Property consultancy Vail Williams reported increased revenues of £17.5 million for 2021-22, up almost five per cent.

And the firm says the post-pandemic flight to quality was a key contributor.

Managing partner Matthew Samuel-Camps (pictured) says the firm will seek to grow further through opportunities in the energy and environmental markets.

He said: “Our new three-year business plan, which began in June 2022 at the start of the new financial year, raises the bar even further and challenges each and every one of us to perform on a range of measures that benefit our clients and the business as a whole.

“I was delighted with our performance throughout our last three-year plan, which of course covered the pandemic and led to a number of unforeseen challenges, but we came through thanks to everyone’s extraordinary can-do spirit and determination and achieved our main goals including growing our business.

“Agency had a very good year in the industrial and office markets. We saw a continual resurgence in demand from occupiers, particularly with flight to quality in the office market where companies are taking less space but taking better quality space, and largely to ensure they can attract – and retain – high-quality staff back to the office following the pandemic.

“There is also an ongoing shortage of industrial and warehousing right across our regions. We have seen values and rents increase across both the industrial and office markets.”

He said the firm has always thrived on change and significant opportunities continue to exist for all levels of the business.

He went on: “These include, for example, energy compliance due to the new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard Regulations (MEES).

“Developers are getting excited by MEES but occupiers need to be aware of all the EPC changes coming down the track – industry research shows that 120 million sq ft of commercial property in England will fail EPCs from this April.

“You’ve got industrial and office buildings changing their carbon footprints with Fitwel (wellbeing certification) coming through and increased opportunities for electric vehicle charging, solar panels on roofs, insulation, all of that is really strong.

“There is so much change which creates opportunity and therefore an awful lot to look forward to. We are confident our business plan will help us allow us to maximise those opportunities for the benefit of our clients.”

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