Independent agents’ new FIA group reveals bespoke training for members

The new independent estate and letting agents’ body, the FIA, has unveiled what it calls an exclusive online training platform for its members.

Bryan Mansell and Sarah Edmundson - who relaunched the Allstars agency training group in 2017 - are collaborating with FIA founder Graham Lock to offer the tuition, called UNIFIA, to member agents.  

“There isn’t enough training and development in agency which coincides with a frustrating lack of talent. I’m confident that by offering UNIFIA to our members it will improve their existing staff skills, nurture new recruits and in turn attract better people to their agency” explains Lock, who was managing director at The Property Franchise Group before becoming a well-known industry consultant.

“We are in the process of gaining CPD status which will add further credibility. UNIFIA is another competitive advantage that our exclusive independent members will enjoy over their peers” he adds.

The Federation of Independent Agents formally launched this week and is a member-only organisation with the objectives of giving independents the scale and quality of supplier access that is often reserved for bulk-buying corporates.

It has attracted over 200 agency brands with some 400 branches that have pre-registered their interest in joining, but it allows only one member agent per town.

It has also forged partnerships with a number of suppliers to the industry, including outsourced viewing service Viewber and reviews platform Feefo.

The FIA charges agents £295 plus VAT per branch per month; its new website is here.