Ben Taylor, chief executive of Keller Williams UK, has expressed his regret at the closure of the Keller Williams Warwick Market Centre but stressed that he and the KW team had tried to come up with a measured approach to take the business forward and that the overall business model remains robust.

The Neg reported yesterday that the Warwick Market Centre was closing its doors to new business and applying for voluntary administration after numbers failed to stack up.

PANDEMIC

JP Downes and Sarah Downes bought the franchise in February 2000 – a notoriously difficult time to launch in the midst of global pandemic.

Taylor (main picture) told The Neg: “Our model is built specifically for agents to build their own business. We had been in discussion with JP and Sarah for some time and had tried to come up with a measured approach. We don’t take much from the agent [in terms of fees] as our model is built for the agent.”

Taylor joined Keller Williams UK in March 2017 as managing director, going on to become chief executive in December 2018.

Clearly the model does work and despite Covid we have actually grown the business and are beginning to show differences.”

He said, “The model is still relatively new since I joined the business but since then there are lots of self-employed US style models that have launched in the UK and flourished.

“If we can create a way that helps agents to build their own business then the customer will benefit. Clearly the model does work and despite Covid we have actually grown the business and are beginning to show differences.”

“We’re starting to demonstrate a powerful mix – we recruited around 30 new agents across the business in August – and across the business there are now some 475 associates with some 11 market centre branches.

In all of the dealings that we have I make sure that we look after all of our agents and franchise owners.”

“In all of the dealings that we have I make sure that we look after all of our agents and franchise owners.

“Some people have left – of course they have. They are not employed by us. We’re trying to help agents grow their business. It’s not an easy task but it is a rewarding one if you get it right, but the franchise model is not for everyone.”