Our business rates team is growing once more, with the appointment of Fidell Brown, who recently joined our London office.
Specialising in rating advice and lease advice, Fidell joined the team in January from CVS Business Rent and Rates Specialists (recently acquired by Altus Group).
With a background in law and criminology, Fidell is naturally analytical – a skill that will no doubt help him in his new role as a Surveyor in the business rates team.
We spoke to him to find out a bit more about why he wanted to join Vail Williams, what makes him tick outside of work – including going to lots of gigs, like the one below.
What do you specialise in?
My background at CVS was as an account manager, initially, before being promoted to surveyor. I started out by processing rating appeals/lease advisory negotiations and providing research for the surveyors, and later inspected properties and negotiated rating appeals with the Valuation Office Agency.
What’s the biggest piece of work / most high-profile thing you’ve worked on?
At the height of my career with CVS, I was responsible for managing their largest and highest value lease advisory client. During this relationship, I acted as a single point of contact for a client with 90 sites in total, and processed all of their property transactions, helping to save them over £300,000.
What attracted you to the post at Vail Williams?
Vail Williams is known for being a reputable firm with a client-centric approach. I come from a client-services background and aim to progress to chartered status, so Vail Williams seemed like a perfect fit really.
What are your ambitions in the role?
I want to progress with my APC qualification, whilst contributing to the continued growth of Vail Williams’ rating department through use of my property and client services experience.
What’s the best thing about working in property, and why?
I like the fact that the industry is so expansive and constantly changing, as it ensures that there are always opportunities to grow and learn.About you
What was your first ever job?
I worked at KFC as a customer server and ate like a king for the entire time!
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Not to take anything at face value.
Suggest a useful book
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff by Richard Carlson. One quote that particularly stood out for me was:
“Effective listening is more than simply avoiding the bad habit of interrupting others while they are speaking or finishing their sentences. It’s being content to listen to the entire thought of someone rather than waiting impatiently for your chance to respond.”
Tell us a surprising fact about yourself
I once ‘starred’ in a film alongside Eric Cantona!
What’s your favourite band?
I have a really eclectic taste in music and can listen to anything from Beyoncé, to Oasis to Michael Jackson, depending on what I’m in the mood for.
If you could work in any other profession, what would it be and why?
I’m quite analytically minded and I studied Law and Criminology at university, so a career in criminology would suit me quite well.
