Helen Chorley

From JPMorgan to SkyTV’s “Property Elevator,” Helen Chorley has reinvented herself, creating waves in property investing and championing female recognition through her inspiring work. After years of navigating the intricate financial landscapes at JPMorgan, she discovered a new passion for property investment, bringing her analytical skills and keen eye for opportunity to the forefront. Helen co-founded the Property Sisters community, shaping investments and fostering a spirit of support among… Show more

From JPMorgan to SkyTV’s “Property Elevator,” Helen Chorley has reinvented herself, creating waves in property investing and championing female recognition through her inspiring work. After years of navigating the intricate financial landscapes at JPMorgan, she discovered a new passion for property investment, bringing her analytical skills and keen eye for opportunity to the forefront. Helen co-founded the Property Sisters community, shaping investments and fostering a spirit of support among female investors. As a judge for prestigious awards like the Women In Construction Awards and the Inspirational Women Awards, Helen promotes and celebrates the achievements of women in the property sector. This year, she received the Inspirational Women Fundraiser Award 2024, underscoring her commitment to making a positive impact. On SkyTV’s “Property Elevator,” her expertise and approachable nature make her a beloved figure among viewers and aspiring investors alike. Helen’s journey is a testament to her resilience, vision, and dedication to fostering female recognition and success in the industry. Show less

“How to avoid sharks, find good people and make yourself investible”

Helen Chorley, Property Investor & Angel Investor on Property Elevator TV talks to Showhome Editor Joseph Clarke about her journey in the property industry

This September will be the second year
running of Design and Build UK's Women
In Construction Awards (#WICA2023),
the first ever UK awards for women in
construction. Even though the first event
was a wild success and is already having
a positive impact on the industry (female
presence across UK construction is already
up around 4% since last year), the question
still most often asked is, 'why do women
need their own awards?

Speaking with WICA creator and… Show more

This September will be the second year
running of Design and Build UK's Women
In Construction Awards (#WICA2023),
the first ever UK awards for women in
construction. Even though the first event
was a wild success and is already having
a positive impact on the industry (female
presence across UK construction is already
up around 4% since last year), the question
still most often asked is, 'why do women
need their own awards?

Speaking with WICA creator and host
Michaela Wain (finalist on TVs The
Apprentice amongst many other accolades)
this month, I asked for her thoughts. "It's the
most frequent negative feedback we have.
Why do women need their own awards?
And just a general pushback from people
who, not meaning to be sexist, just don't understand why there is a need for women to have their own space.

Design & Build UK also collaborates with
The Maggie Oliver Foundation to help
survivors of child sexual abuse to train
and find careers in the industry and is the
charitable cause of the awards evening.
This year Ill again be judging the Business
Owner category and I face a separate
challenge- getting women to actually apply.
Alongside the idea that women are too small
a part of construction to warrant their own
awards, is the idea that women need only
be recognised when they have smashed
through every barrier possible and saved
the world. This means that unfortunately
many women I know in construction will
only apply for something when they feel
absolutely 100% deserving. so you can
imagine how many applications are started
but then abandoned in doubt.
So, we need to encourage women as much
as possible. And we don't leave the chaps
out either, there's a very deserving category
of Male Ally for the many supportive gents
in this industry. Show less

After the summer months, December is my favourite time of year. I can often be found popping back to London for a festive fix and a potter along Piccadilly, admiring Fortnum’s Christmas window displays and constructing my imaginary list for Father Christmas. This time of year, also brings much reflection and celebration as it’s awards season. The highlight for SME developers and property investors is the Property Investor Awards founded by Cyril Thomas, which I flew back especially to co-host… Show more

After the summer months, December is my favourite time of year. I can often be found popping back to London for a festive fix and a potter along Piccadilly, admiring Fortnum’s Christmas window displays and constructing my imaginary list for Father Christmas. This time of year, also brings much reflection and celebration as it’s awards season. The highlight for SME developers and property investors is the Property Investor Awards founded by Cyril Thomas, which I flew back especially to co-host and what a night it was!

Nine exceptional winners scooped up ten awards between them – yes, and one lady (Xuan Meng of Cozy Haus did the double and took home two awards. But this annual event is no one-night wonder. The process actually takes most of the year, with nominations opening around March and culminating in the awards ceremony in late November. The judging occurs over two days in September and it’s a process I thoroughly enjoy. Not only for the chance to hear what property peeps are up to, but also to discover potential new business partners and to learn from my fellow judges – all experts in their respective fields, like Jay Howard of Hammered Auctions, Mike Bristow of Crowd Property and Property Investor News Magazine’s very own Richard Bowser.
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According to ‘science’ (ok a dating-site-sponsored blog that claimed to know the secret to it all) there are five stages of dating: attraction, reality, commitment, intimacy, and engagement. Makes sense. In investing, I’ve been shown time and again that not only do these five stages exist, but crucially for both parties, key steps are either missed, blundered, or their existence denied altogether. The result? The relationship becomes nothing more than a dating story in a Valentine’s PIN article… Show more

According to ‘science’ (ok a dating-site-sponsored blog that claimed to know the secret to it all) there are five stages of dating: attraction, reality, commitment, intimacy, and engagement. Makes sense. In investing, I’ve been shown time and again that not only do these five stages exist, but crucially for both parties, key steps are either missed, blundered, or their existence denied altogether. The result? The relationship becomes nothing more than a dating story in a Valentine’s PIN article by Helen Chorley.

How many times have we not gotten further than Stage One? Or seen someone do a runner in Stage Four? Let’s take a closer look how this plays out in property…. Show less

My biggest issue with the ‘month of motivation’ is not what you might think - the weather, the Christmas waistline hangover, although both are inconvenient to say the least. No, it’s something far more insidious; the incessant motivational messaging; the fighting talk which comes with this time of year. The ‘hustle’ and the ‘grind.’

It’s a language that is particularly rife in property and investment. I’m sure it seeks to empower in some way, but often just supports the idea that success… Show more

My biggest issue with the ‘month of motivation’ is not what you might think - the weather, the Christmas waistline hangover, although both are inconvenient to say the least. No, it’s something far more insidious; the incessant motivational messaging; the fighting talk which comes with this time of year. The ‘hustle’ and the ‘grind.’

It’s a language that is particularly rife in property and investment. I’m sure it seeks to empower in some way, but often just supports the idea that success comes through sheer force of will. That alone can trigger so many investors looking for that thing; that’s going to be The Big One. The game-changer. Any of us who have been in property long enough will know that that simply isn’t the road we’re really on. Show less