Property People: Vail Williams promotes two in Birmingham; Law firm builds up commercial property department; and more

Birmingham-based property consultants Vail Williams has promoted two surveyors based at its office on Newhall Street in the city.

Carole Taylor, who has been at the firm for four years as a salaried partner, has been invited to join the equity partnership, while Emily Knowles has been promoted to associate.

With more than 25 years’ experience in industrial property acquisition and disposal, Taylor, who recently took on the role of regional managing partner for Vail Williams’ Birmingham office, has played an active role in the Midlands property market for many years.

During this time, she has acted on a number of schemes, including Westwood Business Park (Coventry), Birmingham International Park (Birmingham Airport), Kings Norton Business Centre and Magna Park Lutterworth.

Major acquisition instructions have included the Law Society’s new Midlands HQ, a new manufacturing facility for specialist system build company Innovare, new combined Midlands base for Jacobs, and a regional HQ for Shell Energy.

She said: “I am delighted to have been invited to join the equity partnership at such an exciting term for the firm. Our presence in Birmingham has more than doubled in size in the time I have been here, and I am keen to build on this further.”

Knowles joined Vail Williams in 2012 and qualified as an RICS Registered Valuer in 2015.

A commercial property valuation specialist, she regularly works with commercial lending clients, such as Lloyds, Barclays and One Savings Bank, and also provides valuation advice to the Canal & River Trust of more specialised inland waterways properties.

She is chairman of RICS Matrics Birmingham where she is responsible for spearheading the Matrics’ programme, providing a network, support and a voice for its members and engaging with local schools and universities to attract new talent to the profession.

Vail Williams, which counts the likes of John Lewis, National Express and RBS amongst its clients, was established more than three decades ago and works with occupiers, landlords, developers and property investors.
:::

A Coventry law firm is building up its commercial property department with a key senior appointment.

Cormac Glynn has joined Band Hatton Button solicitors as a senior associate from Cocks Lloyd Solicitors where he was previously head of commercial property.

Glynn joins the Coventry firm with extensive experience of acting on six and seven-figure property deals for corporate occupiers and high street banks through to landowners and developers.

His arrival takes Band Hatton Button’s commercial property department to 20 strong.

Glynn is also the first new recruit into the firm since Band Hatton Button moved into new 11,500 sq ft premises at Earlsdon Park on Butts Road.

He said: “Band Hatton Button is in the thick of a lot of major property deals across Coventry, Warwickshire and the wider Midlands region.

“The firm is going in the right commercial direction and I want to be part of that growth.”

Daniel Blood, head of commercial property at Band Hatton Button, added: “Hiring somebody of Cormac’s calibre is real coup for us as a firm – he has a loyal client base and is extremely well connected, which leaves us well-placed to deliver another strong year of performance.

“Despite Brexit uncertainty the commercial property department continues to grow, and Cormac’s appointment will assist us with our growth aspirations and also to plan for succession in the future. The department is well placed to continue to assist existing and new clients.”

:::

The office and industrial agency teams at Birmingham-based chartered surveyors Johnson Fellows have been bolstered with the arrival of surveyor Harry Stevens.

Stevens, who will this year complete an MSc in Real Estate Management at Birmingham City University, will work with office expert and partner Charles Warrack and industrial agency specialist and associate partner Helen Kendrick.

While studying, the 22-year-old has worked for the past seven months at John Truslove Chartered Surveyors in Redditch, and has already gained experience in commercial property agency and valuations.

He said: “I’m excited at the prospect of building a successful career at Johnson Fellows, based in the heart of Birmingham which is one of the key commercial property markets in the country. I’m looking forward to learning a great deal from my new colleagues who have a huge amount of experience across the sectors.”

:::

A Coventry-based housebuilder has appointed a new sales manager.

Bellway South Midlands, which is building new homes in Coventry, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Oxfordshire, has appointed Angela Nurse in the role.

Nurse recently has worked as a sales manager elsewhere within the housebuilding industry.

She said: “I’m enjoying developing a team from individuals who all have their own strengths and adding my knowledge and experience which in turn creates sales and good customer service.”

She is responsible for all of Bellway South Midlands’ current developments, which are spread from Evesham in Worcestershire, to North Leigh in Oxfordshire and Warwick, Stratford and Rugby in Warwickshire, as well as in Coventry itself.