News

Vail Williams reports double-digit increase in revenues

June 26, 2019

We are delighted to announce a 17% increase in revenues following another year of continued growth.

Our accounts report revenues of £16.3m for 2018-19, up from £13.9m the previous year.

The results mark the culmination of a three-year business plan which has delivered an overall increase in revenues of 28%, as well as significant developments including three acquisitions and a merger, several senior appointments and a series of client wins and awards.

Speaking of the results managing partner, Matthew Samuel-Camps, said: “We are very pleased with this year’s results which are in line with expectations, reflecting the significant investment we’ve placed in developing the business, growing our presence in the regions in which we operate – both organically and through acquisition over the last three years.”

We are now one of the market-leading providers of property advice in the Solent region, following our merger with Southampton and Fareham-based Hughes Ellard in May 2018, which expanded the team to just under 50 people.

Later in 2018 we went on to acquire New Ballerino in Chertsey, a deal which, just six months in, has secured an agency instruction base totalling 500,000 sq ft – the second largest in Surrey.

Highlights from the last 12 months include our multi-disciplinary advice to Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust on the £98m redevelopment of Heatherwood Hospital and the £49m emergency assessment centre at Wexham Park Hospital, Berkshire, as well as a 416-home brownfield development, North Street Quarter, in Lewes, East Sussex.

Experts from our investment team also advised long-standing client the Canal & River Trust on the sale of its wholly-owned marina subsidiary, British Waterways Marinas Limited, to private equity investor LDC.

Meanwhile we acted for Slough Borough Council on the acquisition of a 110,000 sq ft office premises for the council’s own occupation and Eastleigh Borough Council on the £12.85m acquisition of Chestnut Avenue Retail Park in Hampshire.

We look set to continue our growth trajectory into 2019-20 with appointments to advise more 170 new clients including Shell Energy, Associated British Ports and AVIVA Investors.

Alongside our growing client base we have attracted several senior hires, including head of planning David Ramsay (Southampton) and building consultancy partner Matthew Beech (Reading).

The acquisition of New Ballerino saw the addition of three staff including the return of partner Steve New (Woking), whilst the wider business welcomed over 20 new recruits.

We now employ over 170 people across its eight offices in Birmingham, Reading, Southampton, Portsmouth, Woking, Crawley, Heathrow and London.

2018 also saw us relocate to larger premises in order to account for its growth, at Lakeside in Portsmouth, Edmund House on Newhall Street in Birmingham and One Crown Square in Woking, whilst refurbishing our existing office on London Road in Crawley.

Matthew continued: “The growth we have achieved marks the culmination of an ambitious three-year plan which started in 2016. I am delighted that we have achieved much of what we set out to do and look forward to continuing to realise our potential in the regions we call home, through our new people-centred plan over the next three years.”

And it’s our people-centred values which saw us pick up the award for Commitment to People Development at the prestigious Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce Business Awards in the last year, whilst other awards included Best Commercial Agent/Chartered Surveyor at the Surrey Property Awards, and Best Office Consultancy at the South Coast Property Awards.

Matthew concluded: “As we embark on our new business plan, we are well placed to continue our sustainable growth trail and remain attentive to take full advantage of market changes, whilst continuing to invest in our people and the improved capabilities this will bring.”

The results coincide with our recent announcement of ten promotions across our agency, commercial property investment, business rates, planning, lease advisory, valuation and property asset management teams.

The promotions included two invitations to equity partner, three to partner, four to associate and one to Surveyor Level 2, and took effect on 1st June.