Estates Gazette Property Podcasts

There will be a sharp rise in the number of distressed property assets being brought to market this year, according to Watling Real Estate director Jamie Lamond. Lamond, who is the Radius dealmaker of the month for March with 160,000 sq ft of disposals, says that although the lending markets are structured very differently compared to previous downturns, appointments of administrators and receivers have begun to surge this year and tougher times lie ahead. He identifies hospitality and the high street as particularly vulnerable, but also expects problems for some assets in the logistics sector as well as London’s office core. However, Lamond believes the situation will not be as profound as the global financial crisis of 2007-2008 due to the weight of money still in the market.

In this episode of the EG Property Podcast, Tim Burke, EG’s deputy editor, sits down with the founders of Vectr7 Investment Partners Mary Criebardis Singh and Dominic Wilson to talk about climate technology investment in the real estate space. The pair are raising $25m (£19.7m) for the fund, which will invest in companies across Europe with a specific emphasis on greenhouse gas capture or avoidance in the real assets industries, including real estate, infrastructure, transport and utilities. The fund is targeting cheque sizes of $1m to $3m and will look to invest in around 15 ventures. It has already backed three companies: machine learning powered smart sockets company measurable.energy, hybrid-work management software company Kadence, and local office space and events company Patch. In this 20-minute discussion, we dive into what the pair hope to achieve with the fund, how we need to redefine how the real assets industry utilises technology to address sustainability issues more widely and the changing nature of investment.

In this EG Property Podcast, we delve into the transformative world of workplace environments, focusing on the EG Power Properties List, powered by HqO. Listen in as EG editor Samantha McClary sits down with Samuel Warren, senior vice president of sales at HqO, for an in-depth discussion on what it takes for companies to not only make it onto this coveted list but also to achieve the distinguished HqO Best Spaces to Work certification. The conversation looks at the critical importance of curating superior occupier experiences in today’s competitive landscape and uncovers why HqO has spearheaded the Real Estate Experience platform. This initiative aims to arm businesses with actionable insights drawn from comprehensive data on how end-users engage with their workspaces. Join us as we question the future of workplace design, investigate the role of data in shaping occupier experiences, and reveal the strategies that companies can employ to transform their spaces into hubs of innovation and productivity. Find out more about how to make it on to the Power Properties list here 

High streets are awash with opportunity for occupiers willing to take advantage of historically low start-up costs and find new ways of using space, according to Flude surveyor Alice Masterman. Operating from Flude’s Portsmouth office, Masterman was 2023’s top individual dealmaker in the Radius rankings for the South East region. She transacted 86 deals and more than 150,000 sq ft of space. Masterman says the relatively high cost of industrial space means many brands which become online-only are now taking advantage of low retail rents and returning to the High Street. She also believes the health sector, from aesthetics to dentistry, is playing an increasingly important role in the overall mix.  

Experts Nuala Gallagher, Theo Michell, Nathan Rees, and Nick Walkley discuss the future of workplaces and urban centers. Topics include the existence of central business districts, desired workplace features, necessary building types, attracting young people to city centers, and keeping up with planning changes.

The industrial sector has begun the year with a degree of caution but activity is hotting up in the small to medium size end of the market as opposed to sheds, according FHP joint founder and director John Proctor. Proctor is EG’s Dealmaker of the Month for February after finishing the month top of the individual dealmaker Radius Rankings, with 116,155 sq ft of space either let or sold. He says there are reasons for cautious optimism for the industrial sector, with demand picking up since the turn of the new year, particularly for units up to 50,000 sq ft. He also welcomes the fact that ESG has become intrinsic to the market, extending right the way down to the process of obtaining finance.

Welcome to The School of Hard Knocks, a six-part series brought to you by EG Property Podcasts that will off up a bounty of lessons from those who have experienced a rough time or two that will enable us to better navigate the tough times ahead. Over the course of this series, we’ve been meeting people who have lived through some of the highs and lows of this wonderful business of real estate and through our conversations we will dig deep into the skills, the mindsets and the structures you need in place to successfully navigate tricky times. Joining EG editor Samantha McClary for our penultimate lesson in the School of Hard Knocks curriculum is founder extraordinaire and all-round real estate expert Neil Sinclair. With more than 60 years’ experience in real estate, some high highs and some low lows, Sinclair has managed to stay grounded throughout. He is driven by honesty, a passion for his charitable work and the desire to keep testing the grey matter. This lesson is ram-packed with advice about how to take a hard knock and how to stay passionate about the work that you do. So, sit back, get your pen and paper ready, because it is time to enrol yourself in EG’s School of Hard Knocks. Listen hard and enjoy. Click here to listen to episode one with Scarborough Group's Kevin McCabe Click here to listen to episode two with Harworth Group's Lynda Shillaw Click here to listen to episode three with JLL's Katie Kopec Click here to listen to episode four with Canary Wharf Group's Jane Hollishead

English and Scottish law have increasingly diverged in recent years, not least in property law. To talk listeners through those key differences, EG’s Sarah Jackman is joined by Daniel Black, barrister at Falcon Chambers. Following an overview of the basic differences between the two systems, they discuss three key areas of practice: residential tenancy law; energy efficiency; and building safety. Are there things that one system could learn from the other? And what are the key pieces of legislation currently passing through each Parliament that listeners should be aware of?

Glasgow’s industrial market is in rude good health, with demand outstripping supply leading to strong rental growth and high deal volumes, according to GM Brown Property Consultants founder and director Gregor Brown. With 134 deals over the line in 2023, Brown was the UK’s biggest individual dealmaker in the Radius On Demand Rankings, letting more than 300,000 sq ft of space across all major use types in and around Glasgow. Brown also says Glasgow has a glut of vacant office space and believes much of this may need to be repurposed for alternative use. He says there are various BTR developments in the pipeline for Glasgow city centre which he believes will prove important in bringing back demand for the city’s shops, bars and restaurants.

Welcome to The School of Hard Knocks, a new six-part series brought to you by EG Property Podcasts that will off up a bounty of lessons from those who have experienced a rough time or two that will enable us to better navigate the tough times ahead. Over the course of this series, we’ll meet people who have lived through some of the highs and lows of this wonderful business of real estate and through our conversations we will dig deep into the skills, the mindsets and the structures you need in place to successfully navigate tricky times. Joining EG editor Samantha McClary for our fourth lesson in the School of Hard Knocks curriculum is Jane Hollinshead, chief people officer at Canary Wharf Group, who shares vital advice around the power of diversity of skills, the value of your network, and finding balance. Hollinshead isn’t afraid of hard knocks – not only in the boxing ring where she keeps herself fit and grounded – but in life. She’s prepared to take leaps of faith and she understands that sometimes you need to be pushed over the edge – and push others too. But if you are pushing, says Hollinshead, be nice because real estate is all about connections and relationships. And guaranteed that one day you’ll be across the table from someone you really wish you’d probably been a bit kinder to. So, sit back, get your pen and paper ready, because it is time to enrol yourself in EG’s School of Hard Knocks. Listen hard and enjoy. Click here to listen to episode one with Scarborough Group's Kevin McCabe Click here to listen to episode two with Harworth Group's Lynda Shillaw Click here to listen to episode three with JLL's Katie Kopec