As the industry’s awards and end-of-year parties begin to fill calendars, there’s a bid to arrange something next week that’s a bit different – a lunch with colleagues.

An organisation called The Boys Club – which describes itself as a wellness community for men working in property – wants agents and other property professionals to quit the telephones and emails next Friday, October 23, and go with one or more colleagues to have lunch. 

Club founder Ben Madden says: “We’re not anti-awards night. Far from it. But at this time of year, it’s easy to see more of each other in black tie than in daylight. One hour, someone you work with, and a conversation that isn’t about that nightmare chain. That’s all we’re suggesting.”

He suggests agents pick a colleague – perhaps a competitor you secretly like or an old contact you haven’t seen for a while – and book a table or a park bench for Friday October 23. 

Almost inevitably he suggests you take a photo of the food, the table, the people, or the colleague who ordered the salad and regretted it straight away, and share it on social media with the hashtags #PropertyIndustryLunchBreak and #TheBoysClub. 

Too difficult to arrange? Not according to Madden who insists: “This is an industry that can get a buyer, a seller and three solicitors to agree on a completion date. I’m fairly confident we can manage lunch.”