As Fairhurst Estates Limited (FEL) we have developed somewhat of a reputation in the roadside, tool & hire equipment and trade sectors and, as we celebrate our 10th anniversary, we are staying ahead of the market with an innovative approach to business and our assured future.
Nigel Blyth, Estates Director; John Thornley, Managing Director; Howard Derbyshire, Building Director
Along with many organisations, we may have to overcome numerous challenges to ensure our continued success; economic restraints and technological advancements have led us to reconsider how we conduct our business and the range of services we provide. We have listened to what our customers are saying and, as a consequence, we have structured our business model to embrace and exploit change and compete within an ever more testing marketplace.
Outsourcing in a virtual world – our innovative approach supports flexibility, raises service standards and drives down cost
For some of our customers we are now operating as a virtual property function. Rather than employ their own full time Chartered Surveyors, FEL has been appointed to manage all their property requirements including sourcing & negotiating, construction & refurbishment, projects & property management, acquisition & disposals. Through outsourcing, our clients can reduce annual overheads, free up capital and concentrate on growing their core businesses. Companies are able to alter the flow and type of work dependent upon their individual set of circumstances.
“We really value the experience, flexibility and speed of response offered by Fairhurst Estates Ltd. We benefit from having senior personnel dealing with our business, providing us with exceptional professional expertise and knowledge of our network.”
John Taylor – Group Corporate Development Director Axle Group Holdings Ltd
“Fairhurst Estates Ltd have shown extensive knowledge of the roadside property market by acquiring for us (National Tyres and Autocare) 20 new branches in 2011. Further exciting opportunities will follow in 2012. This expansion of the network continues to strengthen our presence as a leading player in the UK Tyre and Automotive sector.”
Carlo Lamanuzzi – Property Director, National Tyres and Autocare
“Flexible, innovative service driven by 3 Directors and an associate. Fairhurst Estates Ltd offer a full range of property services of which we can select the most appropriate work streams as required.”
Susan Shardlow – Commercial Director of Hewden Stuart Limited
In 2012 we are rolling out our ‘virtual property department’ model to both new and existing publically and privately owned clients and have increased our staffing to 20 which include chartered surveyors, administrative support staff and, following investment in a maintenance help desk, the employment of a team of experienced and fully trained personnel, available 24 hours x 7.
An original approach for tenants
The Fairhurst Estates’ Property Management team have also adapted to the current business climate and adopted a new approach in letting and sub-letting properties to tenants. Speaking at a recent conference, John Thornley – Managing Director of Fairhurst Estates Limited – has put their success down to hard work, steady & controlled growth and being flexible enough to adapt their business approach to meet the changing demands of the market. This is perfectly demonstrated at Viscount House in Chester where, rather than continuing to seek a sole occupant, a large unit has been divided into managed office suites to provide start-ups and smaller businesses with a viable office solution.
“We have provided a concept in Viscount House that entirely satisfies the requirements of the economy, our tenants, our clients and our business partners. Here in Chester we have created a business community specialising in I.T. and renewables. One of the tenants has been instrumental in introducing further occupiers into the building, testimony that innovative thinking can provide solutions to the most difficult of problems. The tenants have flexible accommodation that can change as their business evolves within a fixed all inclusive rent. Now at near capacity, we have a proven success story whereas many larger properties are still concentrating on sole occupancy.”
John Thornley – Managing Director of Fairhurst Estates
10 years ago …
… when we started Fairhurst Estates we had 6 full time staff operating as an outsource solution for our first and still current client, National Tyre Service, to source new sites and to manage all of their property requirements and services. Since then, we have steadily developed our client base and the services we provide and relocated to our current premises in 2005 on Acorn Business Park, Stockport.
Although we now own 2 properties at Acorn Business Park we are finding that, as digital technology advances, our staff are able to log-in to our systems from multiple access points and so able to operate in a more virtual way. We recognise the responsibility we have toward our environment and put into practice our Environmental Policy – encouraging home working where possible. Although our business has grown we have been able to reduce our office space and have introduced new tenants on to the business park, including some of our own clients, and, because we manage all common areas, they are assured of a full and excellent service.
In 2008 and, as the client base grew, FEL increased the extent of the outsourced solutions offered to their clients, investing in Qube, a market leading and highly sophisticated property management system that provides a more diverse range of solutions, greater control and a speedier service to their clients.
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