One of the largest real estate companies in the UAE is currently recruiting people from Greater Manchester to sell homes in Dubai.
And you don’t even need any experience to get started.
Tech-driven real estate agency Allsopp & Allsopp was founded in 2008 in Dubai, and has since gone from strength to strength to develop into one of the best real estate companies the country has to offer.
The reason for Allsopp & Allsopp’s continued success has admittedly been put down to “a lot of hard work”, according to CEO Lewis Allsopp, who says he is looking for “serial winners with a competitive edge” that are comfortable being in front of the camera, and most importantly, have “a willingness to learn”.
This is why the company is heading to Manchester city centre next week to see if they can find the next “superstars” to join the team.
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“When you see Dubai, probably whilst scrolling through influencer profiles on social media, you may see it as a playground for those with an endless supply of money,” explained Allsopp & Allsopp co-founder, Lewis Allsopp.
“Sure, it has an element of luxury and attracts the rich and famous, but Dubai is also home to many motivated and opportunistic expats looking for a change from their ‘normal’ 9-5 jobs – this was me 15 years ago when I moved to Dubai in 2006 at the age of 21 and slept on my friend’s sofa for a few weeks until I made enough money to start renting a room and the rest was history.
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“The real estate market is booming, and we are looking for the next superstars who want to change their life.
“The Allsopp & Allsopp Group is an innovative, forward-thinking company, and we are always one step ahead.”
Why is Allsopp & Allsopp looking for Mancs?
Allsopp & Allsopp is heading towards the next phase of its development.
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The company is in an exciting growth phase, having recently opened a brand-new, high tech office to house the next up-and-coming real estate stars, and now needs a strong team to ensure they can continue to invest more money in tech, lead generation, marketing, and not just remain “at the top of the game”, but also “lead the game”.
Is it really for people with no experience?
“We have hired many people from an array of backgrounds,” Lewis revealed.
“Estate agency being one, but also plumbers, car sales executives, painters and decorators, supermarket managers, and many more as what we have realised over the years, is that experience doesn’t make you successful, but a serious drive and passion to make money definitely will.”
Allsopp & Allsopp is heading towards the next phase of its development, and you can be a part of it / Credit: Allsopp & Allsopp
What does the job actually involve, and how much can you earn?
Ultimately, Lewis admits that the job of a real estate agent in Dubai is “not for the faint hearted”.
“You have to work hard at all hours of the day to make it worthwhile, and there are days where you will feel defeated, but the good days are so good that the bad days don’t seem so bad.
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“The hours are long, but the rewards for those who are successful are life changing.”
When it comes to the topic of money, which is often one of the biggest questions the company gets, Lewis revealed that some of the top earners in Allsopp & Allsopp originally came from salaried jobs in the UK where they took home no more than £50,000 each year, and they now earn more than £1,000,000, with the average agent taking home £500,000 annually.
He says it “shows earning this amount of money can be done”.
Lewis continued: “The average basic house is £500,000, we charge 4% to facilitate the sale, each sale is £20,000 to the company and the agent gets a 50% split, so if you sell three houses a month, you make £30,000 tax free.”
Co-founder Lewis Allsopp / Credit: Allsopp & Allsopp
What is the working environment like?
The Allsopp & Allsopp offices are said to be “vibrant and full of energy”, with a DJ stand and barista to keep you fueled through the rollercoaster days of being a real estate agent.
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Lewis revealed that the working environment they have created mirrors the energy and positivity that’s needed to excel in the role, not just as a real estate agent, but in all aspects of the business that the Allsopp & Allsopp Group stands for.
The company has its own onboarding team with a proven track record of success in the market, as well as producing multiple millionaires, and their role is to provide new recruits with an extensive training programme that gets them kitted-out with all the tools that are needed to start making money.
“It would sound bullish to say we know what we’re doing when it comes to being successful and making money, but we do,” Lewis said.
How can I get involved?
If you think the role of a real estate agent in Dubai may be something you’d like to explore, or you’re just curious to find out more information, then Allsopp & Allsopp is hosting a recruitment event at the Free Trade Hall in Manchester city centre next week on Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 March from 5pm to 9pm.
