Spicerhaart appoints Alison James as property company director for Butters John Bee
Spicerhaart has strengthened its management crew in Staffordshire, Cheshire and Shropshire with the appointment of Alison James as property company director for Butters John Bee.
James brings greater than three a long time of mixed conveyancing and property company expertise to the position. She joined Spicerhaart after almost 16 years with Countrywide, the place she progressed from valuer to space supervisor overseeing six branches throughout South Cheshire.
Earlier than that, she spent 17 years as a authorized conveyancer, giving her a uncommon twin perspective of the property journey from either side of the transaction.
Now main 11 Butters John Bee branches, an auctions crew and three department companions, Alison is chargeable for supporting department efficiency, recruitment and progress.
She stated: “I’ve at all times believed in working arduous, studying each position inside-out, and shifting ahead at each alternative.
“This position at Butters John Bee is the subsequent thrilling step for me. It’s a unbelievable likelihood to develop the enterprise and cement it as a robust, recognisable title.
“My focus is on supporting our branches, recruiting the suitable folks, and bringing enjoyable and power into what we do. When groups really feel supported and luxuriate in their work, progress follows naturally.”
James’ method is grounded in empathy and expertise. Having carried out completely different roles inside property company, she understands the pressures that include the job and the way management and motivation could make all of the distinction.
She added: “This can be a nice enterprise with a lot potential and I’m actually trying ahead to serving to it thrive. I’m coming in with contemporary eyes but in addition a deep understanding of the native market. My purpose is to mix the very best of what’s already right here with some new concepts that can take us ahead.”
Keiron Humphreys, Chapter Managing Director at Spicerhaart, stated: “Alison brings distinctive expertise and drive to Butters John Bee. Her background in each conveyancing and property company offers her a uncommon perspective, and her enthusiasm for growing folks shines by means of.”
JLL’s Richard Petty pronounces retirement
JLL’s Richard Petty has introduced his retirement after 4 a long time working within the UK property sector and 29 years main the consultancy’s reasonably priced housing enterprise.
Upon Petty’s retirement on 31 March 2026, Lauren Hunt – presently deputy head of the UK residential valuation enterprise – will lead the crew of 120 colleagues situated throughout eight JLL workplaces. Marc Burns, who was introduced as head of UK reasonably priced housing in July 2025, the most important of the valuation companies, will report into Hunt.
Petty has been a number one determine and extremely revered advisor to the social and reasonably priced housing sector for the final three a long time, rising what was an embryonic social housing crew in 1996 to the market chief it’s right this moment.
For the final 12 years, Petty has held a twin position as head of UK residential valuation, with reasonably priced housing forming the most important a part of the enterprise, alongside nationwide groups in growth valuation and construct to lease (BTR), and residential valuation and strategic advisory.
The enterprise has regional groups in Exeter, Bristol, Birmingham, Nottingham, Manchester and Leeds, with an reasonably priced housing crew masking Scotland and Northern Eire primarily based in Edinburgh. JLL plans to develop its regional protection in reasonably priced housing in 2026.
The crew undertakes greater than 2,000 valuation directions yearly, and in social housing alone, experiences values properly in extra of £100bn yearly. Valuations vary from small reasonably priced housing websites to ‘tremendous prime’ London houses. Shoppers vary from lenders and buyers to housing associations, builders, native authorities and central authorities.
Petty stated: “Again in 1996, as a industrial property surveyor, I agreed to present social housing a strive for six months, to see if I preferred it – it turned out I beloved it, particularly the social objective of the sector, and the openness and collaboration between suppliers, lenders and different advisers. At present, now we have a unbelievable crew of colleagues, lots of whom are longstanding, as much as 27 years with a number of who’ve been with us for greater than 20 years – it’s been a pleasure and a fantastic privilege to work with them and plenty of others.
“I do know that I shall be leaving the enterprise in very secure arms. During the last 5 months, Lauren has been concerned in all the things that I’ve been doing and is now completely positioned to take over.
“I’ve full confidence Marc will take the reasonably priced housing enterprise into its subsequent chapter, combining his concentrate on tech and knowledge with 20 years of expertise within the crew, the place he’s universally revered by colleagues and shoppers.”
