ESPC launches new training programme for solicitor estate agents

As part of its quality charter initiative, ESPC has launched a new training programme, the first of its kind in the UK.  

The course has been carefully curated by ESPC, The Law Society of Scotland and the Edinburgh Conveyancers Forum and topics include estate agency and marketing; conveyancing for non-conveyancers; property law and building construction.  

The training programme is part of ESPC’s charter. UK-wide estate regulation for estate agency is currently being considered by the Westminster Government. Ahead of the introduction of any new legislation, ESPC (in conjunction with its solicitor estate agents) has taken the initiative to create its own service standards by means of the ESPC Charter. 

ESPC member firms are already regulated by the Law Society of Scotland and are duty-bound to do their best for their clients. However, ESPC’s charter will drive standards even higher with a focus on customer care, client communication, and training and development.  

ESPC’s charter was launched in November last year after ESPC research that found being signed up to a charter is important to home sellers, with nine out of ten respondents rating it as very or quite important when selecting a selling agent.   

The training, which starterd on Wednesday 19th April, will be led by industry experts who bring experience and a wealth of knowledge to each subject. 

More than 50 people from 39 solicitor estate agent firms are due to attend and the certification will be awarded by the Law Society of Scotland once the full course is completed in December. 

ESPC’s collective group of chartered member firms are passionate about providing a higher standard of service for their clients during the estate agency and conveyancing process. With a commitment to a service standard through the charter, members will also be skilled on best practise in various industry topics, allowing them to provide clients with an extra layer of expertise. 

Paul Hilton, CEO of ESPC, commented: “Our aim is to make the process of buying and selling property in Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife, the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway as positive as possible.  

“I am delighted that 39 ESPC member firms have signed up to the certificated scheme.  The training will provide solicitor estate agent team members with new skills, knowledge and experience.  

“We have carefully curated this course alongside the Law Society and Edinburgh Conveyancers Forum to appeal to the solicitor estate agency proposition: one that we are all proud to be part of.” 

“The first of its kind in Scotland, this course is raising standards and paving the way to making the profession the best it can be.”