Agency tests 'hub' structure to allow agents to work more flexibly

High end agency Knight Frank is reorganising a regional lettings division in a bid to create a ‘hub’ system which should improve flexible working for individual agents and increase administrative efficiency.

The new structure will see four of its existing Home Counties teams based in two central offices.

The Guildford, Ascot, Esher and Cobham teams will now be based in Ascot and Esher respectively - the previous head of the Guildford team will now also head up Ascot lettings, with a remit to expand activity in Berkshire and Virginia Water.

Meanwhile the Cobham and Esher team will continue to strengthen its presence in neighbouring Weybridge, and will also be able to support in Guildford given its proximity along the A3 corridor.

The agency says the new structure will free up each individual agent by centralising the administrative staff, so giving the company “a more comprehensive, mobile presence across Surrey and Berkshire as well as a central point of contact for clients or tenants regarding any issues.”

Each agent will still have the ability to work from offices across the Knight Frank network when required - including Weybridge and Guildford where sales teams are still based - in order to provide what the company calls “a holistic service that caters for the developing needs of their clients and customers.” 

The firm says the offices will operate as hubs, allowing the agents to move seamlessly between them.

“The move to centralise our teams means that they can work together more effectively and be more strategic about how they serve their clients. We have plans to bolster both teams and want to make sure that we are maximising our resources to provide the best possible level of service. This involves freeing up our agents and having dedicated staff to ensure that the increasing amount of regulatory administration work is processed swiftly and precisely” explains Neil Cunningham, Knight Frank’s regional partner for Home Counties lettings. 

Jamie-Leigh Harvey, lettings manager for Cobham and Esher, says the new hub structure is “increasingly enabling our agents to spend more time with clients and prospective tenants which is crucial. They also now have a central contact for any issue resolution which makes the whole process much simpler for them.”

The hub structure is becoming increasingly popular in the industry - Humberts recently announced a wholesale move to turn its existing office structure into hubs, starting with the first three likely to open this autumn. Each hub will handle lettings, sales and a wider range of property-related services.