Property Focus: The Interview – Will Lewis

How difficult is it to operate in the property sector at this time?

It’s OK and still enjoyable. You need to know your strengths as a business and work with clients that share a similar business philosophy.

Fully understanding your client’s priorities, objectives and also their pain points is essential when providing good quality advice.

Looking into your crystal ball, what are your predictions for the industry over the coming months?

Little will change – I believe market conditions will remain similar to past 18 months or so for the foreseeable future.
 
If you could improve anything in the region what would it be?

Another wave of inward investment would be good. We are really well-positioned with the infrastructure of our region – Manchester Airport, the universities, talented and diverse labour pool etc.

We experienced Manchester’s success in attracting large international organisations pre-recession and I’m sure this will happen again.

Large organisations are starting to innovate and change the way they work – developers in Manchester need to read this and provide a real estate solution which meets their requirements.
 
How does the North West commercial property market compare to other regions in the UK?

We do a lot of work advising our occupier clients throughout the UK and I have learnt a lot from working in different regions.

Putting London aside, the North West is certainly more active compared to other regions throughout the UK.
 
What has been your biggest mistake/achievement?

My biggest achievement in business has certainly been setting up OBI Property in an economic climate when everyone thought we were bonkers.
 
I’ve made plenty of mistakes – being a chartered surveyor is straightforward but running a successful professional services business is much more challenging and you don’t things right all of the time. Making mistakes is fine, as long as you learn from them and they are never too big!    
 
What’s the best project you’ve been involved in?

Working with Allied London on Spinningfields has been a great experience and collectively as a business we have enjoyed contributing to the success of one of Europe’s most impressive mixed-use developments.
 
What drives you to the be best in your field?

Not sure really. I’m a competitive person and always like to do things properly.  I think the biggest reason OBI is successful it that we only work with clients that we understand and enjoy working with. A strong client relationship means you go that extra mile to ensure you deliver and meet their objectives.
 
Name the person who has most inspired you and the one who has had the biggest influence on your career

The person who is most inspiring is my friend’s father Les Ransom. He’s 90 and still going strong – he was captured twice in World War II and we go back to Arnhem every year to the place he was captured. People moan about the market being tough and things not being easy – it is nothing compared what Les has gone through.
 
Ron Kaiser gave me a great grounding when I started my career at British Waterways. Ron has an unbelievable understanding of property and gave me the broadest range of experience I could ever wish for prior to specialising in office consultancy.
 
 
What are the best and worst pieces of advice you’ve been given?

Chris Mulcahy of JLL once told me to never let anyone write an email on your behalf if you are uncomfortable with the content, no matter how senior that person is. That was good advice and those starting their professional careers should also follow it.
 
I’ve had to listen to bucketloads of poor advice. I have progressed my career by understanding that actually learning how not to do something is also very important.