About
Professional Summary
Nick has specialised in the retail warehouse sector for nearly 30 years - he gives pragmatic and knowledgeable advice based on this hard won experience. Nick is instructed on all aspects of Out of Town Retail asset management by a wide variety of clients and concentrates predominately on rent reviews, lease renewals and re-gears as well as some new leases - mainly in the drive thru sector. As well as many Third Party appointments, Nick is relatively unusual in having been through the 1954 Act renewal process in the County Court as an Expert Witness.
After the upheaval of Covid, retail warehousing has proven to be more robust than other retail sectors and the lack of available units has led to a strengtheing market and improving rental tones in certain centres. The influence of the digital world has put more pressure on retail but Nick believes that “clicks” need “bricks” and in the future it will be a combination of excellent physical units as well as on-line fulfilment that will see retail thrive and it is those opportunities which need to be exploited.
Nick has had a variety of leadership roles within Colliers leading the Lease Advisory team for 5 years, the Retail - Out of Town team for 3 years and the Retail division on an interim basis for nearly 2 years. As well as professional work, Nick’s experience as an officer in the Gurkhas taught the importance of leadership by example and leading retail teams within the UK has provided that opportunity to make a difference. Additionally, I'm adept at media engagements, contributing retail-focused articles to various publications as well as the BBC on live television.
However Nick is happiest talking to clients, understanding their business and looking to help them be more successful.
Accomplishments
Head of Retail Division – In an interim role Nick was asked to run the retail function for Colliers whilst the firm looked to buy a niche retail company. This role lasted for nearly two years and was focussed keeping the team together whilst improving profitability.
Expert Witness – Nick regularly acts as an expert witness in formal submissions to Arbitrators and Independent Experts. He also has experience of the court procedure in lease renewals and has advised both landlords and tenants in conjunction with clients’ solicitors and barristers. Nick recently was involved in a full 1954 Act Lease Renewal at Court being an Expert Witness and being cross examined accordingly.
Asset management – As rent reviews become less common and many properties are over rented, the relationship between landlord and tenants is set to become more collaborative and less adversarial. Nick has taken advantage of this trend by agreeing a number of lease re-gears and extending leases.
Booker Cash and Carry – Nick has been the client manager for over 15 years providing all estate management services and rent reviews in particular, and was brought in at an early and confidential stage to help in the purchase of the Makro business co-ordinating the initial valuation and thereafter creating value out of the purchase.
Thought leadership, TV and radio – Nick has provided a number of TV and radio interviews for the BBC in the south-west on the back of magazine articles about retail and its future in an internet dominated world.
Snow'n'Rock – Nick provided the property valuation and rent review advice in the MBO with LGV. Co-ordinating that advice in a tight time frame for bank funding, provided advice on future rental levels as well as investment sales.
University of Bristol - Nick provides asset management, rent review, investment and acquisition advice to the University on its estate in Bristol, and has undertaken this role for 13 years.
Education
Sevenoaks School
University of the West of England
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Memberships & Involvements
MRICS - Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
AR - Accessible Retail - "the voice of Out of Town retail."
Clients
On the landlord side, Nick works for a variety of the major funds and institutions including Aberdeen Standard Asset Management, Aviva Investors, BMO Real Estate Partners and Threadneedle AM and DTZi, along with a range of property companies - from the very largest, such as Land Securities and Patrizia, to smaller, privately owned vehicles and high net worth individuals.
On the tenant side, Nick has acted for retailers such as Carphone Warehouse, Costa and B&Q as well Booker and the University of Bristol.