A leading estate agent’s Newark and Southwell offices have been acquired by a Lincolnshire firm after more than 30 years of trading.
Mundys is expanding into Nottinghamshire after acquiring Alasdair Morrison and Partners’ two town centre offices.
Mundys, which has two offices in Lincoln and one in Market Rasen, has bought the sales side of the business, taking its total number of offices up to five.
Alasdair Morrison has retained the residential lettings arm of the business as Alasdair Morrison Lettings and will operate as normal from the same offices.
He will also continue to work in the agency as a consultant.
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Alasdair Morrison said he’s delighted to be selling the business he’s invested over 30 years of his life in to a company which has such a high regard for its clients and staff.
Alasdair said: “I joined the agency in 1982 and became a partner in 1985 before rebranding it to Alasdair Morrison and Partners in 1990 and opening the Newark office in 1998.
“It’s been exciting and challenging and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed running the business and working in the property industry. However, after more than four decades in property sales I’m looking forward to joining forces with Mundys, which shares our values of honesty, integrity, trust and professionalism.
“There’s a lot of synergy between the two businesses, which are both run by chartered surveyors, and I’m sure Mundys will build upon and enhance the high-quality services we have become so well known for.”
Mundys senior partner Simon Bentley said the acquisition has significantly increased Mundys’ presence across the East Midlands.
“We’re delighted to have acquired Alasdair Morrison’s long-standing property sales business,” said Simon.
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“Alasdair Morrison and Partners is one of the leading estate agents in the area and has provided a fantastic service to the people of Nottinghamshire for over 30 years. Working with Alasdair’s existing team, we will use our skills, knowledge and experience to build on and enhance the existing provision.
“Both businesses share the same values of honesty, professionalism and quality and we offer very similar services, so there’s great synergy.
“Initially it will be very much business as usual in Newark and Southwell; the staff, who are all local people and can offer local knowledge and expert advice, will stay the same and we look forward to working with them to grow the business under the Alasdair Morrison and Mundys name in the future.”
Mundys was established in 1898 and has been awarded Best Estate Agency in Lincolnshire five years running and Best Letting Agency in Lincolnshire three years running at the UK Property Awards.
Most recently it was awarded Best in Postcode in the ESTAS Customer Service Awards 2023.
Mundys is also one of 800 independently owned agents from across the UK selected to join The Guild of Property Professionals based in Mayfair, London. Members work together to raise and maintain standards in the property industry and promote sellers’ properties across the network.
The founder of a construction consultancy firm is urging more professionals to share their expertise and knowledge with the younger generation.
Kevin Osbon, from Fiskerton, has been appointed as a Nottingham Trent University Alumni and Industry Fellow and wants to take the opportunity to encourage others in the industry to follow in his footsteps by working with their universities.
He studied as a mature student at Nottingham Trent University (NTU) in the late 1980s, gaining a BSc Hons in Construction Management in 1990 — four years later he set up Focus Consultants.
Since then, the multi-disciplinary company has grown to become a leading consultancy in the construction, sustainability, cultural and regeneration sectors, managing over £300 million of construction projects each year.
For the past eight years Kevin has been revisiting NTU as a lecturer after stepping back from frontline consultancy, although remains majority shareholder and operates as joint chairman of Focus Consultants.
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This reduced involvement in the company gave Kevin the opportunity to teach construction management, quantity surveying and construction commercial management, contract administration and control and finance at the university.
He hopes that by highlighting his professional journey, he can encourage others who have a wealth of experience in their respective careers to find a way to share that knowledge with the younger generation.
“When you come to the point of stepping away from frontline consultancy or construction work then all of that intellectual capital should not be lost,” he said.
“The over 50s have vast resources. I have basically had another career in the eight years that I have been working with NTU — gradually increasing my involvement from teaching to writing papers, contributing to books and various other initiatives. It’s been extremely stimulating.
“I never thought I would become a published author or be part of a team that won an internationally significant award for an academic paper, but that’s what has happened as a result of taking on a teaching role at NTU.
“Some over 50s took early retirement after the pandemic and the government is now encouraging them to return to the workplace.
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“This age group has a lot of wisdom and experience to share with the younger generation. They have a lot to give. In my view, the over 50s are a vastly untapped resource.
“There are stacks of people out there like me, who have had a successful first career but who could go on to have a second successful career in teaching, mentoring or training.”
The university is now able to tap into the knowledge and resources of the Focus Consultants team, while skilled graduates have a opportunity for employment with an industry leading company.
