<h1>Build Your business with the best property & real estate talent</h1>

Find top talent in property and real estate with deverellsmith&rsquo;s permanent recruitment solutions. Our consultants bring unmatched industry expertise.

Permanent recruitment solutions

Discover flexible temporary, interim, and contract talent solutions.

Temporary, interim & contract recruitment

Secure senior real estate talent. Our expert recruiters deliver impactful results for your leadership and company growth.

Executive search

Drive shareholder value and strengthen your employer brand.

Recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) solutions

Designed to build entire teams at pace. Tailored solutions for business-critical hiring of 15+ professionals.

Project recruitment

In-depth data and research services to support your hiring strategy with industry insights.

Research benchmarking projects

<h3>What we offer</h3>

Through our consultancy approach, market intelligence, and innovative hiring solutions, we help property and real estate businesses cut costs and drive value. Our active database of 250,000+ professionals ensures you find the right talent to grow your business.

<h3>Why choose us?</h3>

Select each sector page to explore how we can assist you.

<h3>Our specialist recruitment areas</h3>

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Role: Head of BTR
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Background
The client needed to fill their newly created Head of BTR position. This role would be pivotal in shaping their BTR strategy, overseeing the development of purpose-built rental communities, and establishing operational frameworks for long-term asset management.
The position demanded an exceptional leader with experience in both residential operations and asset management &mdash; a rare combination in the UK property market. The successful candidate would need to demonstrate commercial acumen, operational expertise in rental property management, and the strategic vision to position the client as a market leader in the competitive BTR sector.
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Solution
Leadership
The project was led by an experienced consultant with extensive networks within residential development and BTR sectors. Their understanding of the client's culture and business objectives was crucial in identifying candidates who would align with the vision for BTR growth.
Methodology
A comprehensive search strategy was implemented including:
<ul>
<li>
Talent Mapping: Extensive market analysis was conducted across the UK BTR sector, identifying key players and potential candidates from both traditional property developers expanding into BTR and established BTR operators. Both active and passive candidates were engaged through multiple channels, ensuring a diverse talent pool.
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Consultative Process: In-depth meetings were held with the client's leadership team to gain thorough understanding of their BTR vision and cultural requirements. This included creating detailed candidate personas and assessment frameworks specifically tailored to the client's needs.
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Executive Search Framework: Working under a retained model, dedicated resources were allocated to this critical search. Comprehensive candidate profiles were developed and detailed assessments conducted, maintaining strict confidentiality throughout the process given the competitive nature of the BTR market.
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</ul>
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Results
The search concluded with outstanding results:
<ul>
<li>90% conversion rate from shortlist to interview</li>
<li>Completed within 7 weeks from initiation to offer acceptance</li>
<li>Successfully placed a candidate who brought both residential development expertise and institutional BTR experience</li>
</ul>
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How to hire: Head of BTR

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Role: Head of China Desk
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Background
The client is a proud member of a UK leader in the visionary delivery of major urban regeneration schemes. The group has been responsible for shaping much of the modern development along central London's riverside, replacing former industrial areas with vibrant places to live, work and play.
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Challenge
Our consultant, Manager of New Homes at deverellsmith, used her extensive talent partner experience to identify a gap in the client's sales team.
The client has several China desk operatives which work across the group; however, the relevant business unit was yet to solely have an individual to manage Chinese leads and sales. After advising the hiring team, our consultant worked in partnership with the client to source the right person to launch the desk and ultimately increase revenues.
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Solution
Our consultant identified a small pool of candidates that reflected the company values as well as having enough senior leadership experience to essentially drive a new business. The client is arguably the leading housebuilder in the London market, with exceptionally high standards and is positioned as a premium brand &mdash; the best of the best needed to be put forward for the role.
The profiled candidate required confidence and an extensive network in Asia with good knowledge of London, as well as experience in team management.
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Results
Utilising deverellsmith's active database and our consultant's network, she was able to source the right person and shortlist two candidates for the client to interview. Our consultant was able to identify who would add value to the business &mdash; after working closely with the client for several years &mdash; and someone who had the right values and skillset.
The candidate has now launched the China desk successfully and is pushing Chinese sales forward across the client's projects.
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How to hire: Head of China Desk

