Big sign-up for new Level Three Agency Qualification scheme

The Guild of Property Professionals says it’s had a strong response to the launch of its Ofqual-accredited Level Three Agency Qualification.

It covers residential sales, lettings and property management and in under a week 214 agents have registered - the quickest-ever sign up to a Guild initiative of this kind according to compliance officer Paul Offley.

Offley, who will lead the project with Guild head of engagement and development Jennifer Scott-Reid, says: “Offering a formal qualification is something that we as an organisation are doing in response to a request from the membership. Although mandatory qualifications are not yet a requirement for agents, the rapid uptake of this formal qualification is evidence that there is a desire among agents to be recognised as the professionals they are and having fully qualified teams will raise standards and enhance consumer confidence.”

According to Offley the training will be offered to member agents inclusive of membership, although they will have to pay for the examination to obtain the qualification.

“The training which will be delivered using a digital platform and supported via a range of digital learning options will be available to members across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. We will possibly look at making the training available to agents outside of the network at a later stage, however, for the time being, it is an exclusive offer to the membership” he notes.

The Guild says the offer of this training has prompted five new independent agencies joining up and 21 others in discussions with regional managers.