Derby commercial property agency expands

Derby-based commercial property agency Rigby & Co says it has enjoyed the most successful year in the firm’s 10-year history, with record turnover and the recruitment of two new members of staff.

Over the past 12 months, turnover at the Pride Park-based firm has increased by more than 30% thanks to a series of high profile projects. These include Derby’s largest office letting – the relocation of 111 provider Derbyshire Health United to Derby College’s Johnson Building on Pride Park.

The firm has also enjoyed success in the residential sector, including the sales of City Gate House on Cathedral Road to Prosperity Capital for 300 apartments and the Kings Crescent site on King Street to Nine Investments for 49 apartments.

The off-market sale of a 136 unit housing site in Belper, plus the sale of nine acres at Friar Gate Goods Yard in Derby to the Department of Education on behalf of Clowes Developments, has capped a “hugely successful” year for the business.

Now, managing director Russell Rigby has made two appointments to the team.

Mark Gratton has joined Rigby & Co from Fisher German. He will provide development consultancy support services to both private and public sector clients and also has a remit to grow the firm’s highly rated office agency team.

Nigel Gell has joined the firm as a consultant, having worked in the public sector for more than 30 years, overseeing major capital projects and the implementation of estates strategies. He will lead the growing number of public sector consultancy projects that the firm has been instructed on since the turn of the year in areas including the NHS and FE.

Rigby said: “It’s great to have Mark and Nigel in the business. Mark is an exceptionally talented surveyor and agent, with great potential.

“Nigel’s expertise and reputation will enable us to deliver more public sector led consultancy projects within local government, further education and the NHS across the East Midlands.

“I expect to make further announcements shortly about additional investment in our team, particularly in line with a significant increase in activity in the build to rent (BTR) sector.”