East Midlands property consultancy FHP has secured a major award for its market leading work in retail.
The Nottingham based business has been crowned Most Active Agent in Retail in 2014 in the Deals Competition run by the property industry’s ‘bible’, Estates Gazette.
The award comes as FHP celebrates its 25th year in business, and founding director David Hargreaves says the expertise it has built up since 1990 is one of the main reasons why it wins instructions from some of the biggest names in the retail industry.
He commented: “The Most Active Agent award is particularly significant because it sums up what FHP has always been about – getting out there, working hard on behalf of clients across the industry and using all the expertise we have built up over more than two decades to add value to what they want to achieve. This award acknowledges our market leadership in retail and I’m incredibly proud of what our team has done.”
FHP acts for a range of regional and national clients, including some of the biggest names in retail property development and some of the most well-known retail brands. Its work ranges from the sales and leasing of retail property to management of retail assets and professional advice on how they can be operated most effectively.
Its current instructions include acting for Intu on the Victoria Centre and Broadmarsh in Nottingham and at Intu Derby. Its retail acquisitions team works with a range of national clients which include supermarket giant Morrisons and brands like Edinburgh Woollen Mills and Specsavers.
Ben Tebbutt, a Director in FHP’s retail team, said: “2014 was an incredibly busy year for us and with the way the economy is going this year looks like being even busier. Intu is investing very heavily in the development of its two centres in Nottingham, with £40m being spent on upgrading the Victoria Centre and plans recently revealed for a comprehensive revamp of Broadmarsh.
We have secured some notable lettings at the Victoria Centre as a result, among them Urban Outfitters, Superdry, Office Shoes and River Island. Though the plans for Broadmarsh have only just been revealed, we are already out there in the market discussing opportunities with retailers.”
FHP director Alan Pearson has also introduced a number of new retailers and restaurants at intu Derby. They include HMV, Ann Summers, Smiggle, Tiger and Hotter Shoes, while the restaurant offer is being strengthened through the arrival of Joe’s Kitchen and Byron – with three more restaurants currently under offer.
The EGi Most Active Retail Agent Award comes at a time when FHP has also been adding to its retail team and promoting key members. Frankie Labbate, who leads on acquisitions, and Jess Hand, an expert in retail business rates, have both been made associate directors, while Jack Ward joins the team from Sainsbury’s and Matthew Revill comes in from Christie & Co.
Ben Tebbutt concluded: “This is a period of significant expansion for us. The retail economy is busier, and clients are looking not just for insights into the best locations, but valuable expertise in managing their assets. We’ve got 25 years of both!”