At the event, not only will people have an opportunity to learn, ask questions, share experiences, and hear case studies of people on the ground working in Dubai for the Allsopp & Allsopp Group, but the team also finds the experience just as valuable as the attendees, as they get to spend more time with an individual than they would if they were interviewing via video call.
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“We see huge value in the events, and we’re proud to be visiting Manchester to see what talent we can attract,” Lewis concludes.
You can register to attend the event on the Allsopp & Allsopp website here.
Featured Image – Allsopp & Allsopp
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Inside Manchester’s newest Italian restaurant serving 70-year-old Calabrian recipes
Clementine Hall
A new restaurant inspired by Calabrese cooking has opened its doors in Manchester city centre.
Sometimes only a steaming hot bowl of homemade pasta will do, and you’ll find it at the new Pranzo Italian in abundance.
Located on King Street, slap bang in the centre of town, this light-drenched restaurant is set to become your go-to for authentic Italian cuisine.
Born in West Yorkshire, they opened their first restaurant in the spa town of Ilkley back in 2018 before quickly opening another location in Harrogate after Pranzo became inundated with hungry customers.
Images: The Manc
Fast forward to now, they have another site in York and now luckily for us, here in Manchester.
Inspired by founder Marco’s Italian heritage and his Nonna’s traditional Calabrese cooking, every single thing you’re served here is homemade.
From the fresh pasta and the rich sauces to the fluffy focaccia used to mop up said sauces, and not to forget the cherry gin used in the standout Sour Cherry Negroni.
Dishes here are as traditional and authentic as they get, using 70-year-old recipes that Marco learnt from his Nonna (who you’ll spot in old pictures proudly hung up around the restaurant).
Images: The Manc
On our visit, after indulging in couple of cocktails at the bar we kicked things off with a couple antipasti, because it really would be rude not to.
The arancino picante was a real standout, stuffed with spicy fennel sausage, smoked provola cheese and served on a bed of nduja cream.
This had everything you wanted in an arancini, crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside and served piping hot.
We recommend ordering the focaccia el aglio alongside it to dunk into the smoky nduja cream, a genius move if you ask us.
Images: The Manc
Now, onto the mains.
We ordered three of Pranzo’s specialist pastas and every single one was cooked to perfection. If you’re a fan of proper al dente pasta then trust us, you’re going to love this place.
The ragù di manzo features fresh mafalde pasta in a deeply savoury 4-hour beef shin sauce, and they definitely don’t skimp on the meat.
Showered in parmesan at the table, it’s a favourite on the menu for a reason. The reason? It’s nothing short of delicious.
Images: The Manc
We don’t know about you, but if burrata is on the menu then we’re ordering it with zero hestitation.
A lot of the pastas on the menu give you the choice of plonking a burrata on top, and we went for the nduja è salsiccia piccante.
The sauce is decadent and fiery, combining nduja with spicy fennel sausage, spinach and cream. The addition of the creamy burrata was another genius move, balancing out the spice perfectly.
Last but not least, and a personal favourite, was the scoglio seafood pasta.
This wasn’t just some pasta topped with a couple of prawns, this was absolutely packed full of juicy tiger prawns, mussels and squid – all perfectly cooked and tossed with garlic and cherry tomatoes in a silky sauce.
The recipe used for this one hasn’t changed in 70 years, and we’re glad that it hasn’t.
Images: The Manc
Elsewhere on the menu you’ll find seasonal specials such as your classic caesar salad and pan fried fish, as well as a selection of pizzas.
Of course it wouldn’t be an Italian feast without a tiramisu and this one hits all the right spots.
Indulgent with a punchy coffee flavour and almost cloud-like in texture, that’s a winning dessert if we’ve ever seen one.
The space, set across two floors, is light and airy whilst the service is top notch. But don’t just take our word for it, find out more about Pranzo and book your table here.
The independent Manchester gym that’s spent eight years getting the city’s office workers stronger
Daisy Jackson
In a city centre that has changed almost beyond recognition over the past eight years, one Manchester gym has stuck to a simple idea – getting people stronger shouldn’t have to take over their lives.
