Real estate consultancy becomes employee owned

John Woodman

Real estate consultancy Hollis, which has offices in Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester, has switched from a limited liability partnership to an employee-owned business.

The 450 employee firm, which advises the majority of the largest institutional landlords in the UK, along with public and private investors, occupiers and developers throughout Europe, will move straight into the top 50 of the largest employee owned companies based in the UK.

Hollis is now majority owned by Hollis Global Trust Company on behalf of its employees.

Senior partner John Woodman will continue in his current role with a new title as chairman, with existing managing partner Alex Brown changing title to managing director. All remaining partners will take up roles as directors.

Alex Brown

Hollis, which posted a turnover of over £40m for the year ending 30 April 2021, has over 20 offices across the UK, Ireland, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands.

Woodman said: “Hollis has always prided itself on its independence and as being a business that creates opportunities and supports the progression of its team. Over the last few years we have had to consider the future of Hollis and its ownership, ensuring that there are plans in place for a sustainable future that will allow for continued opportunities, progression and succession as well as protect our clients. This move will enable everyone who has helped build and develop Hollis over a number of years to participate in the future growth and success of the business. We strongly believe that introducing the EOT structure will have a positive effect on the ability of the business to grow.”

Brown added: “We have a unique, independent business culture, and this move will help to build on this and put Hollis in the best possible position to achieve its future growth aspirations. The new structure will give all employees the opportunity to share in the success of the business as well as secure the long term future of the business for our clients, many of whom we have worked with since the beginning. The introduction of the EOT reiterates our commitment to all the employees in this business and the importance we place on our ‘one team’ culture. The benefits that employee ownership can bring to businesses are widely acknowledged, including improved employee engagement and wellbeing, and better business performance, for ourselves and for our clients.”

Click here to sign up to receive our new South West business news...
Close