Antony is a globally recognised speaker, advisor and writer on proptech and space-as-a-service. A serial entrepreneur, he has founded and exited several proptech software companies and now consults real estate boards on their transformation, technology and innovation strategies as well as writes an influential blog.
Ep 27 | The Future of Real Estate with Antony Slumbers
London Construction + Offices Podcast
Release Date: 09/11/2025
London Construction + Offices Podcast
In this episode, Steve sits down with Matt Jackson, co-lead of interiors at Hawkins\Brown, to explore his remarkable 30-year career in interior design and workplace strategy. Steve and Matt first crossed paths back in 2011, when Matt was Design Director at Gensler, one of many pivotal chapters in a career defined by creativity, mentorship and industry-shaping projects. Matt reflects on his early years growing up in Berkshire, where his love of graphic design, music culture and record sleeve art (think Peter Savile, Neville Brody) paved an unexpected path into interiors. After five formative...
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In this inspiring episode, I sat down with Tom, a partner at TB+A, to uncover his journey from a small village in Kent to leading one of the UK’s most respected engineering consultancies. Tom shares candid insights into his early years, from struggling academically and almost joining his dad’s fabrication business, to discovering a passion for problem-solving through engineering. You’ll hear how a chance conversation led him to university, why his unconventional BTEC-to-degree route shaped his resilience and how hands-on learning at Sheffield Hallam became a turning point. We trace...
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In this episode, we sit down with Yaron Rosenblum, Co-Founder and CEO of Canvas Offices, to explore his unconventional journey from professional drummer to entrepreneur re-shaping the future of workspaces. Born in Israel in 1982, Yaron’s creative drive started early - at 15, he converted a redundant chicken coop into a recording studio with the help of his architect mother. What began as a local hub for musicians foreshadowed his later success in London. Arriving in 2005 with just cymbals, drumsticks and £1,000, Yaron quickly immersed himself in the UK music scene, launching a production...
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In this episode, I sit down with Antony Slumbers — serial entrepreneur, global speaker and one of the most forward-thinking voices in real estate innovation. Antony’s career is anything but conventional. Starting out as an art dealer in Belgravia, he made his way into property development during the late 80s boom, only to face the harsh reality of the 90s market crash. His mantra at the time: “Stay alive till ’95.” That resilience led him to discover the internet’s potential for real estate. In 1995, he taught himself to code and launched the UK’s first commercial real estate...
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In this episode, we sit down with Bex Morehouse, Head of Strategy, Operational Excellence and Performance at WPP; the world’s largest creative transformation company with over 100,000 employees across 100 countries. Bex takes us on a candid journey through her career – from her childhood in the small Welsh town of Knighton, to her early roles in serviced offices and her time as part of Nike’s UK leadership team, where she played a key role in workplace design and connectivity. We dive into her bold decision to leave corporate life in 2021 to launch her own workplace and well-being...
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In this episode, I sit down with James Townsend, CEO and co-founder of Kontor, a leading office leasing specialist that has scaled from a two-person startup to a 22-strong team, transacting on nearly 5 million sq ft of space across 18 cities. James' career began unexpectedly. After poor A-level results, he landed a job at a local estate agent and was encouraged to become a chartered surveyor, despite initially believing it involved “measuring buildings and counting bricks.” With financial support, he studied real estate management law at university, working part-time in a commercial...
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In this episode, I sit down and speak with Sammy Kingston, the Chief Operating Officer at Adeline Grantham, about his unconventional path into the real estate industry and what it takes to rise through the ranks without a traditional academic background. Sammy left school at 16, admitting he was never the most academic — more into sport than studying — but his career started with a spark: two weeks of work experience at CBRE, one of the world’s largest real estate firms. That experience turned into a life-changing opportunity when he was accepted onto CBRE’s first real estate...
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In this powerful episode, we sit down with Vince Simpson, Managing Director of Spark Collective, to unpack his remarkable journey from the east coast of Scotland to leading some of the UK’s most innovative workplace strategy and project management initiatives. Vince opens up about his childhood growing up in a single-parent household, the financial hardships his family faced, including moments of relying on food parcels and support from the Salvation Army and how early involvement in Cubs, Scouts and the Army Cadets gave him a sense of purpose and belonging. Enlisting in the army at...
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In this episode, we dive into the inspiring and dynamic career journey of Liz Purcell, currently the Global Workplace Delivery Manager at Equinix. From pulling weekly all-nighters at university to leading global teams, Liz’s path is one of passion, persistence and bold moves. Liz’s love for design was sparked by her aunt and stepmother, both interior designers. Surrounded by creative minds, she pursued a BA (Hons) in Interior Architecture, graduating with First Class Honours. A natural team player with a sporty streak, Liz balanced academic excellence with half marathons to find calm and...
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In this episode, we sit down with Toby Badcock, Director at Cyril Leonard, to explore the personal journey behind a dynamic career in property and surveying. With roots in real estate stretching back to childhood - thanks to a grandfather who quizzed him on architectural detail - Toby reflects on how family influence, early leadership opportunities at grammar school in Kent and a love for maths and science set him on his path. Toby opens up about the ups and downs of his academic years, including a challenging A-level experience and his eventual entry into Kingston University to study building...
info_outlineIn this episode, I sit down with Antony Slumbers — serial entrepreneur, global speaker and one of the most forward-thinking voices in real estate innovation.
Antony’s career is anything but conventional. Starting out as an art dealer in Belgravia, he made his way into property development during the late 80s boom, only to face the harsh reality of the 90s market crash. His mantra at the time: “Stay alive till ’95.”
That resilience led him to discover the internet’s potential for real estate. In 1995, he taught himself to code and launched the UK’s first commercial real estate website, later creating tenant engagement tools, writing for Estates Gazette and advising global boards on technology strategy.
Today, Antony is best known for his work at the intersection of real estate and AI. In this conversation, he shares:
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The lessons learned from market crashes and reinvention.
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Why generative AI is a creative tool — not a scientific one.
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The 3 future value drivers for real estate: data, orchestration and trust.
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The skills humans must sharpen as machines take over prediction: judgment, problem-solving, and critical thinking.
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Why over-reliance on AI risks creating “a room full of people who know everything but understand nothing.”
Antony also gives us a glimpse into his latest venture, Bidscore, an AI-powered contractor selection platform designed to improve efficiency and fairness in construction.
I can't wait to hear your thoughts.
See you next time,
Steve
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This podcast is sponsored by Fidgens providing project and cost management services for real estate clients.