I hear the term ‘normal market’ thrown around quite a bit, I’m still not sure, however, that I know what it means.

James White, the Owner and MD of Belong Estate and Lettings Agents, posted on social media yesterday that this week he was celebrating seven years in business, and what a seven years.

In relation to business, he referenced Brexit, multiple Prime Ministers, Covid, Post-Covid property market madness, the collapse of large agencies, the rise of tiny ones, and the Truss-Kwarteng debacle.

Looking back beyond the seven years James has been in business, I speak from first hand experience, like so many of my esteemed colleagues, there’s always something impacting the market. Interest rates moving, housing ministers changing, ever-growing red-tape, boom and bust cycles, and of course, terrible acts of inhumanity both around the world, and on our little island – all of which can impact the economy, and as such, the housing market.

Why do I talk about this elusive normal market? Because what we deal with on a daily basis is anything but normal, and so I question, what impact does this business have on your health. And more importantly, what could we be doing to support one another? In particular, are do doing enough to support men in this industry?

Did you know, suicide remains the largest cause of death for men under 50 in England and Wales, with about three-quarters of all suicide cases being male. In 2022, the male suicide rate in England was reported at 16.1 per 100,000, compared to the female rate of 5.3 per 100,000.

I don’t have any data to support this claim, but I imagine our industry is right up there as one of the most emotive, stressful and difficult sales industries to work in. In today’s age of social media providing a look into everyone’s best life, which usually could not be more removed from everyone’s real life, I believe the pressures that men face in relation to fatherhood, being a provider, being the strong partner, all whilst judged in a rapidly changing landscape of what is expected of men, can be crippling.

Enter The Boys Club. The Boys Club will meet online once a month, via zoom, allowing attendees to mask their identity, should they wish to, or present themselves in any way they would prefer. During the first meeting attendees will hear from well-known industry trainer, Stephen Brown, and Reece Maddick, an award-winning agent from West Yorkshire. Both guests have suffered with their own mental health and have agreed to discuss their journeys, in a bid to help others.

The first meeting takes place this evening at 7pm and will last approximately one hour. The link to attend can be found below, and if you would like to attend anonymously, simply user a pseudonym and keep your camera off. If you wish to discuss the workings of the group, or tell your story to the group, please reach out to me at ben.madden@fineandcountry.com.

Topic: The Boys club

Time: Feb 28, 2024 07:00 PM London

Join Zoom Meeting – https://zoom.us/j/92049626982?pwd=SWR2NXVlVFN5YTlRYVlIMmdIUkNvdz09

Meeting ID: 920 4962 6982

Passcode: 468499