Ensuring staff gain the right training and career development opportunities, in a largely unregulated sector, is a passion for Stoke-on-Trent lettings and estate agency Managing Director Ramona Hirschi.

Now Ramona, of Belvoir Stoke-on-Trent, Biddulph and Leek, has been rewarded with a national award for her own training success.

She was presented with the Candidate of the Year Award by Propertymark, for gaining the best results in the national examinations for lettings and property management.

“When I took on the business five years ago, I underwent intensive training with Belvoir but I was frustrated with the lack of mandatory formal training for letting agents in our industry,” said Ramona.

Selling or letting properties is a major responsibility, letting agents are responsible for ensuring all the landlords’ responsibilities are carried out to a high standard and to ensure a safe and decent standard of housing for tenants.

“I wanted to ensure my team had opportunities to increase their skills and to ensure our customers were confident in our expert knowledge. The Propertymark qualifications are the gold standardfor our industryand an excellent way of gaining professional development and memberships of professional bodies like RICS”

The awards were presented by Channel 4 property expert Phil Spencer in a prestigious ceremony at the British Museum.

The Propertymark Qualifications’ Awards ceremony, sponsored by Gallaghers, celebrates learners and employers who have attained outstanding success.

Ramona came out on top as the highest achieving candidate in the Propertymark Level 4 qualification, the leading UK qualification for senior lettings managers.

Propertymark says thousands of agents study for the awards each year.

Added Ramona: “I didn’t expect to come out on top and I missed the ceremony as I was on a pre-booked holiday that couldn’t be changed!

“I sent my colleague to attend on my behalf  and I couldn’t believe it when she messaged from the ceremony to say I had won!

“It’s nice to receive an award for sacrificing evenings and weekends to study after a full day’s work, but the additional knowledge I’ve gained is much more important than the award. This knowledge is passed, in turn, to my colleagues and our customers.”

ENDS

To learn more about Belvoir Stoke-on-Trent, Biddulph and Leek, go online to www.belvoir.co.uk/stoke-on-trent-estate-agents

For media enquiries please contact Nigel Howle by telephone on 0776 2043436 or by email at [email protected].