In this episode of Beyond Four Walls, Jodie sits down with Duncan Foster — a familiar name in the block and estate management world, and someone with more than thirty years of lived experience in the sector.

Duncan’s journey started long before titles and job roles. He built his own successful block management business, sold it to HML in 2014, and today he’s Head of Key Accounts at B-hive Block Management Partners, part of the Vegner Group. What makes Duncan stand out isn’t just the length of his career — it’s the depth of understanding he has around people, relationships, and what really makes this industry tick.

In this conversation, we explore:

• How Duncan first found himself in block management
• What he learned from running (and later selling) his own business
• The partner model at B-hive and why it works for some businesses but not others
• The human side of leasehold — the part no one prepares you for
• The biggest shifts he’s seen in the industry over the last three decades
• How we can better support the well-being of property managers
• What excites him about the future of block and estate management
• The advice he’d give to new agents, business owners, and his younger self

It’s a down-to-earth, honest chat about growth, resilience, dealing with challenging situations, and staying grounded in a sector that’s constantly evolving.

Whether you’re a block manager, a business owner, or simply someone who wants to understand the heart behind the work we do, this episode offers plenty of insight — and a good dose of reassurance that none of us are navigating this on our own.

Listen in and enjoy my conversation with Duncan Foster.

Thank you so much for listening to Beyond Four Walls. If you’ve been inspired by today’s conversation and you’d like to share your own story, I’d love to hear from you. You can reach me directly at [email protected] if you’d like to be a guest on the podcast.

I’d also like to say a special thank you to my podcast producer, Shirley Ludford, at Swindon 105.5 – Swindon’s award-winning community radio station. It’s run by an incredible team of volunteers who are passionate about giving a voice to the local community. You can find out more about the station at www.swindon1055.co.uk

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