LendInvest to hold second academy in response to ‘overwhelming’ demand

The second course will be held in London on 20 and 21 January and will accommodate another 25 students.

LendInvest said its inaugural course on 11 and 12 November had received “overwhelming” interest, with 200 people applying – eight times more than could be accepted.

Further course dates will be announced for London and other UK cities in early 2017, along with a line up of partners and participants, the lender said.

CEO Christian Faes (pictured) said: “We have been astounded by the interest in the LendInvest Property Development Academy since we launched it last month. Our decision to add new London dates to accommodate more people is testament to the quality of the people who applied, a huge number of whom were able to demonstrate a genuine and serious intention to enter property development.”

Hands-on experience

LendInvest launched its property development course in collaboration with the University of Reading in September, as a non-profit initiative to improve the skills of aspiring property developers.

The two-day intensive programme takes students through seven hands-on, practical modules covering the full development project.

Sessions are led by experienced advisers, including solicitors, planners, valuers and surveyors, who share their insights on what it takes to get small-scale property developments delivered on time and on budget.

Faes said: “Interest from developers, advisers and industry bodies alike in the LendInvest Property Development Academy has highlighted the desperate need for better development education. Our attendees are the lucky ones. They will benefit from the expertise of some fantastic coaches with crucial hands-on experience, as well as build a network of invaluable contacts from their local area.”

SMEs to solve housing crisis 

LendInvest’s academy was set up with a view to helping solve the country’s housing crisis. SMEs are set to benefit from new government initiatives designed to reinvigorate the housing market by making it easier for SMEs and new firms to enter.

Chancellor Philip Hammond and communities secretary Sajid Javid announced a package of measures in early October, including plans to set aside £2bn for accelerated housebuilding and to roll out a £3bn fund to provide loans to small housebuilders.
New planning rules will also make it easier to build on brownfield sites by giving automatic permission in principle for suitable sites.

“As momentum in the new government grows to encourage more SME housebuilding, we hope to be front and centre of the drive to give more developers the tools and confidence they need to deliver more homes onto UK streets,” Faes said.