Empiric: Service Over Steel - Duncan Garrood on Reimagining Real Estate Through Brand and Hospitality

What happens when an acclaimed CEO within the hospitality industry takes the helm of a £1bn student accommodation platform?Welcome back to Reinventing Real Estate, the podcast where industry visionaries reveal what’s shaping the future of property development and investment. In this episode, we speak with Duncan Garrood, CEO of Empiric Student Property -  the FTSE 250 owners of Hello Student. Drawing on decades of leadership experience, Duncan offers a masterclass in operational transformation, customer-first strategy and cultural agility. Duncan’s bringing a new mindset to UK real estate: build for people, obsess over service and brand like your business depends on it - because it does.In this episode, Duncan unpacks:Lessons from global B2C markets and how they apply to real estate and student living The danger of “one size fits all” in housing. The real opportunity with postgraduates and how Empiric is responding The brand effect: how Hello Student is winning trust and referralsWhy service, not square footage, defines the future of residentialHow to lead in moments of change and growthIf you’re a developer, investor, operator - or an aspiring CEO -  this is one for the notebook.Hosted by Jenna and Jamie Harris, this is a conversation full of insight, candour and big ideas for anyone serious about the future of real estate. Stay up to date:   Subscribe now to stay updated on upcoming episodes! For more insights, follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/harrisassociates/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harrisassociates/ Listen on Apple Podcasts or watch on YouTube.Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/reinventing-real-estate/id1707988579YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@HarrisAssociatesLondon----This episode was pre-recorded in November 2024. Consequently, certain discussions regarding market conditions and interest rates may no longer reflect current circumstances. We appreciate your understanding.