Commercial property specialists celebrate first anniversary

The Plymouth office of commercial property specialists Bruton Knowles has just celebrated its first anniversary after a hectic year which saw the team establish itself in the Devon and Cornwall commercial property market.

Team Manager Glenn Kelly said the team had hit the ground running after launching the Lockyer Street office this time last year.

He said: “Starting an office from scratch was a fairly daunting challenge, but both Ashleigh  and I have worked in the city long enough to be able to call on a broad network of business contacts and we appreciate their loyalty. This has enabled us to build rapidly a sustainable and viable presence in the city.”

Both Glenn and Ashleigh are experienced Chartered Surveyors with national experience and extensive knowledge of the Plymouth market.

The full Plymouth team, consisting of head of office Ashleigh Phillips, Glenn Kelly,  partners Paul Matthews and Angus Taylor together with recent recruit, graduate surveyor Kirk Davidson, has been working flat out since last December.

The economic recovery, improvement in market confidence and an increase in property funding have   given the team cause to be optimistic and look to grow in 2015.

The Plymouth office has also provided a south west focus to service  Bruton Knowles’ existing public sector and utilities clients.
Ashleigh said: “We are extremely pleased with our progress to date and we cannot believe how quickly the last 12 months has passed.

“The Plymouth office is developing and in conjunction with our Taunton and Bristol offices now offers genuine coverage of the South west peninsula. There are many positives on the horizon and we expect another strong performance in 2015.

“Whilst the national economic messages are mixed, the local opportunities generated by recent inward investment successes, the potential for improved transport links and the improvement in manufacturing are undoubtedly good news.”

Glenn added: “With so many positive indicators it’s clear the market is beginning to move in the right direction; that combined with the national brand standard behind us has opened doors we didn’t expect to see open so quickly!”

The core work of the office has been providing value added advice on valuations, acquisitions and disposals, business rates and lease consultancy. The team is intent on consolidating relationships with their existing clients and expanding both the client base and the services offered. 2015 will see the building surveying capability developed and further recruitment of key staff is planned in response to demand.

Glenn concluded: “Our client list is growing and includes regional SME’s, charities, banks, and public sector/utility operators. Our ambition for 2015 is to combine the depth of experience that Bruton Knowles has of both the urban and rural commercial property market in the region with our extensive knowledge and network to deliver the best possible service for clients.”