Week gained exclusive access to the West Midlands Lads and Dads annual lunch in which celebrates the bond between father and son.
Lads and Dads was set up four years ago when six ‘lads’ – ’s Jonathan Ward. Dan Gallagher of Stoford Developments. ProLogis’s Oliver Bertram. Barberry’s Henry Bellfield. Ben Ackrill who works in property recruitment at Anthony Gregg and Jon Hickton of developer Maximus – decided they should celebrate the patriarchal influence in their choice of careers.
‘We were chatting over a beer four years ago and realised that we all shared something in common: we had followed our dads into property,’ remembers Bertram. ‘We thought it would be a good idea to set up a Lads and Dads club as it would be a good networking occasion and an opportunity for our dads – and grandads – to see their sons working the floor.’
The club has grown from the original six lads – who now form its committee – and their dads into a society with 92 members.
The club now has its own logo organises activities such as clay-pigeon shooting golf days and wine-tasting and is contemplating a trip to Ireland. It has also been focusing on fundraising in recent years.
Last year it raised more than £3,000 for Warwickshire cricketer Dougie Brown’s benefit year. At this year’s annual lunch more than £2,000 was raised for Sunfield a charity that specialises in the care of children with severe learning difficulties.
The annual lunch is the event that the entire West Midlands property fraternity wants to gatecrash. It is seen as a valuable networking event and many of the dads in particular are among the West Midlands’ leading property movers and shakers.
Banks clamour to sponsor the wine to gain three seats at the table. This year Allied Irish Bank had the honour.
‘It’s all down to the lads really as they initiated it,’ says Jon Bellfield director at Barberry and father to Henry. ‘It’s great to see the lads get on with their jobs but also to meet with the other dads. We have known each other for more than 30 years but nowadays we see less of each other.’
Yet the main issues discussed over lunch were not the credit crunch the state of the economy or the level of office enquiries in Birmingham.
Conversation centred on who should pay for lunch and the controversial subject of whether to allow dads’ daughters to join the club.
The fathers and sons are meant to take it in turn to pick up the tab for the meal.
‘The dads probably paid for the lunch the first time. And I think we’re meant to alternate,’ explains Jon Bellfield.
‘We’re supposed to alternate,’ confirms his son Henry. ‘but because the dads are getting on a bit they can’t remember if they paid for the last one or not.’
It is a subject that grates with Richard Graves of quantity surveyor Francis Graves (see box below). His family has three generations at the lunch so he is both ‘lad’ and ‘dad’ and claims he is hit with the bill every time.
Barberry director Paul Watson also complains that his son. GBR’s Alexander Watson always comes up with a sob story about why he cannot pay. This time it was something to do with the credit crunch.
As the meal progresses the dads show their experience by calling for jugs of iced water at the end of the first course. Meanwhile the lads talk up plans of a late night and discuss where to move on to next.
But the recurring theme of the lunch goes back to the subject of property daughters. Will they ever be allowed membership?
‘I suspect they will,’ says a disconsolate Henry Bellfield. ‘They usually get their way in the end.’
‘Keep the girls out!’ he tells the Lads and Dads in his speech as chairman of the committee. ‘We’re no closer to letting daughters in,’ he tells Property Week. ‘It’s not what the day is about. It’s calls “Lads and Dads”. The girls can go and set up their own thing.’
‘When we’re invited to Women in Property then they can join us,’ he says. ‘Perhaps Women in Property could sponsor the next lunch and then they’d get let in.’
The dads appears more keen to see daughters let in. One is heard jokingly calling the Lads and Dads committee ‘a load of misogynists’.
Dan’s father. Jackie Gallagher who is also at the lunch with son Marty and nephew David (see box previous page) does not share his son’s views. He believes his daughter. Karen Wilson (see box below) who works with him at the Gallan Group should be allowed to attend.
‘I think it’s sexist. Even my golf club allows women in now,’ he says.
But on further questioning it appears the dads’ concerns are not so much about equal rights more about aesthetics.
‘Young fillies would certainly brighten up the place,’ says one dad.
The lunch was not limited to dads. There was a grandad too representing one of the three generations of the Graves family.
Frank Graves (left). 86 started in the property industry in 1956 by setting up a quantity surveying practice. Francis Graves.
‘I was in the army doing national service. When I left I was told that if I started my own practice I would be given some work.
We still do work for the Ministry of Defence today,’ says Frank.
He also helped to develop Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre in the 1970s.
He came to the lunch with his son. Richard (right). 52 who now heads Francis Graves. Richard recently completed a buyout of the firm from Erinaceous. Frank’s nephew. Oliver Bertram (centre) was also at the lunch.
Did Frank inspire the rest of his family to enter the world of property?
‘Inspire?’ questions Richard. ‘He bloody well told us to go into property to look after his pension rights.’
Max Ward works for architect Hing & Jones. Is he disappointed his son. Jonathan did not follow him into his profession?
‘He was right to go into agency as he will make some money that can go towards supporting me in my retirement,’ says Max (right). 64.
Jonathan (left) says he did not go into property because of his dad’s influence.
‘I studied land and leisure and took leisure in my last year. When I went into property I knew all the property people in Birmingham as they were all friends with my dad.’
In the next year or two the Wards’ presence at Lads and Dads looks set to increase as Jonathan’s brother. Oliver is studying real estate at Reading University.
The Gallaghers are probably the West Midlands’ most famous property family.
Jackie Gallagher (second from right). 64 explains that property has always been in the family’s blood. Jackie’s father. JJ Gallagher came over from Ireland to start the property dynasty. Jackie joined his father’s construction and property development company. JJ Gallagher as a 16 year old in 1959.
At the lunch the Gallaghers were represented by two of Jackie’s three sons. Dan (above right) from Stoford Developments and Marty (above second from left). 36 who works with his father at Gallan Group and David (above left). 32. Jackie’s nephew from Chase Commercial.
‘I remember the boys [Dan. David. Marty] used to come on to the sites and drive the diggers. It wouldn’t be allowed with today’s health and safety culture,’ says Jackie.
What is the view of daughters who are left out in the cold while their dads brothers and cousins booze it up at the Lads and Dads lunch?
Karen Wilson who is part of the Gallagher property dynasty is left back in the office as her father. Jackie brothers Dan and Marty and cousin David are at the lunch.
‘The lads and dads need not worry as I’ll keep the company going,’ says Karen. ‘They say behind every great man is a great woman and behind every great company …’
Karen is happy for the boys to have their own club but feels sons-in-law should be allowed in as her husband Andrew Wilson works at Matrix Realty.
Vickie Back (left) however who works at construction cost consultant Rider Levett Bucknall is keen to become a member.
‘Of course I’m jealous and want to be part of it,’ says Vickie whose father. David Back (right) founded DBK Back and now works with his development company. Barteak.
‘These guys are great fun have built up a fantastic network of contacts and do really good work for charity. It’s sexist to say “no” to girls especially when the property and construction sectors are trying to attract more women to the industry.’
But there are sad dads too. Richard Smith joint managing director of Opus Land feels a little left out. Although he has managed to persuade his progeny to follow him into property he does not receive an invite because it is his daughter. Vicky Smith who works in King Sturge’s investment team.
‘I’ve told them that it is totally sexist and non-PC,’ says a perturbed Smith.
‘And considering they’re mostly ugly buggers. Vicky would add something to the club.’
Forex Groups - Tips on Trading
Related article:
http://www.propertyweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=762&storycode=3115066&c=1
comments | Add comment | Report as Spam
|