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Role: Business Development Manager
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Background/Challenges
The client is a leading provider of customer relationship management (CRM) and job management solutions tailored specifically for professional surveyors.
Their platform is expertly designed to streamline the workflow of surveyors by enabling them to operate more efficiently and focus on delivering quality service. In addition to time-saving features, the system also supports surveyors in expanding their business by driving sales. Moreover, helping to create a seamless and positive experience throughout the entire surveying process, fostering better customer satisfaction and long-term success.
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Solutions
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<li>
Market mapping: The search team strategically used online and offline candidate platforms to map out the talent pool and identify outstanding candidates for the role. By leveraging these platforms, they were able to conduct a thorough market analysis, pinpointing individuals with the right skill sets and experience. Their approach involved not only searching for active job seekers but also engaging with passive candidates who might be a perfect fit for the position. Through this targeted outreach, the search team successfully uncovered exceptional talent that aligned with the client's needs.
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Consultative approach: The search team connected with all six candidates they shortlisted from their market mapping efforts, conducting thorough phone conversations to explain the role and assess their suitability for the client's needs. After completing this initial screening, our partner was impressed with the quality of the candidates and selected five out of the six for interviews. Throughout the entire interview process, deverellsmith provided ongoing support, even arranging for the final stage interviews to be held at our office to complement the partner's hiring manager, ensuring a smooth and efficient hiring experience.
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</ul>
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Results
<ul>
<li>85% shortlist to interview rate</li>
<li>The project was completed in the agreed timescales</li>
<li>Our partner was highly satisfied with how the search was managed as well as the standard of candidates that was found for their business</li>
</ul>
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How to hire: Buisness Developement Manager for Customer Realationship Management 

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Role: Business Development Manager
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Background
The client is a London-based private estate creator, owner &amp; operator of bespoke high-end residential properties available for sale and rent in London, Mauritius, and France.
The business has gained a formidable reputation over the past decades for delivering exceptional design and uncompromising quality. Their residential properties are luxurious and sophisticated and created with remarkable attention to detail.
After hearing about a recent search project of deverellsmith's, the operator approached the firm and were instructed on a retained search to find them their ideal candidate.
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Solution
In light of the ever-growing demand for exclusive properties, the client was looking to hire a seasoned Business Development Manager. The primary criterion for this role was the possession of a black book of high-calibre contacts, ensuring the ability to attract discerning individuals from around the world to the exclusive properties offered by the operator.
The recruitment process posed a challenge, due to the requirement that the candidate needed to be fluent in French as well as owning an impressive network to bring to the table. This dual requirement compelled the team to adopt a creative approach to their search.
<ul>
<li>
deverellsmith's expansive database: Utilising the network of property professionals cultivated over the past 17 years, which was used to map the market and identify many French-speaking estate agent operating in London and surrounding areas. The search team approached each of the mapped contacts who were then presented with the carrier proposition. After thorough conversations with each professional, the search team curated a high-calibre shortlist, which was taken to the business.
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Strategic exploration of diverse markets: After identifying 15 top candidates, the search team approached the top 4, including one individual from the luxury property industry. Despite not working within the property industry, the candidate possessed an invaluable black book of contacts that aligned perfectly with the client's specific requirements, which the search team could recognise. This was ultimately the candidate who was hired for the role.
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</ul>
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Results
<ul>
<li>100% shortlist to interview rate</li>
<li>Secured candidate within the agreed budget</li>
<li>Vacancy filled in agreed timescales &mdash; 25 days</li>
</ul>
After the success of the search, the operator is looking to expand their team further and has retained deverellsmith to support their search.
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How to hire: Buisness Developement Manager

