Property consultancy opens in Leeds

A property consultancy has launched its first office in Leeds.

National firm Matthews & Goodman already has four offices in the North West and Central London. It has appointed Ben Dewhirst, Associate, to spearhead its new operation.

Dewhirst, an experienced Trading Valuation and Agency Advisory Surveyor, was previously with Colliers International. Based in Leeds, he advised trading operators, lenders and investors across the North of England and Midlands on issues such as the valuation, sale, letting and the acquisition of all types of licensed and leisure property – ranging from hotels, public houses and restaurants, to live music concert halls, garden centres, cinemas, casinos and ice rinks.

Prior to that, Dewhirst was an Acquisition and Asset Management Surveyor with Yorkshire based Trade Park, a Director of a residential property research company Real Hub and spent over five years with Leeds based corporate recovery specialists Sanderson Weatherall LLP.

The office, based on Park Row, will initially employ four people.

James Hewetson, Head of Matthews & Goodman’s National Valuation Team, said: “One of the major reasons we appointed Ben was not just his considerable trading valuation expertise, but also because of his broad corporate and business acumen and his knowledge of one of the cornerstones of the Northern Powerhouse.

“We had two major factors which influenced our thinking about expanding our national footprint and opening an office in Leeds. The growing demand for our services in the North East and the fact we had found in Ben someone who has the drive, ambition and desire to be a successful Valuation Surveyor, as well as an integral part of a multi-disciplined team – capable of working collaboratively and seamlessly with colleagues from other disciplines”

Dewhirst added: “It’s a really exciting time to join Matthews & Goodman and to be part of a concerted drive to further develop our business across the Northern Powerhouse region.”

“Although I will be primarily focussed on growing our licensed, leisure and specialist market sector business, the chance to work closely with colleagues to build our business in Leeds, Yorkshire and across the North is an opportunity I just could not pass up.”.