Foreign languages in higher demand at city estate agents
A LONDON estate agent is having to place foreign languages near the top of its skills requirements as the capital continues to attract talent from the struggling Eurozone.
Estate agent Greene & Co said today that one quarter of its residential clients now came from overseas. To meet demand, they need staff to speak a host of different languages – 13 per cent of the firm’s staff are fluent in a foreign language.
In Kentish Town, Greene & Co have boosted the number of agents fluent in French as buyers from across the channel flock to the area because of two French schools.
Another French school – the Lycee International de Londres – due to open in Wembley in September 2015 – is attracting French migrants to the area.
Meanwhile, the branch based at Maida Vale is seeing an influx of Italians and Greeks.
“Having an agent who can negotiate in your own language can make the process much easier and less stressful,” said David Pollock, managing director of Greene & Co.
“We actively recruit agents who are multi-lingual, and this is a trend I see growing.”