Tucked away on Kennedy Street, opposite Manchester Town Hall and just a short walk from St Peter’s Square tram stop, P1 Fitness Studio is celebrating its eighth year in business.
This local success story has been built by husband-and-wife team Peter and Abby, who wanted to build the kind of gym they actually wanted to train in themselves, after becoming increasingly frustrated with what they saw as the ‘normal gym scene’.
Their answer was to create something different: a smaller, calmer space where people could be coached properly, recognised when they walked through the door and actually enjoy coming to train.
Eight years later, Peter and Abby are still hands-on in the independently owned business, working alongside a coaching team of five.
Welcome to P1 Fitness, in Manchester city centre / Credit: The Manc Group
There is no franchise model or corporate head office. Just the same basic philosophy they started with in 2018, which seems to have resonated with a particular part of Manchester.
P1’s members are predominantly busy professionals – lawyers, architects, creatives, teachers, business owners and office workers – many of them in their 30s, 40s and beyond.
For people spending much of their working lives behind a desk, the proposition is deliberately straightforward – you don’t need to live in the gym to become stronger and healthier.
P1 believes two properly coached strength sessions a week can make a meaningful difference.
Sessions last 50 minutes and run throughout the working day, meaning members can train before work, at lunchtime or after work. There are showers, changing facilities, towels and toiletries too, making it possible to fit training around a working day rather than the other way round.
More recently, the studio has added an infrared sauna, giving members somewhere to recover and switch off before heading back to the office or home.
The independent Manchester gym that’s spent eight years getting the city’s office workers stronger / Credit: The Manc Group
P1 specialises in small group personal training, with a maximum of six people per coach.
Everyone follows a structured strength programme, but the coaching is adapted to the individual. Exercises, weights, and progressions can all be changed depending on someone’s ability, goals, injuries or simply how they’re feeling that day.
So someone picking up a barbell for the first time can train alongside somebody who has been lifting for years, without either being pushed through the same generic circuit.
It’s also not the kind of gym where you’ll see your own reflection staring back at you at every turn, because the focus is on becoming stronger and moving better, rather than how you look.
The idea is longevity – looking after your joints, maintaining muscle, building strength, and staying capable of doing the things you want to do outside the gym as you get older.
Or, in P1’s own words: “Built stronger to last longer.”
And there’s some impressive evidence that the approach has encouraged people to stay the course.
Based on its current schedule of roughly 75 coached sessions a week, P1 estimates it has delivered more than 31,000 coached sessions across its eight years.
Some of the people attending those sessions have been there since the doors first opened.
Rather than celebrating short-term transformations, P1 marks the less glamorous (but arguably more meaningful) milestones: members receive T-shirts when they reach 100, 250, and 500 training sessions.
That means there are members whose relationship with the studio is measured in hundreds of coached sessions and several years, rather than a six-week challenge.
And over time, the gym has become something more than somewhere to lift weights.
P1 increasingly describes itself as a ‘third space’ for Manchester professionals – somewhere between home and work where people can train, switch off, see familiar faces and feel part of a community.
People train alongside many of the same faces each week, and coaches get to know the people they’re working with.
There are socials, themed workouts, challenges, member celebrations and charity events to really build that P1 community – for example, members raised more than £1000 for Parkinson’s UK through a bake sale last year.
The business has also increasingly taken its philosophy beyond its own four walls, working with Manchester companies and corporate teams on strength training and health education, including sessions around women’s health, men’s health, nutrition and sustainable strength training.
P1 has won Best Strength Training Gym of the North West at the National Fitness Awards in 2023, 2024 and 2025, while also being shortlisted three times for the National Fitness Awards’ Functional Training Gym of the Year UK award.
But perhaps the more remarkable achievement is simply making it through the last eight years as an independent city-centre business.
Since P1 opened, Manchester has had to navigate Covid and lockdowns, the huge shift towards home and hybrid working, and the major redevelopment around Town Hall and St Peter’s Square.
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The city centre around the studio has changed dramatically, but the basic idea inside P1 hasn’t. It’s not just a gym, but a third space with a barbell in the middle of it.
Find out more and book your first sessions with P1 in Manchester HERE.
The Manc -
18th March 2022 
