National surveying firm opens East Midlands office with specialist technology and innovation hub
Added by Love Business East Midlands | 15 November 2017
UPDATED: 15 November 2017
Building consultancy, Malcolm Hollis, is opening a 25-person strong office in Nottingham, with a full suite of building surveying and consultancy services, alongside a new technology and innovation centre.
The move will see the national, independent full-service consultancy become the first in the UK to establish a stand-alone technology hub. It will open the c.4,500 sq.ft office with a team of 19 in the Business Transformation Unit, which is responsible for sourcing and implementing technological advances across the businesses 22 offices in the UK and Europe. As part of its building surveying provision across the UK and Europe, the firm will also be moving a number of its experienced building surveyors from its Birmingham office, to be based in Nottingham.
The Malcolm Hollis team has been working with clients based in the East Midlands, or with assets in the region, for many years, including Columbia Threadneedle, AEW, Donington Investments, Next and Sports Direct, amongst others.
Malcolm Hollis, which has more than 340 employees across eight countries, has been undergoing a company-wide programme of business change and has been carrying out a thorough review of all its internal business functions.
As part of this, it has spent the last ten months trialling new technologies for use in surveying and project management, led by Business Transformation and Technology Partner Michael Robinson.
Michael has been working with a Business Modernisation steering group, made up of surveyors from each of the firm’s specialist divisions, to examine every element of its business models and practices, looking for ways in which they can be improved through the adoption of new technologies. The Business Transformation team in Nottingham will be tasked with implementing these changes in 2018.
On the new team, Michael Robinson says: “Technology businesses are constantly creating innovative tools to drive the property industry forward. Building surveying is often seen as an antiquated skill that still does things the way they were done 100 years ago. Whilst this is clearly an exaggeration, it is not too far from the truth. As a firm, we have always had a reputation for doing things differently, taking an innovative approach to our work, and embracing new technologies to make the next step forward. What we must do is adopt new ways of working and using new technologies to enhance our offering, creating greater value to the client through improved efficiency.
“Nottingham was a logical location for our national Business Transformation team because it sits centrally to our 16 UK offices, but it is also a city that has a growing reputation for nurturing IT talent.”
On top of implementing the changes already highlighted by the business review, the new team will be tasked with looking forward to help Malcolm Hollis anticipate, adapt and respond quickly to change and ensure the firm’s surveyors, engineers and project managers always have the resources to develop and enhance their services, and to find innovative and imaginative approaches to problem solving for clients.
Alongside the Business Transformation Unit, the new office will also be home to a team of surveyors who will help service the firm’s clients in the East Midlands, which will be led by, Associate Richard Morris who is moving over from Malcolm Hollis’ Birmingham office. Richard, originally from Nottingham, specialises in dilapidations, project management and defect diagnosis, while the team can offer everything from environmental and energy assessments, to transaction led due diligence.
Malcolm Hollis senior partner, John Woodman, says: “Increasing our presence in the Midlands is hugely important to our business as we see continued growth being driven by the Midlands Engine. For us to create such a large, stand-alone team that is tasked with focusing on technology and innovation is vital to the future development of not just our business, but the sector as a whole.”
Lorraine Baggs, head of inward investment, Invest in Nottingham says: “We’re delighted that Malcolm Hollis has chosen Nottingham for its newest site. Invest in Nottingham is pleased to have supported Malcolm Hollis throughout the expansion process to find the best location, and we’re confident that the business will thrive in its new premises. It’s a fantastic addition to our city, creating new jobs and adding to our already thriving property sector.”
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