Proptech partnership looks to address multi-let industrial market
Birmingham City University (BCU) is looking to lay the foundations of a proptech solution for the industrial sector.
It is about to embark on a two-year project with Stenprop, the UK multi-let industrial property business which wants to develop its serviced industrial space model via its industrials.co.uk platform.
The Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) will see BCU provide the technical knowledge to analyse, quantify and extrapolate Stenprop’s tenant and other market data with a view to developing operational insight into the multi-let industrial sector, and ultimately, revenue-generating opportunities for Stenprop.
David Higgins, professor of real estate at BCU, said: “This Knowledge Transfer Partnership is a great example of industry and academics aligning their capabilities to achieve defined goals.
“Innovation is changing the demand on real estate. Those owners that can learn and adapt will be leaders. Applying innovation as the key property strategy provides opportunities to help owners and occupiers realise the benefits of space well beyond the traditional bricks and mortar structures.”
Stenprop and BCU are now looking for a suitably-qualified graduate with the capability to lead the two-year project.
Julian Carey, group property director of Stenprop, said: “We believe there is a huge opportunity to disrupt the traditional property company model by applying innovation and technology within the multi-let industrial market.
“The partnership with BCU will enable us to develop a data-driven approach to our business model of offering space as a service to our customers, and will, in turn, improve customer retention, occupancy and, ultimately, drive rental growth.”
