Vail Williams acquires specialist ratings consultancy
COMMERCIAL property consultant Vail Williams, which has a Birmingham operation, has acquired specialist rating practice Bisset Moffatt Hill (BMH) for an undisclosed sum.
It says the acquisition of the Slough and Crawley-based business will allow it to provide expert support and advice to businesses preparing for rates revaluation in 2017.
The new arrivals will work under the Vail Williams brand at its offices, boosting the company’s existing business rates mitigation consultancy and growing its rating client base to more than 2,000.
The acquisition of BMH also enhances Vail Williams’ presence in property sectors such as retail, licensed property, hotels and motor trade.
Chris Cave, Vail Williams’ regional managing partner for the Birmingham region, said: “The last time business rates were calculated was in 2008 – ahead of the last recession – and it is inevitable that many organisations will face increases. Expert advice will guide them through the complex process to prepare for and appeal against the likelihood of higher liabilities in order to minimise the impact.
“Getting ready for a rating revaluation is a time-consuming process, so with just a year to go, time is running out for companies to secure the help to get their property affairs in order to make a significant financial difference to their outgoings – and commercial prospects.
“We’ve acquired Bisset Moffatt Hill to give us the extra capacity, expertise and know-how to support clients over the entire five year revaluation period. We’re ready for the revaluation and we want our clients to be too.”
Six surveyors including the three senior directors of the BMH team will join their four new Vail Williams colleagues to create a new, ten strong national business rates unit headed by BMH co-founder Simon Moffatt.
The BMH team will relocate from their current bases in Crawley and Slough and will work out of Vail Williams’ network of offices across the South and in Birmingham.