The partnership between the two organisations has recently been formalised in a three-year framework looking to provide deliverables such as:
• Knowledge exchange and building links with industry
• Provision of lecturers and guest lecturers
• Fostering talent and providing workplace opportunities for students and graduates
• Providing support and expertise for the new Centre for Sustainable Construction and Retrofit
• Collaboration on project work to facilitate hands-on student work experience
• Contributions to research initiatives leading to published works
Kevin added: “Little did I know that when I studied at Nottingham Trent University in the late 1980s that I would return to the university as a lecturer towards the end of my career and become involved in research and various initiatives leading to a strategic partnership between my consultancy and NTU.
“I’ve enjoyed a very fulfilling career in consultancy and I’m very proud of the business that myself, my partners and my colleagues have built up over the past 30 years.
“It feels good to be giving something back to help future generations and it’s also been extremely positive for me personally to have had a second career teaching in my 50s.
“I would encourage the over 50s to consider ways that they can share their knowledge and skills.
“It’s certainly something that I am very pleased to have done and would recommend it to others, if it’s relevant and appropriate for them.”
Estate agency Gascoines in Nottinghamshire is celebrating its 70th anniversary having served the property market in Southwell and surrounding areas since February 1954.
Founded by Doug Gascoine, three generations of the family have since carried on the Gascoines’ legacy with one of the current partners Luke Saywell (main picture, middle) Doug’s grandson, now at the helm of the business.
COMMUNITY
The agency has been at the heart of the Southwell community since day one and has expanded to its current location on Church Street as well as an additional office in Ravenshead.
Rachel Gascoine, wife of the late Doug Gascoine, says: “Watching the business grow from strength to strength over the last 70 years has been remarkable.
Much has changed over the years, but the important things haven’t.”
“Much has changed over the years, but the important things haven’t. Our traditional values have underpinned our generational success, and everyone that visits has benefited from our expertise. This has seen us support customers through their property journey.”
NUMBER ONE
Gascoines holds the number one position for market share in both Southwell and Ravenshead and has consistently supported the local community. It sponsors several local organisations including Southwell Rugby Club and attends key events like Late Night Shopping and the Southwell Ploughing Match & Show as well as fundraising for regional and national causes.
Luke Saywell, Partner at Gascoines, says: “We’ve embraced many changes over the years, and I’m proud of the progress we’ve made since my grandfather started Gascoines.
“From new technology like virtual tours and drones to growing and retaining our highly skilled team – all of which makes the property process more positive and efficient for our customers.”
And he adds: “We’ve got some ambitious plans for the business. We’re eager to expand our services to incorporate more work in the new homes and land areas of the property market – ensuring we’re continually evolving to ensure we’re at the forefront of the market for another 70 years.”
Main picture: Back row left to right: Lucy Toule, Property Consultant; Anne Pitchfork, PA to Directors; Shirley Marsden, Financial Co-ordinator; Denise Seglins, The Loughborough Society; Emma Gascoine, Chief Executive; Amy Perkins, Property Consultant and Fynnola Campbell, Marketing Assistant.
Front row left to right: Sophie Holehouse, Trainee; Denise Whitehead, Administration and Accounts; Luke Saywell, Partner; Pat Curtis, Property Consultant and Jess Mitchell, Office Manager.
A family-run estate agency is celebrating its 70th anniversary, having served the property market since 1954.
Gascoines has been operating from within the Southwell community since its inception, and has expanded to its current location on Church Street and additional office in Ravenshead over the years.
The estate agency was founded by Doug Gascoine on February 7, 1954, and three generations of the family have since carried on the Gascoines’ legacy with one of the current partners Luke Saywell, Doug’s grandson, now at the helm of the business.
Rachel Gascoine, wife of the late Doug Gascoine, said: “Watching the business grow from strength to strength over the last 70 years has been remarkable. Much has changed over the years, but the important things haven’t.
“Our traditional values have underpinned our generational success, and everyone that visits has benefited from our expertise. This has seen us support customers through their property journey.”
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Gascoines holds the number one position for market share in both Southwell and Ravenshead — which it says is a testament to its longstanding success as a trusted sales and lettings agent.
The business has also offered much support to the community in its 70 years of operation, sponsoring organisations such as Southwell Rugby Club and attending events like the town’s Late Night Shopping and the ploughing match, as well as fundraising for regional and national causes.
Luke Saywell said: “We’ve embraced many changes over the years, and I’m proud of the progress we’ve made since my grandfather started Gascoines. From new technology like virtual tours and drones, to growing and retaining our highly skilled team, all of which makes the property process more positive and efficient for our customers.
“Looking ahead to 2024 and beyond, we’ve got some ambitious plans for the business. We’re eager to expand our services to incorporate more work in the new homes and land areas of the property market — ensuring we’re continually evolving to ensure we’re at the forefront of the market for another 70 years.”