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Role: Business Development Manager x2&nbsp;
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Background
This case study examines the successful strategic recruitment partnership between our team and the client, a UK furniture provider to the property industry.
In January 2025, our team was appointed as the client's Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) partner on a three-year contract to support their ambitious growth plans. Within just three months, our team has successfully delivered 10 high-quality hires, including two Business Development Managers who have significantly accelerated the client's new business acquisition and market expansion.
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Solution
The client was entering a period of planned growth and expansion, requiring a consistent pipeline of top talent to support their business objectives. They faced several key challenges:
<ul>
<li>Needing to rapidly scale their sales function to capitalise on emerging market opportunities</li>
<li>Requiring specialised industry talent that understood the property and furniture sectors</li>
<li>Lacking internal recruitment resources to handle the volume and quality of hiring needed</li>
<li>Wanting to establish a consistent, brand-aligned recruitment approach</li>
</ul>
A key focus of the partnership was scaling the client's sales function through the strategic recruitment of Business Development Managers. Our team's approach included:
<ul>
<li>Deep Market Analysis: Conducting thorough research to identify where top sales talent was located within the property services sector</li>
<li>Tailored Candidate Assessment: Developing a bespoke evaluation process aligned with the client's sales culture and business objectives</li>
<li>Comprehensive Onboarding Support: Ensuring new hires could quickly integrate and contribute to revenue generation</li>
</ul>
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Results &amp; Impact
<ul>
<li>10 successful hires across various departments, ensuring consistent growth</li>
<li>2 High-Performing Business Development Managers who have:
<ul>
<li>Expanded the client's portfolio by targeting new market segments</li>
<li>Accelerated new business acquisition, with both exceeding their initial targets</li>
<li>Brought valuable industry connections and insights to strengthen market positioning</li>
</ul>
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</ul>
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How to hire: 2 Buisness Developement Managers

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Role: Development Manager
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Background
The client were seeking a search partner to appoint a Development Manager at the development (1,500 BTR units) to lead the execution of the company's development platform by managing the technical and construction side of the development processes. The successful candidate would lead and execute development projects from inception to completion, across design, planning, procurement and construction phases and integration with operations during the entire life cycle of the project.
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Solution
Our consultant, Director, led a search to find the best quality Development Manager in the market to launch the development.
Through internal interviewing and detailed research, our consultant formed a clear understanding of the client's culture and the EVP.
The objectives of the company were defined as well as the role the successful hire will play, and the critical elements to their success. In doing so, a detailed understanding was developed of the role and responsibilities of the position, the core skills and personality traits required to deliver.
This resulted in our consultant being able to map and refer 150 candidates, interview 5 candidates, and shortlist 2 candidates capable of doing the job.
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Results
Our consultant's search resulted in the successful hire of their Development Manager at the development. The successful candidate possessed strong development and project management experience, including a demonstrated ability to oversee the entire life cycle of the development process and to complete development projects.
Their exposure to large scale and multiple phased development projects has allowed the candidate to support the execution of the client's current development projects, as well their development pipeline within the UK. Our consultant successfully filled the position with the assistance of our data &amp; research specialists.
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Let me know if you need any further adjustments!

Build your business with the best property & real estate talent

What we offer...

Permanent recruitment solutions

Temporary, interim & contract recruitment

Executive search

Recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) solutions

Project recruitment

Research benchmarking projects

Why choose us?

Our specialist recruitment areas...

Our recent property recruitment success stories...

How to hire: Head of BTR

How to hire: Head of China Desk

How to hire: Buisness Developement Manager for Customer Realationship Management

How to hire: Buisness Developement Manager

How to hire: 2 Buisness Developement Managers

how to hire: Developement Manager

Contact a property recruitment

expert today.

Build your business with the best property & real estate talent

What we offer...

01Permanent recruitment solutions

Permanent recruitment solutions

02Temporary, interim & contract recruitment

Temporary, interim & contract recruitment

03Executive search

Executive search

04Recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) solutions

Recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) solutions

05Project recruitment

Project recruitment

06Research benchmarking projects

Research benchmarking projects

Why choose us?

Our specialist recruitment areas...

Our recent property recruitment success stories...

How to hire: Head of BTR

How to hire: Head of China Desk

How to hire: Buisness Developement Manager for Customer Realationship Management

How to hire: Buisness Developement Manager

How to hire: 2 Buisness Developement Managers

how to hire: Developement Manager

Contact a property recruitment

expert today.