Countrywide
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Associations & Bodies
Countrywide teams up with NAEA to increase membership levels
Countrywide plc and the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) have announced a new landmark partnership which will see Countrywide’s customer facing estate agents invited to become members of the NAEA. The agreement makes Countrywide the first national estate agency network to officially adopt such an undertaking, offering employees the opportunity of high level training alongside their nationally recognised qualifications. The move is sure to gain the approval of many leading qualified trainers, including Tony Lynch (left), a coach at Keep Thinking Big. He points out that estate agents are no different to any other profession when it comes to the need to update skills and techniques. He commented: “We all need ongoing training in order to become better tomorrow than we are today.” He highlights various skills, such as listening, connecting and becoming a ‘master’ at questions that unlock the doors of opportunity as all being learnable skills, as being “imperative for the successful estate agent”. Lynch also pointed to “attitude” as a key component when it comes to training and learning. “If a team understands the importance of training and have a hunger for becoming the best they can be, then the ingredients are set for a huge…
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Agencies & People
Countrywide acquires Greene & Co
Greene & Co, the London based estate agency, has been snapped up by Hamptons International – part of Countrywide PLC – for an undisclosed sum. Established more than 30 years ago in West Hampstead by Michael Greene and Noe Glasman, Greene & Co, which was the subject of a BBC fly-on-the-wall documentary a few years ago, has seven offices across the capital serving West Hampstead, Maida Vale, Crouch End, Belsize Park, Clerkenwell, Kensal Rise and Queen’s Park. The agency comprises sales, lettings, financial services, property management and new homes and investments. Greene & Co also has a sister company Urban Spaces; a specialist and expert team focused solely on residential loft spaces across London. The acquisition takes in all divisions of the agency and Urban Spaces. Having led the organisation for nearly 20 years, Managing Director of Greene & Co, David W Pollock (left), will step down from his role. Mr Pollock, who has played an instrumental role in the company’s success, acquired a controlling interest in the company from its Co-Founder Michael Greene. He then teamed up with property entrepreneurs Harry Handlesman, Founding Director of the ground-breaking Manhattan Loft Company and John Hitchcox, Founder of Yoo (a property venture…
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Agencies & People
Changes at Countrywide as senior Directors depart
The Managing Director of Estate Agency is stepping down, while the Group Commercial Director at Countrywide has already left the company. Bob Scarff, Managing Director of Estate Agency, who has over 37 years’ estate agency experience, will step down from his position at the company in the coming weeks.He started his career as a Trainee Negotiator at Taylors estate agents in 1978, when the company was under private ownership, and became the Managing Director of the UK’s largest estate agency network. A press statement from Countrywide said that Scarff, who will step down on 29 May 2015, “intends to pursue his own personal ambitions outside of the Group”. Nick Dunning (left), Group Commercial Director, has stepped down from his role at the firm, having been with Countrywide for seven years, most notably building the lettings business. The press statement from Countrywide added, “Nick is leaving the company to pursue other thingsat the end of April 2015”. This effectively means that he has already left the firm. Both businesses will report directly to Alison Platt and Chief Financial Officer Jim Clarke in the interim. Alison Platt (right), Chief Executive Officer, Countrywide plc, said, “Both Bob and Nick have built tremendous foundations…
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Agencies & People
Countrywide further expands lettings business
Countrywide Residential Lettings, part of the UK’s largest estate agency and property services Group, has acquired four successful lettings businesses over the past three months. The recent acquisitions include Property Links in Plymouth; Anderson Residential a full service lettings agency in Sutton Coldfield; the large portfolio of HE Lettings in Lincolnshire and All in One Move in Swindon. As part of Countrywide plc, all four acquired businesses will benefit from the Group’s shared marketing services, property market insight due to economies of scale and shared services from local lettings agency brands. Nick Dunning, Group Commercial Director, Countrywide plc, said, “The acquisitions we made in quarter one, 2015 are in line with our selective acquisitions strategy, which is focused on delivering the best growth and success for all parties involved. These acquisitions significantly increase our regional footprint and fill in the geographical gaps in our portfolio. Current market conditions offer ongoing opportunities to acquire lettings businesses and scope to enter new markets as well as expand our presence in existing markets.” Over the past five years Countrywide has invested over £80 million in acquiring more than 100 lettings businesses throughout England and Scotland. During that period, Countrywide has opened over 100…
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Agencies & People
Countrywide Residential Lettings Celebrate ‘100 Deals’
Countrywide plc has capitalised on the growth of the UK rental market and significantly increased its regional footprint. Over the past five years Countrywide has invested over £80 million in acquiring over 100 lettings businesses throughout England and Scotland. During that period, Countrywide has opened over 100 offices in a number of key town and city locations. In celebration of succeeding more than 100 acquisitions during that period of time, Countrywide Residential Lettings held a celebratory boat trip last week. The boat trip launched from Embankment Pier, London and began with a Champagne reception followed by a River Thames tour of London Countrywide employees enjoyed a gala dinner. Commenting on the event, John Hards, Managing Director, Countrywide Residential Lettings: “Countrywide has a unique ability to grow businesses by ensuring they operate autonomously, retain their local heritage and benefit from Countrywide’s ongoing investment and support. “We have built a very strong and successful network of branches in the UK, via strategic acquisitions and new branch openings and we are delighted to be able to celebrate ‘100 Deals’. We would like to thank DWF legal businesses who sponsored the event. “Countrywide Residential Lettings value the importance of all our acquisitions and it…
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