Blocktalk – the podcast for UK Property Management Professionals

New Episode: Making a Difference with Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus ScotlandIn this special episode of the Blocktalk Podcast, we’re shining a light on the incredible work of Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland (SBHS): our Charity of the Year. Host Brian is joined by:Kim Kilgour, Community & Fundraising Manager, SBHSCarrie McAdam, Storytelling & Communications Lead, SBHSSteven Urquhart, SBHS service userHelen Doyle, People & Culture Director, CPL SoftwareTogether, they explore the life-changing services SBHS provides, Steven’s personal journey as a service user, and the powerful impact of fundraising. They also discuss the importance of businesses partnering with smaller charities and how CPL Software’s Charity of the Year initiative is making a real difference.This episode is a celebration of resilience, community, and the power of giving back. Tune in for an inspiring conversation and find out how you can help support SBHS!Follow the Blocktalk Podcast on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X for more updates.

Blocktalk Podcast: Clientcast - October 2024What’s New at CPL Software (producers of the show)Episode Summary:In this special episode, we’ve got our regular quarterly update for our valued clients on the latest developments and news from the CPL Software team who are producers of the Blocktalk podcast.Our team has been working hard behind the scenes, and we want to share some important updates and insights into the direction our business is heading. Whether you’re a long-time client or new to our services, this episode will give you a deeper understanding of what’s been happening and what you can expect from us in the coming months.With: Brian Welsh, CEO; Will McIlmoyle, CTO; Fran Megson, Operations Director and Tom Beswick, Business Development Manager.Timestamp00:40 Intro, Brian Welsh, CEO02:13 Sales & Marketing Update, Tom Beswick, BDM05:25 Ops Update, Fran Megson, Operations Director09:40 Dev update, Will McIlmoyle, CTO**Stay Connected:** Follow us on social media for real-time updates and insights.**Feedback:** We value your input! Reach out to us with any feedback or suggestions.This episode is brought to you by CPL Software.**Thank you for tuning in!** Don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast so you never miss an update. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review and share it with your colleagues.

In this episode of the Blocktalk Podcast, we’re delighted to welcome Stephen O’Neill, a seasoned expert in the property factoring world. Stephen is the founder and Chair of Newton Property Management and the original founder of O’Neill Letting, which he started in 1995 and later sold in 2001. With decades of experience in the property sector, Stephen has witnessed dramatic changes in the industry, from letting and property management to market shifts and regulatory evolution.Join us as we dive into Stephen’s journey, his thoughts on how the industry has transformed, and where it's heading next. Whether you’re a property professional, landlord, or curious about the real estate world, this episode offers valuable insights and expert perspectives.Tune in for a conversation full of history, expertise, and a look toward the future of property management!Timestamp01:35 Stephen's father's background02:50 How has the landscape evolved?07:16 Back from retirement09:25 Embracing change as a self-confessed luddite and elder statesman14:05 What about the future – what major changes do you foresee happening by 2030?20:09 Is there ever a time when property managers are replaced by AI?24:29 Automation and digitisation over the next few years in the industry29:40 How has legislation changed over the years35:12 AI and property factoring36:07 Tell us something about you that people are generally surprised to find out about you?Subscribe to the Blocktalk podcast and follow on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter for updates.

Not got time for a full podcast? Tune in to Blocktalk Bitesize for a small 8-minute segment from the most recent show, which is with Malcolm Perryman, Chief Commercial Officer at The Property Institute chatting to Brian about the results of the latest wellbeing survey.In this short chunk, Malcolm is talking about the 'High Happiness' scale measured by the Office for National Statistics.For the full insightful episode, just head back to last week's show!Full Episode Timestamp:01:32 Overview of survey results06:35 What stood out from the results of the survey?12:51 Any major changes compared to last year?16:10 Are attitudes to wellbeing shifting?21:40 What training does The Property Institute offer?28:49 Look out for communications to take part in the next survey which comes out in February 2025For more information visithttps://www.tpi.org.uk/industry-knowledge/property-management/tpi-wellbeing-resilience-survey-2024/For training visit:https://www.tpi.org.uk/training-and-qualifications/training-courses/Please subscribe to the podcast and follow Blocktalk UK on LinkedIn, X and Facebook.

