ESPC hails 100% pass rate for first SPC Property Practice graduates

Scottish property portal ESPC has announced the inaugural graduation of its first qualification, with a 100% pass rate.

EPSC revealed that 55 students have passed its SPC Property Practice Certification, which is accredited by the Law Society of Scotland.

The students graduated on 13 December in a ceremony at the Law Society of Scotland’s offices on Morrison Street, Edinburgh, with speeches from ESPC’s chief executive Paul Hilton, the Law Society of Scotland’s president Sheila Webster and Jill Andrew from Edinburgh Conveyancers Forum.

The qualification is the first of its kind in the UK, specifically aimed at solicitor estate agents, and provides ESPC’s chartered member firms with the opportunity to get ahead of potential UK-wide estate agency regulation coming into force next year.

Subjects covered include Estate Agency and Marketing; Conveyancing for Non-Conveyancers; Legal and Property Law; and Building Construction. The qualification was achieved through a mix of online multiple choice and written assessments, and the current cohort began their studies in April 2023, with the final exam taking place in October.

ESPC plans to offer the course again for new students in 2024.

It is also hoped that more of its 140-plus member firms will sign up to the ESPC Charter, making them eligible for this training. The course will then be rolled out to other SPCs in Scotland.

Ashley McInulty, head of member services at ESPC, said: “We are incredibly proud of our inaugural graduates today, who are advancing in their entirety following months of dedication to studying for this unique qualification. 

“It is a mark of the commitment our member firms have to offering the very best service to their customers that so many solicitor estate agents have taken part in the first year of this course, and that they have committed to continuous development following on from the initial qualification. 

“We at ESPC are dedicated to raising consumer standards in the property industry and it is our hope that the SPC Property Practice Certification, linked with ESPC Chartered status, assures customers that they are in the very best hands when they choose to appoint an ESPC solicitor estate agent to handle the sale or purchase of a property. 

“We are delighted to have worked so closely with both the Law Society of Scotland and the Edinburgh Conveyancers Forum on the design and delivery of this qualification, and we would like to congratulate every one of our fantastic graduates on their achievement.”