From Retail Work to Million-Pound Projects – How Mentorship Transformed This Mother’s Property Business
When Shally Singh walked into her first property seminar in 2016, she was working seven days a week across two retail jobs. Fast forward to 2025, and she’s managing £3 million worth of property developments across Bristol, while also raising two young children!
But this isn’t just another “rags to riches” story – it’s a powerful testament to what happens when determination meets the right guidance.
The Bold First Move
Shally’s journey began with a decision that had friends and family questioning her sanity – converting her family home into an HMO!
Moving out of their home and into a one-bedroom rental apartment with her husband was a move that would set the foundation for everything that followed.
“Most of our friends and family were like, ‘What the hell are you doing?'” Shally says on this episode of The Beespace Podcast. “But rather than living in a five-bed family home, we decided to live in a one-bed, managing the basics and focusing on building portfolios and creating income.”
The Power of Design-Led Development
One of my favourite parts of Shally’s success has been her focus on design-led development – a strategy refined through mentorship with me.
This approach paid off dramatically in a recent pub conversion project, where thoughtful design added £100,000 to the project’s value.
Under my guidance, Shally learned to create spaces that don’t just look good but function perfectly for their end users. This attention to detail has led to exceptional occupancy rates in her serviced accommodation projects and premium sales values for her property flips.
Balancing Motherhood and Million-Pound Projects
Perhaps most impressively, Shally has achieved this while raising two children under five. Her youngest was born in February 2024, yet she’s continued to expand her portfolio and launch new projects.
“I just tend to include them in everything I do,” Shally explains of her approach to balancing motherhood and business. Her five-year-old now understands what she does, and her 10-month-old is already a regular at site visits.
The Mentorship Factor
While Shally’s success is undoubtedly due to her incredible work ethic and determination, she’s quick to credit the role mentorship has played in her journey.
Working with me through my mentoring programme has helped Shally optimise her developments, systematise her processes, and build the confidence needed to take on larger projects.
“Get some education, get a strategy in place, get a mentor if possible,” Shally advises. “Having that support is the ultimate thing because property can be quite a lonely place if you are on your own.”
Looking Forward
As 2025 begins, Shally is launching an interior design service for property developers, bringing her expertise in design-led development to other investors.
It’s yet another example of how the right mentorship can help transform not just a portfolio, but an entire business vision.
Want to hear the full story? Listen to Shally’s episode on The Beespace Podcast, where she shares detailed insights about:
- Her strategy for raising private finance
- How she manages multiple developments simultaneously
- The specific design principles that have elevated her projects
- Her approach to balancing business growth with family life
Ready to transform your own property journey? Learn more about working with me on my mentoring program at bee-space.co.uk.
This blog post is based on Episode 24 of The Beespace Podcast. Listen to the full episode on your favourite podcast platform.
