Nottingham could become hub of PropTech talent, says agent
Property agency JLL says Nottingham is well placed to benefit from the emerging PropTech market, and that it could help to grow the city’s £1.3bn digital tech community.
Matthew Smith from JLL said: “We’re really beginning to see changes to our industry and we’re urging developers and investors to start to think differently about how they do business.
“As a university city with access to some of the best graduates, we need to harness their skills and encourage those making headway in the local FinTech scene to look at the opportunities in PropTech too.
“We’re already seeing operators such as WeWork challenging the concept of workspace, creating a more collaborative, human approach to business. This is an approach that can also be used to revitalise older buildings
“Increasing consumer demand for online shopping and same and next day delivery is changing the logistics market, with more urban logistics sites required. In the future, these may also be the recharging point for Electric delivery vans as the city look set to cut down on air pollution.
“The real estate market is still a very traditional industry and it’s important we all start the journey to be sure to stay ahead of the curve,” added Smith.
JLL has invested in JLL Spark – a new venture led by Silicon Valley entrepreneur who are seeking to develop and invest in the next wave of disruptors.
The company has also created its NXT office studio in its London HQ – an immersive technology which the firm says is set to revolutionise how occupiers search for office space.
Smith added: The emergence of truly smart buildings is the next big transformation. They’re coming fast. They will enable companies to offer employees a totally different experience to what we’re used to.
“Some of the industry’s biggest investors such as Blackstone, BlackRock, Hines and Swire Properties are already making investments into the PropTech market. Companies that don’t follow suit and confront the reality of digital transformation could be in danger of being left behind.”
