As a key initiative to attract young talent to the company and help support them through the formative years of their careers, the Bayleys Young Networking Group (BYNG) has been established among the firm’s Auckland commercial and industrial team.

BYNG is an initiative Bayleys would like to see rolled out through its nationwide network, as a career in real estate is increasingly appealing to a younger age bracket.

Figures from industry regulator the Real Estate Authority (REA) show that at 30 June 2024, there were 15,489 active licensees operating in New Zealand. Of these, around 22 percent were aged 18-37.

In July, 16 top-performing brokers from BYNG celebrated the achievements of the last financial year by travelling to Brisbane to attend the State of Origin Game 3 decider, and networking with colleagues from Knight Frank, Bayleys’ global real estate partner.

Commenting in the latest edition of Bayleys’ Total Property portfolio, Sunil Bhana, general manager Bayleys South Auckland, says students straight out of university have opportunities through all parts of the real estate business, often doing work experience while studying so that on graduation, they have a clear idea of where their strengths lie.

“Bayleys’ in-house training goes above and beyond the industry’s prescribed professional development, with modules to fine-tune every part of the real estate process to set new brokers up for success.

“The new generation of property professionals often find their groove initially by handling day-to-day processes so that senior brokers can focus on deal-making, or by doing things that the older generation sometimes grapples with – like leveraging technology across the business.”

Nick O’Styke is an industrial broker with Bayleys Christchurch and joined the firm in 2011 after three years at Lincoln University studying valuation. In his early years at Bayleys he was in a cadetship and later a partnership with senior agents, and now consistently sits within the top five percent of Bayleys salespeople nationwide.

“The ability to create opportunities from scratch, build lasting friendships, and nurture loyal clients with the Bayleys brand behind me, has kept me in the industry,” says O’Styke, who was named Bayleys Overall National Commercial Salesperson of the Year 2023.

“I know I can pick up the phone and talk to anyone in the company nationwide – including the Bayley family – and they’ll be happy to help and share their knowledge.”

Since commencing her commercial property career, Tiana Warren has held a number of roles with Bayleys and is now Head of Corporate and Occupier Services for Bayleys Property Services Auckland, leading a specialist occupier lease and facilities management team.

Warren says she’s always had very supportive mentors and managers who have encouraged her development and career growth, and believes young professionals are more adaptable to emerging technologies and generally have a bigger appetite to challenge the status quo, and take risks.

“Regardless of age, building and maintaining relationships in this industry is crucial for success. It will unlock opportunities, support personal development and make your work life more enjoyable in general.”

Having grown up around the Bayleys brand and its people, with his father Mark managing director of Bayleys’ commercial operations in Wellington, it was a natural progression for Ethan Hourigan to enter the industry straight out of high school.

Specialising in industrial sales and leasing in the Hutt Valley market, Hourigan junior says he started at ground level and built up his knowledge and track record by observing and honing fundamental skills.

“Developing comprehensive market intel on what has sold or been leased in my patch and at what yields and rates, has given clients confidence that I am on the ball.

“I believe the younger generation has an advantage, especially in the current tough market, because clients are looking for an active, energetic agent willing to do the hard graft to bring them the right opportunity, or the right buyer.”

Youna Lee is a graduate valuer in the Bayleys Valuations Limited Auckland team. After completing a Bachelor of Property, Lee obtained her salesperson license and worked as a salesperson for another agency, before her growing interest in valuation led her to Bayleys.

“Now I maintain a comprehensive database of lease and sale transactions, I’m learning how to write valuation reports, and accompanying valuers on inspections to further develop my skills in the field.

“My team is always supportive, and my goal now is to learn more about the different property sectors and to keep up with the changing markets.”