Property deals bring new careers and work-life balance for couple who trained to be their own boss

It’s not unusual for old school pals to stay in touch, perhaps share a few drinks from time to time and catch up or reminisce. But two best friends have done a whole lot more than that and their lives are now closely connected even after spending years apart.

As friends since the age of five, Elliot Spencer and Samuel Leeds went to school together where neither of them was especially academic. They grew up together in the Midlands until the age of 12 when Elliot moved to Wales with his family.

The pair kept in touch but their paths went in very different directions. Elliot found a job after qualifying as a plumber while Samuel had an eye on being his own boss and trained in property investment using money from paper rounds to pay his way.

Zero hours contract

Elliot had a decent profession but Samuel celebrated making his first £1million at the age of just 25. Life was rather different for his pal who was made redundant in 2008 and working on a zero hours contract some years later when they happened to speak.

Keen to meet up, Samuel had invited Elliot on a trip only to be told that he couldn’t get time off work.

It’s a clear memory for Samuel who found the response strange because Elliot had no guaranteed working hours: “That was when I was like, you need to sort out your life mate,” he says.

The well-meaning prod was a welcome one for Elliot who turned up at one of Samuel’s crash courses to find out what the property business was all about. Liking what he heard, he decided to train at his friend’s academy and also completed a deal selling masterclass, learning to find and package up properties to present as investment opportunities.

Property investors course

Life was potentially on the up for him and was about to get even better when he met like-minded Leah Campion on a Property Investors course. She too was keen to get into the business and work for herself after being employed in jobs she didn’t really want to do while also at university.

After an enjoyable spell working as Samuel’s PA, Leah left the academy and teamed up in business with her now fiancé.

She found starting a business fairly easy because she could make decisions and says the most difficult part as a couple was figuring out each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

Luxury flats conversion

Their company focuses chiefly on selling and buying deals, rent-to-rents – where a property is rented from a landlord and then let at higher rate – lease options, joint ventures and development projects.

The pair’s latest venture is a joint one with their friend and mentor to convert a Victorian factory building into 48 luxury apartments in Wolverhampton.

For Elliot, he and Samuel’s achievements still seem incredible especially as he once famously suggested at school that the pair would be lucky to work as binmen.

Support for students

As well as managing their busy property business, which they say has notched up more than 200 deals, Leah and Elliot also find time to support students and sometimes speak at Property Investors events.

The pair may work hard but on days without formal commitments, life can be positively leisurely, albeit with work weaved in.

“We get up when we finish sleeping usually which is quite nice. We will have breakfast probably around 9am to 9.30am. Then we will be on the phones in the morning till the afternoon,” says Elliot.

And Leah is determined that working life will stay that way. “I don’t want to have to get a job ever again,” she says.

But there will soon be a brief break from work when the couple celebrate their wedding with Samuel taking the role of best man.

Find out more

Like Elliot and Leah, people can find out for themselves what Samuel’s strategies might have to offer when he takes his crash course to Bradford.

The one-day event will be held on Saturday, October 21 at Cedar Court, Rooley Lane, BD5 8HW. Tickets cost just £1 (although late cancellation/no show fees apply) and can be booked online.

Disclaimer: This article is paid for, sponsored content and does not reflect the views of the DerbyshireTimes or National World. People should always seek independent advice in matters of finance and investments.