ARL Committee View: Building momentum across the Midlands – an update from the ARL Midlands Hub
By Neelam Saihjpal, Vice-Chair of the ARL Midlands Hub & Operations Director at VervLife
The ARL Midlands Hub has started 2026 with a strong sense of direction and, importantly, a willingness across the committee to get involved and make things happen. At the outset of the year, we agreed to focus on four areas: education and awareness, member events, local engagement, and partnerships.
Like all ARL committees, our role is to support the sector by sharing knowledge, encouraging best practice and helping build stronger connections. For the Midlands Hub, that has translated into a programme of activity that is practical and, where possible, responsive to what members are dealing with day to day.
Birmingham Open House Weekend
Our recent Open Weekend pilot was a good example of this approach, and as a first iteration, it provided valuable insight. Attendance from the general public was lower than we had hoped, with a higher proportion of sector attendees across the sites. However, that in itself has been helpful in understanding where we need to improve. There鈥檚 already been a constructive discussion within the committee about how the format could evolve. Suggestions have included more joined-up engagement with corporate partners, as well as the introduction of a stronger community element to broaden appeal beyond those actively looking to rent. It鈥檚 fair to say the event did what it needed to do at this stage: give us a basis to build on.
Creating space for more open operator discussion
Alongside this, we hosted our first 鈥淏TR and Brew鈥� at Paradise View, managed by VervLife, marking an important step in bringing together those operating sites on the ground.
Designed specifically for individuals who are living and breathing the day-to-day realities of running buildings, these sessions provide a platform to connect, share challenges, and explore opportunities with peers facing similar experiences.
Our 鈥楤TR and Brew鈥� sessions have proved to be a simple but effective addition to the Hub programme. These smaller, operator-focused sessions allow for open, honest conversations, and feedback has been consistently positive, with a clear appetite to continue them on a regular basis.
The next session is already in the diary for May, with Rightmove attending as a guest. This will give operators the opportunity to engage with Rightmove collectively, exploring ways to better support leasing performance in an increasingly challenging market.
We鈥檙e also exploring how this format could be extended to other parts of the Midlands, including locations such as Leicester.
While intentionally small in scale, these sessions play an important role in strengthening connections and supporting operators across different locations.
Supporting pathways into the sector
One of the more meaningful initiatives currently in development is a partnership with a sixth form college in Birmingham, with a clear focus on showcasing BTR as a viable and rewarding career path.
Many of these students are interested in leadership roles but haven鈥檛 previously considered property and particularly rental living as a route. By offering site visits, practical insight and direct engagement with operators and suppliers, we鈥檙e aiming to bring the sector to life and highlight the breadth of opportunities available across BTR.
The programme is likely to take place in June and will involve a number of the Midlands Hub members and partners, including VervLife, Loft, Way of Life, FleetMilne, Centrick, Touchstone, Rent Guarantor and Native, all coming together to showcase what they do and share real-world insight with students.
The initiative has been brought together by James Bell, building on similar work he鈥檚 delivered previously for Native, which proved effective in opening up the sector to new audiences.
This feels like a genuinely valuable piece of work not only in raising awareness of BTR as a career choice, but also in helping to build a stronger, more informed talent pipeline for the future. If successful, it鈥檚 a model we could look to roll out more widely.
Addressing current sector priorities
We鈥檙e currently exploring a session on building and fire safety, bringing together perspectives from across the sector, potentially including regulators and practitioners. The aim would be to keep this practical and accessible, while also creating space for discussion.
In parallel, we鈥檙e continuing to consider how best to engage with local authorities and planning representatives, recognising the importance of maintaining constructive relationships at a regional level.
Working alongside the wider ARL programme
As ever, our activity sits alongside ARL鈥檚 national programme. The Birmingham ARL Study Tour this September will be a key moment for the region and more broadly, we continue to support the ARL by promoting events and sharing content across our respective networks.
A practical and collaborative approach
The Midlands Hub reflects what鈥檚 possible when a group of engaged operators, agents and suppliers come together with a shared purpose. There is genuine momentum, underpinned by collaboration, commitment and collective ownership鈥� it鈥檚 a network actively shaping the sector.
Thank you to all who continue to contribute.聽
If you鈥檙e interested in getting involved, we鈥檇 be delighted to hear from you on [email protected].