After an absence of 18 months at the helm and leaving independent chartered surveying firm, Bradley Hall, as a consultant and chairman only three months ago, founder Graham Hall BSc FRICS, has launched a new business which will provide a range of commercial property services.
With a move that will surprise many in the regional property industry, the well-known chartered surveyor with 40 years of experience in the sector, has established a new office at Forster Business Centre, Durham where he will trade as Graham S Hall Chartered Surveyors.
With only a week behind him, he has received encouragement from a number of industry contacts who are keen to work with him again.
Mr Hall sold the company he established over 29 years ago to fellow directors Neil Hart and Peter Bartley in October 2015 and since then worked for Bradley Hall in an advisory capacity as chairman and consultant. In January he closed his office door for the last time but has had plenty of time to reflect on the future and believes there is still a gap in the market for a chartered surveying firm offering a personal service. He said:
“Yes, I am back in business again to service many of my longstanding clients and raring to go. We are a team of two at present, but I imagine that will not be the case for long.
“I have over 40 years of experience in the industry and it would be a pity to let this go to waste. I have missed the cut and thrust of business these last few months and relish the thought of being active in the market once again and not only establishing a new venture, but welcoming a raft of new clients to the practice. I certainly have a few more years of deal making in me yet!
“Our core values of integrity and professionalism will underpin an all through commercial property consultancy service at a fair price. These are the values on which I have always operated and they are as relevant today as they were 30 years ago.
“Geographically, we will operate wherever our clients ask us to go, but of course, being based in the Durham area for many years, this is where I am well known and the area from which I expect to receive most of our instructions in the early months.
“I have worked with some great clients and business colleagues over the years and hope to continue to do so again within my new business. I am already involved in several developments in the city with six or seven new instructions under my belt, which is a great start.”
To assist in the growth of the business, Mr Hall has also appointed a junior partner, Daryl Carr, who worked with him some three years ago. Since then, Daryl has gained valuable experience in a couple of other surveying roles, latterly at a commercial agency and property consultancy in Dubai, Cavendish Maxwell, a leader in industrial and logistics agency.
Excited about the future, he said: “I am very fortunate to have been offered a partnership in a newly established company. I have a lot of energy and determination and am pleased to be back in the UK again. I learned a great deal in Dubai working mainly in the industrial, logistics and retail sectors and would hope to use this experience to undertake more acquisition instructions in our new company. I worked on behalf of some large organisations with specific property requirements and this is the kind of instruction I would like to see coming our way.
“The partnership Graham has offered me is an amazing opportunity to make my own mark yet be able to gain from his vast experience and business acumen so that when I take the business over some years into the future, there will be a seamless transition for our clients.”
Graham S Hall Chartered Surveyors will offer a range of services including commercial agency, investment advice and development consultancy as well as lease renewal and rent review services predominantly within the retail, offices and industrial sectors.