PropConnect is returning to Northamptonshire in 2026 after running five sold-out networking events across the county last year. The property and construction networking group will open the year with a breakfast event at Tresham College’s Wellingborough campus on Wednesday 28 January.
The event will be hosted at the college, part of The Bedford College Group, a key regional provider of construction and trade education. Organisers say the first event of the year has been designed to place a stronger focus on supporting future talent entering the industry.
“We wanted to start the year by shining a light on the next generation,” said Elin Hurlock, event coordinator at PropConnect. “The industry’s future depends on the talent we support today.”
The morning session will follow PropConnect’s established informal format, with breakfast and relaxed networking for developers, contractors, consultants, architects and suppliers from across Northamptonshire. However, this event will also include students from Tresham College, who will join towards the end of the morning to meet professionals and discuss career routes within the sector.
Tresham College’s Wellingborough campus delivers a range of construction-related courses and is supporting the event through on-site hospitality. Food and refreshments will be prepared and served by college staff and students as part of the experience.
The relationship between PropConnect and The Bedford College Group has already led to tangible outcomes. Kathryn Lusk, group head of business engagement at The Bedford College Group, attended several PropConnect events in 2025 and used insights from industry conversations to better understand demand for apprentices within construction.
As a result, the college introduced a Quantity Surveying Apprenticeship programme to respond directly to local employer needs. One of the first businesses to benefit was Northampton-based chartered quantity surveying firm Bhangals Construction Consultants, a co-founder of PropConnect.
Bhangals Construction Consultants now employs three apprentices through the programme. “It’s a perfect example of what can happen when the right people are in the room,” said Parm Bhangal MRICS, managing director at Bhangals. “We’re proud that PropConnect is creating real opportunities, not just conversations.”
As PropConnect returns for its first event of 2026, the network remains focused on bringing together construction and property professionals from across the county to support collaboration and long-term industry growth.
“We’re not just about exchanging business cards,” said Matthew Abraham, co-founder of PropConnect and director at FormFive. “We’re building a community; one that supports, collaborates, and evolves.”
Tickets for the January breakfast event are now available and include a hot breakfast roll, tea and coffee, as well as a delegate list shared before and after the event to support ongoing networking.