In this episode of the Blocktalk podcast, we’re joined by Malcolm Perryman, Chief Commercial Officer at The Property Institute to dive into the results of the recent wellbeing survey. With property management being a demanding field, this survey sheds light on the mental health and overall wellbeing of professionals in the industry.Malcolm shares key insights, discussing the challenges property managers face and what the results mean for the future of the sector. Whether you're a property manager, landlord, or industry insider, this episode offers vital takeaways on how to foster a healthier work environment in property management.Timestamp:01:32 Overview of survey results06:35 What stood out from the results of the survey?12:51 Any major changes compared to last year?16:10 Are attitudes to wellbeing shifting?21:40 What training does The Property Institute offer?28:49 Look out for communications to take part in the next survey which comes out in February 2025For more information visithttps://www.tpi.org.uk/industry-knowledge/property-management/tpi-wellbeing-resilience-survey-2024/For training visit:https://www.tpi.org.uk/training-and-qualifications/training-courses/Please subscribe to the podcast and follow Blocktalk UK on LinkedIn, X and Facebook.

Blocktalk Bitesize Clientcast - a special shorter episode of the main podcast for busy property managers and industry leaders.On this Bitesize episode from the latest episode with Neil Watt, Neil talks about his involvement in the Scottish Parliament's Tenement Maintenance Working Group. You can also listen to the full episode which was out last week. Full Episode Summary:In this episode, Neil regales tales from his 40+ years in the industry, looking back at the history and how the industry has changed...and how it hasn't. This is a fantastic conversation with an industry veteran who has seen it all—from the early days of property factoring, where relationships were built on a handshake, to the complex, highly regulated environment we navigate today. Neil shares insightful anecdotes, lessons learned, and the challenges he faced along the way.We also dive into the future of property management, discussing the evolving role of technology, client expectations, and the importance of maintaining a personal touch in an increasingly digital world. Whether you're a seasoned professional or new to the field, Neil's stories offer valuable wisdom and perspective on where the industry has been and where it’s headed next.**Stay Connected:**Don’t miss out on the latest news and updates from the Blocktalk Podcast. Make sure to subscribe to our podcast, and follow us on LinkedIn, X and Facebook to stay informed.

Today on the Blocktalk Podcast, the podcast for the property management industry, we are joined by Neil Watt, Chairman of Hacking and Paterson. Neil joined the company in 1982, was appointed to the Board, four years later in 1986 and subsequently became Managing Director in 2008, going on to be appointed as Chairman in August 2019. Neil is a former Director and President of the PMA, has served as a Director of the British Property Federation, and continues to be actively involved in providing guidance and input to Scottish Government and other regulatory bodies on the requirements for continued and improved maintenance of the country’s housing stock.In this episode, Neil regales tales from his 40+ years in the industry, looking back at the history and how the industry has changed...and how it hasn't. This is a fantastic conversation with an industry veteran who has seen it all—from the early days of property factoring, where relationships were built on a handshake, to the complex, highly regulated environment we navigate today. Neil shares insightful anecdotes, lessons learned, and the challenges he faced along the way.We also dive into the future of property management, discussing the evolving role of technology, client expectations, and the importance of maintaining a personal touch in an increasingly digital world. Whether you're a seasoned professional or new to the field, Neil's stories offer valuable wisdom and perspective on where the industry has been and where it’s headed next.Whether you're a seasoned professional or just curious about the industry, you won’t want to miss this conversation on how property factoring is set to evolve in the coming years.On the show:02:00 PMAS Lifetime Achievement Award - leadership/management style evolved over the years and why.08:40 Over forty years in the industry - history about the industry, and how it has evolved over the years.18:55 Scottish Parliament Tenement Maintenance Working Group - insights you can share about how that is moving forward.29:35 Biggest risks facing the industry.32:20 Biggest opportunities for the industry.40:21 Where do you see the industry in 2030?46:00 Tell us something about you that people would be surprised to learn?Find out more about Neil here:https://www.hackingandpaterson.co.uk/about-us/our-team/neil-watt/The Blocktalk Podcast is hosted by Brian Welsh and produced by the CPL Software team. CPL Software are software partners to property managers and produce the Blocktalk podcast to support our partners and the industry.

