In June 2026, Angela Rayner took the stage at Propertymark One, the estate agents' conference at ExCeL London. She was out of government at the time, and her fee was reported at £20,000. Six weeks later she was Housing Secretary again and planned mandatory qualifications for estate agents was in the news again shortly after.
Have You Considered What's in it for You When You Give a Speech?
Nobody is suggesting the speech got her the job back. The government's plan to consult in 2027 on mandatory qualifications for estate agents was announced months before she spoke, though Propertymark, the conference organiser and an industry professional membership body, would be well placed to play a part in what follows.
Either way, it is a reminder that when you speak at a big event, something comes back to you. It isn't always money, and it isn't always welcome. Her fee also brought conflict-of-interest claims and a protest outside her department. A speech can do you good or it can give you grief.
Recently we looked at the value of a speech from the event organiser's side. Today it's personal. What's in it for you?
What Do You Get From Giving a Speech?
Tip 1: Prestige
Speak well at a conference and your personal standing grows. The organiser has vouched for you, and the audience takes the hint. Each good speech makes the next invitation easier to win.
Tip 2: Contacts
Networking at a good conference is always better when you are one of the speakers. People come to you, because you've already told them who you are and what you know. Stay for the coffee breaks and the drinks.
Tip 3: Employment
A speech publicises your track record and your capabilities to a room full of people who may employ you, or know someone who does. You may not be job hunting today. It's still a shop window.
Tip 4: Business
Add prestige to contacts and you get opportunity: new relationships, referrals, contracts. At a business convention this is exactly what happens. Follow up within days, while they still remember you.
Those are the returns. Now the pitfalls, because they do exist.
Tip 5: Prepare
Turn up with half a speech and the stage works against you. Know why you were invited and what you want the audience to do afterwards.
Tip 6: Rehearse
Say it out loud, on your feet, to time. A speech that has never left your head will not survive its first public outing.
Tip 7: Research
Understand your audience before you step up. Propertymark billed Rayner's session as a chance for agents to question her directly. She faced a room that had come for answers, not applause.
So aim to see the opportunity, give of your best and look for the main chance. Prestige, contacts, jobs and business are all on offer. Unprepared, unrehearsed, or deaf to your audience, you'll collect none of them.
Giving a Speech? Know What's in it for You
Giving a speech will always offer you the chance of a return. So prepare to seize it. But also be aware of the pitfalls and plan ahead.
For more public speaking and presentation tips, you'll find our full series of tips always accessible. And when you're ready to sharpen your own presentation skills, please don't hesitate to get in touch.
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