Last month, we had the pleasure of hosting our very first on-site event in the charming market town of Knutsford in Cheshire. The event was centred around commercial conversion projects, with a special focus on The Silk Rooms building (a Grade II listed silk mill)– a recent property development project by Aneto Properties, and designed by Raw Clay Studio.

This property, along with the Freemasons Inn section of the building, served as an incredible case study for our attendees to observe and learn from, providing valuable insights into the design, development, and marketability of commercial properties and serviced accommodation.

During the guided tour, our guests had the opportunity to really immerse themselves in the commercial conversion process and gain valuable insights into the intricacies and challenges associated with such projects. Kath and Jim from Aneto Properties, shared the difficulties and complexities they faced during this project with our group, and gave invaluable and open advice to those going through similar difficulties in their own projects.

Our attendees also heard about the well-considered architectural and design choices made during this conversion project. With the Aneto and Raw Clay teams working together to share their expert insights into the serviced accommodation market – providing attendees with a comprehensive understanding of how to create designs that look beautiful, yet also cater to the unique requirements of potential customers.

During the second half of the day, following a delicious networking lunch at The Lost & Found, the Raw Clay team hosted a session on the interior design and branding process of The Silk Rooms - offering a true behind-the-scenes look at how to build a considered identity and bring those visuals to life within a space.

Overall, this new format of event proved to be an amazing opportunity for our attendees - a chance to learn from industry experts, network with like-minded property developers, and gain valuable insights into the world of commercial conversion projects.

Take a look at what we got up to, and what a few of the ladies that attended had to say about the day ↓

"The information shared was really in-depth and honest, which I really appreciated as I could put that into context for my own business. The event was an amazing balance of community bonding and getting into the nitty gritty of a live project. What I love about the Hive, is that everyone is so generous with their time and knowledge and even though there are many with a lot more experience than others, everyone is welcomed equally" – @thorburn.property

"I absolutely loved the event!! There are some truly amazing women within this community and the events are just fantastic. Whether you are a new or experienced investor, you will get so much content and knowledge from these events. They manage to cover the detail behind the deals and how they have been structured, whilst also showing you the pros/cons of the process. You simply can't come away without being both inspired and motivated to push forward" – @snugproperties

"This was my first time attending a Hive event and it didn’t disappoint. Well organised and it was lovely meeting other like-minded women who were generous to provide a wealth of information in the property field. Also thankful for the opportunity to see a commercial conversion of this size, to appreciate the hard work and determination it takes to complete a project this size" - @sonika.k

"This event was both inspiring and informative. A great event, with great people, in a great location. It really helped focus on the project we are working on." – @little.red.properties

If you're experiencing a little bit of FOMO after looking through our photos, and you weren't able to attend our on-site day last month, don't worry! We've written an in-depth blog that dives into The Silk Rooms project, and touches on some of the insights shared during the event – you can read it all here.

And if you don't want to miss out on our next on-site day this Summer, then make sure you're in the Club for first-dibs on tickets! ↓

thehivemembersclub.co.uk

All photographs taken by: Parc Fermé Co