Blocktalk Bitesize Clientcast - a special shorter episode for time limited property managers and industry leaders: Quarterly HQ Update: What's New at CPL Software (producers of the Blocktalk podcast).Episode Summary:Welcome to the shorter version of the latest Blocktalk podcast, where we bring you a quick update on everything happening at CPL Software this quarter. In this shorter episode, we’ll give you a snapshot of our recent developments, with insights directly from the team leaders. Hear from Fran, Operations Director update on Support, Tom, Business Development Manager update on Sales & Marketing, and Will, CTO, update on Technical Developments. It's a little piece from the full episode, where they share the latest updates and what you can expect in the coming months.**In This Episode:**Fran on Support for our existing property management clientsTom with a Sales & Marketing update Will with a snippet from his Development update**Stay Connected:**Don’t miss out on the latest news and updates from the Blocktalk Podcast. Make sure to subscribe to our podcast, and follow us on LinkedIn, X and Facebook to stay informed.

Blocktalk Podcast: Clientcast - August 2024Episode Title: Special Update: What’s New at CPL Software (producers of the show)Episode Summary:In this special episode, we’ve got our regular quarterly update for our valued clients on the latest developments and news from the CPL Software team who are producers of the Blocktalk podcast.Our team has been working hard behind the scenes, and we want to share some important updates and insights into the direction our business is heading. Whether you’re a long-time client or new to our services, this episode will give you a deeper understanding of what’s been happening and what you can expect from us in the coming months.With: Brian Welsh, CEO; Will McIlmoyle, CTO; Fran Megson, Operations Director and Tom Beswick, Business Development Manager.Timestamp01:37 Team update with Brian Welsh, CEO04:18 Development update with Will McIlmoyle, CTO07:18 Operations update with Fran Megson, Operations Director12:33 Sales update with Tom Beswick, BDM16:05 Future developments with Will Mcilmoyle, CTOSPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT AT THE END!**Stay Connected:** Follow us on social media for real-time updates and insights.**Feedback:** We value your input! Reach out to us with any feedback or suggestions.This episode is brought to you by CPL Software.**Thank you for tuning in!** Don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast so you never miss an update. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review and share it with your colleagues.

Blocktalk - Bitesize Bonus EpisodeEpisode Title: The Future of Property FactoringHost: Brian WelshGuest: David Doran, MD, Hacking & Paterson Property ManagementEpisode Description:In this shorter Bitesize episode of Blocktalk, host Brian Welsh sits down with industry expert and MD of Hacking & Paterson Management Services David Doran to explore the future of property factoring. They discuss the evolving landscape of property management, emerging trends, and what stakeholders can expect in the years to come. From technological innovations to shifts in legislation and ownership, the latest Blocktalk conversation is packed with insights that both property managers and property owners will find invaluable.Tune in to Blocktalk for a quick dive into what’s next for the property factoring industry!On the full episode:01:00 Major changes you foresee happening by 2030 in property factoring15:48 Automation and digitisation in the property factoring industry23:10 Sustainability and the environment in the property factoring industry28:00 Will the BTL v ownership landscape affect what happens in property factoring35:26 How do you think the potential shift towards the need for more human connection will affect property factoring? 41:13 Is there ever a time when property managers are replaced by AI? Don't forget to subscribe to Blocktalk for more insightful discussions and bonus episodes like this one!