ONP’s new Training Academy contributes to 40% growth in conveyancing staff

18 May 2021

Conveyancing firm O’Neill Patient (ONP) has set up a Training Academy to bring new blood into the conveyancing industry and has welcomed 79 new starters in the first four months of 2021.

This new recruitment means ONP’s head count for conveyancing sale and purchase has increased by 40% since the start of the year as it continues to cater for unprecedented demand for its services.

The Training Academy, which launched on 4 January 2021, is an interactive, remote training programme that allows people to learn from home. The 79 new recruits are training as conveyancing case managers or are in conveyancing support roles such as administration.

The first part of the training is a four week Bespoke New Start Program. Because it is virtual learning ONP has been able to broaden its geographical reach across the country as well as bring in more people. The new starters in the Training Academy will receive on-going training as they progress through their career.

Adam Forshaw, Managing Director at O’Neill Patient, commented: “We have recruited bright and enthusiastic people, many who lost jobs through Covid, and are now retraining to be case managers or conveyancing support staff. The Academy assumes zero knowledge of property and conveyancing so we can encourage new people into the industry.

“The comprehensive training programme has been developed for new starters in response to the Covid restrictions and lockdowns. We wanted to support the industry and encourage those who wish to start a career by offering a way to learn how to do the job while we are all home based. The training programme has also been extended for the progression of existing staff and cross training.

“Since the announcement of the stamp duty holiday last year, the transactional arm of our business has seen rapid growth. It is here where we have focussed our recruitment drive and training. We have worked tirelessly in a short space of time to take conventional office/classroom-based learning into the remote working arena.”