Petty started his profession in industrial property in 1989, when he skilled and certified as a surveyor at Drivers Jonas following a 12 months within the military and a stint in administration consultancy. He labored on main initiatives together with British Airways’ new company headquarters at Heathrow, Crossrail (now the Elizabeth Line) and the acquisition of Bankside energy station, to grow to be Tate Fashionable.
In 1996, he took over the social housing crew at Drivers Jonas, with two colleagues and a valuation enterprise based on the unique wave of huge scale voluntary transfers (LSVTs), which noticed council housing acquired by housing associations, backed by personal finance. In 2010, the enterprise moved from Drivers Jonas Deloitte to King Sturge, which then merged with Jones Lang LaSalle – now often called JLL – a 12 months later.
Petty has expanded JLL’s vary of companies through the years because the sector has diversified its sources of funding and grow to be extra transactional. Mortgage safety stays because the core service for lenders and debtors, alongside valuations of land and proposed developments, work for main buyers, portfolio transactions, and advising builders on s.106 reasonably priced supply.
He has additionally been chargeable for graduate and apprentice recruitment and growth throughout JLL’s residential enterprise – nurturing the expertise of younger individuals who need to be part of the career, and facilitating the beginning of their careers.
Andrew Frost, head of UK capital markets at JLL, stated: “Richard turned concerned in social housing within the early days {of professional} valuation recommendation, and grew to grow to be one of many main advisors. He has been a beneficiant mentor and counsel to many, each colleagues and shoppers alike, and we’re enormously grateful to him for organising such a robust succession. I’m trying ahead to seeing Lauren and Marc equally thrive of their new roles.”
Lauren Hunt, deputy head of UK residential valuation, commented: “Richard’s contribution to reasonably priced housing over the past 30 years has been enormous – he and his crew have valued the safety that underpins tens of billions of debt, that permits housing associations to put money into new and current houses, As well as, he has constructed and led a really profitable residential valuation crew at JLL, which I’m honoured to be taking up subsequent 12 months. I do know that I’ve received massive footwear to fill, however I’ll have a unbelievable crew round me, and we’re trying ahead to persevering with to serve our shoppers and rising the enterprise.”
Exterior JLL, Petty has held a string of non-executive roles, together with 12 years on the board of Richmond Housing Partnership, his native inventory switch; Dolphin Dwelling; and Anchor, which turned Anchor Hanover Group, the place he additionally served as vice-chair.
He’s presently on the board at Watford Group Housing Belief and a board observer at The Riverside Group, and concerned with numerous sector our bodies, together with the British Property Federation’s Reasonably priced Housing Committee, the Nationwide Housing Federation’s Property Finance Working Group (PFWG), and CIPFA’s Housing Finance Guide board.
Petty stated he totally intends to stay concerned within the social housing sector by means of his board roles at Watford Group and Riverside.
Wonderful & Nation welcomes again Managing Director Nicky Stevenson following maternity depart
Wonderful & Nation’s managing director, Nicky Stevenson, has returned to her position following maternity depart. Stevenson, who has led the enterprise since 2020, now resumes accountability for the worldwide community.
Throughout her absence, Jonathan Handford served as interim managing director.
Stevenson expressed her gratitude for Handford’s stewardship all through the previous 12 months: “Figuring out the enterprise was in such succesful arms allowed me to totally concentrate on my household throughout this particular time. Jon’s deep understanding of the model, his ardour for our community, and the experience he brings from greater than twenty years at Wonderful & Nation have been invaluable.”
Handford, managing director of Wonderful & Nation Leamington Spa, will now step apart from the interim position however will proceed to assist the enterprise on a consultancy foundation.
Handford commented: “I’m happy with what we’ve achieved collectively and sit up for supporting Nicky and the management crew in a consultancy capability. Wonderful & Nation is a model I care deeply about, and I’m excited to proceed contributing to its success.”
As Stevenson returns to the helm, she’s going to proceed working carefully with chief advertising and marketing officer Emilie Despois, chief working officer Phillipa Legg, and the enterprise growth crew to drive the corporate’s strategic imaginative and prescient ahead.
Comings & Goings
