Innovation boosts property market
Innovation and digital disruption are bringing challenges and opportunities to our rapidly changing commercial property market, says a top Auckland property expert.
Colliers International Auckland Managing Director Charles Cooper says the key property trends of the last few years have been largely driven by new ways of thinking and innovative new digital tools.
“Syndications have changed the way capital is raised and introduced new ownership structures a new category of investors,” he says.
“Co- working and flexible workspaces have made offices more like start- ups, leading to a rethink of the way companies structure their offices and lease arrangements.
“New digital and mobile tools like our award- winning Colliers 360 platform are making accurate and timely property information available to owners and occupiers anywhere, anytime.
“We’ve also seen powerful new modelling tools enable significant innovation, such as our awardwinning rural valuation platform.”
Cooper says the company is keeping ahead of property trends by investing heavily in new technologies, such as Colliers 360, and new business lines, such as the recently launched Business Sales and Capital Solutions team.
“A key part of our strategy is to attract New Zealand’s best property talent from a wide range of backgrounds, including the property, finance and government sectors,” he says.
“We’re thrilled to have had a number of industry leaders join us in the last six months, including Government Property Group Director David White, ex- BNZ Partner John Mills and leading broker Blair Peterken.”
To keep up with the growth, Colliers International has recently appointed careers and strategic recruitment specialist David Jones to identify and secure top talent.
Jones says though Colliers International will never have a “mass numbers” business model, it will continue to grow by attracting the right calibre of professionals and giving them the tools, platform and environment to thrive.
“We are proud of the fact that we dominate most of the markets we are in with fewer people than some of our competitors. This allows our brokers to have higher earnings than the industry average and offers our clients stronger professional relationships.”
Jones says Colliers International is recruiting industry leading brokers, property services professionals and managers to keep ahead of demand for its expanding property services.
“My mandate is to strategically recruit the right people to match our growth targets. This includes industry leaders across the property spectrum who want to work with the leading business in commercial real estate.”
Among the experts Colliers is currently seeking are a new Bid Development Co- ordinator, a National Director of Rural and Agribusiness, and a new leader for its West Auckland office.
“We’re encouraging top candidates from a wide variety of business backgrounds to get in touch about these career- accelerating opportunities,” Jones says.
Last year, Colliers International completed more than $ 3.15 billion worth of commercial property sales transactions in New Zealand and leased over 1.3 million square metres of commercial property.
It has been ranked among New Zealand’s top three workplaces in the IBM Kenexa Best Workplace Awards on four separate occasions.
Colliers International provides a comprehensive range of property services including sales, leasing, valuation, real estate management, corporate solutions, building consultancy, research, consulting, residential project marketing and rural and agribusiness sales.
Jones says the company has real estate job opportunities at its 20 offices throughout New Zealand. “We offer all the benefits and expertise of a global company, along with the local knowledge and relationships that make us a leader in New Zealand property services.”
Colliers International Chief Operating Officer Bruce Gallie says it is a great place to work thanks to a strong company culture.
“Colliers people are offered ongoing training and development opportunities to accelerate their careers,” he says.
“We help build our professionals’ knowledge, provide them with opportunities, training, leadership and support, and challenge them to achieve in a dynamic team environment. We also offer a range of employee benefits and rewards to ensure our highly valued staff are recognised for their success.
“We’re committed to accelerating success — not only for our clients, but for our own people,” Gallie says.
“We want Colliers International to be the best place to work in New Zealand. That starts with attracting the best talent, then giving our people the tools and support to flourish.”