The chairman of a leading regional firm of auctioneers, estate and land agents and valuers has reported the most successful year since he took up the position in 1991.
Peter Willcock, from Shrewsbury based Halls, says the company heads into 2015 with great optimism keen to identify viable expansion opportunities and to increase the multi-disciplined expertise that it is able to offer clients.
The company, which has a network of 10 offices across Shropshire, Worcestershire and Mid Wales, employs 85 full time and 50 part-time staff. Twenty-four new employees joined the company during 2014, including a batch of young, newly qualified professionals.
During the year, the company introduced a successful commercial department together with additional planning services to meet the diverse needs of clients.
“It has been our most successful year in terms of expansion and turnover during my tenure as chairman, which began in 1991,” said Mr Willcock. “We have expanded into commercial property, planning and architectural services.
“Our move to our new headquarters at Battlefield during 2013 has also helped to progress our agricultural and fine art business, the livestock markets in Shrewsbury and Bishops Castle have generally been successful and there has been a lot more activity through our estate agency offices.
“Our experience this year shows that there are buyers out there in the residential property market and, if properties are marketed at the right price, then transactions will take place.”
He said Halls’ fine art salerooms now had a growing list of customers around the globe due to live Internet bidding platforms which were having an increasing impact on auctions.
“We now have a worldwide audience for every lot we sell,” he added. “On average we have 400 people registered to buy online for our catalogue sales.”
Reflecting on the recruitment of specialist staff this year, he said: “We have tried to invest in the future by employing several young professionals throughout the business who are well motivated and recently qualified. They have expanded our knowledge base and helped with our succession planning.”
The commercial property department had made a major impact within 13 months and now had six staff led by manager James Evans. “Our presence in the commercial property market has definitely helped to further raise awareness of our estate agencies in Shrewsbury and mid-Shropshire,” said Mr Willcock.
Agricultural property sales were very strong during 2014, with a surge in prices for farms and the land. He predicted that demand for the best land would remain strong, but there were signs that land prices in general had steadied.
Looking ahead to 2015, he said: “We are going into the new year very busy. There is going to be a lot more farm and land management work as farmers and landowners consider contract and share farming and other types of land occupation that preserves or protects their tax position. Because of the value of land, a growing number of owners are having to consider their options.
“We have some very knowledgeable people within our business to help land owners through the transition period of the 2015Common Agricultural Policy review, which has placed a great emphasis on environmental schemes.
“We are also looking to diversify from traditional areas of business to meet emerging demands, such as alternative energy forms, including solar farms and wind turbines.”
Reinvestment in the business would continue during 2015 following the launch of a new corporate image, including a website and new accounts and property management systems.
PICTURE: Halls’ chairman Peter Willcock - anticipating a busy 2015.