Property Focus: The Interview – Ian Butler
IN our series of interviews with top professionals from across the property sector, TheBusinessDesk catches up with Ian Butler, head of Sheppard Robson’s North West office.
What are your views of the current state of the commercial property and property development markets?
The banks are still not lending funds, which will mean that developments continue to stall or collapse in 2010.
Over the next twelve months the commercial property market will be planning for three to five years ahead.
What key challenges and pieces of legislation do you think will most affect your sector over the coming months?
Government legislation cutting public sector expenditure which is currently supporting the economy, will undoubtedly affect the commercial property market.
However, schools and healthcare should be the most protected areas, and both offer a great deal of opportunities for the sector.
Why do you think the North West is a good place to do business?
The North West is an extremely entrepreneurial region, with Manchester boasting the second most renowned international profile of any UK city, second only to London.
The region also has excellent universities, producing fantastic students who tend to stay in the area and enter the business community.
What is your favourite building/development in North West and why?
Spinningfields and MediaCity for the business they continue to attract to Manchester.
If you could improve anything in the region, what would it be?
The public transport network could do with some further investment.
What was your first job and how did you enter your current line of work?
My first architectural role was with Powell and Moya Architects based in London. The project involved work on a bank in Piccadilly. I then spent a considerable amount of time working in South East Asia before returning to the UK.
What do you most enjoy about your job?
Contributing to the physical fabric of our built environment and the well being of communities. In terms of my role within Sheppard Robson, I greatly enjoy continually expanding the practice from its historical routes in London, and contributing to the development of professionals that join, helping them fulfil their capabilities.
What barriers have you faced during your career and how have you overcome them?
Working overseas presented inevitable language barriers which naturally limited the availability of work on some occasions.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Tie your shoelaces.
And the worst?
Save in a pension fund.
