Speaking as one of the Equity Directors at Bruce Gillingham Pollard, we believe that staff secondments is one of the ways we are able to provide a truly 360 degree service to our clients.

One of the key benefits of being a boutique commercial agency is our flexibility and agility – allowing us to fulfil client staffing requirements, often at short notice. Over the past three years, we have been able to support key clients with secondments ranging from 4 months to over a year across different levels of seniority; bringing enormous benefit not just to the client and the secondee, but also to us as an agency.

From the client’s perspective, our provision of secondees means that they can fulfil short – medium term team needs with someone who already knows the account inside out. It allows continuity and also provides them with an extra element of security –  they know that our secondees are supported from afar by our senior team, ready to offer advice where needed.

The secondee benefits from the opportunity to develop their career within a corporate environment, gaining an insight into other areas of the business. Feedback from our team who have completed secondments at major clients including Landsec and Hammerson has been that the experience has provided clarity into their future career path and ultimately exposed them to new opportunities.

Finally, offering our employees for secondment brings great benefit to us as a business. Yes, it means we can elevate our service to the client but additionally, it helps us to develop our staff and give them a new challenge, diversify our team’s specialisms and provide an extra level of insight into how our clients make decisions.

Secondments carry with them a degree of disruption; teams must be restructured and staff given extra support outside the office. But in our view, that is an investment very much worth making.

Rupert Bentley-Smith is Equity Director at Bruce Gillingham Pollard

Harry Cody Owen’s promotion to Director has been published by By Paul Norman of CoStar 3 April 2023:

UK retail, hospitality and leisure consultancy Bruce Gillingham Pollard has appointed Harry Cody-Owen as a director in its national leisure team.

Cody-Owen is a senior national leisure adviser with a focus on redeveloping shopping centres into experience-led destinations. He has been involved in high-profile deals for Hammerson, Landsec, Abrdn, AEW and Legal & General.

BGP’s managing director Tracey Pollard said: “Harry joined the firm in September 2020 as an associate director, and is now a leading leisure agent and a key member of the national team.”

“His experience and tenacious work ethic have always aligned with BGP while his ability to understand consumer experience in client portfolios is a real strength.”

In addition to focusing on prime landlord instructions, he is also closely involved in the tenant representation side of the business, where he acts on behalf of a variety of well-known restaurant, nightclub and leisure operators, the company said.

Cody-Owen said in a statement: “Retail continues to evolve and being involved in super prime kit enables me to lead the transition. I look forward to continuing my success and helping deliver world class retail destinations”.

The Crown Estate has appointed Bruce Gillingham Pollard and Cushman & Wakefield to advise on leisure leasing across its Regent Street and St James’s portfolios in London.

BGP Director, Rupert Bentley-Smith, comments: “The Regent Street and St James’s portfolios present opportunities for a tremendous variety of hospitality and leisure offers from live performance and events, to fine dining and grab-and-go.

“Having already worked with The Crown Estate on a number of situations across this unique part of London, we’re very excited about the prospect of extending our remit and sourcing new concepts which match The Crown Estate’s ambition, and the diverse profile of the location’s visitors, residents and working population.”

Leanne Catterall, Customer Partnership Director for London and Regional at The Crown Estate, said: “Hospitality and culture is a huge focus for us over the near future, as we look to reposition our customer base to offer more diverse, immersive and experience led concepts. We have taken some time to re-organise our internal team, and now have Sarah McLaren leading on hospitality and culture across London, who will be supported by these latest agency appointments, enabling us to start targeting new sectors and widening our offer in the West End.

“These advisors all have a global reach, to ensure we are learning from other destinations outside of the UK, as we curate the best environment that is relevant for our community in the West End.”

Our friends Incipio have launched their newest concept Palm House in Nova.

The Cuban and Miami inspired clubhouse sits across two floors complete with a dedicated daiquiri bar.

With the cold creeping in, who doesn’t want to be temporarily transported to warmer climates?!

Bruce Gillingham Pollard acted for our clients landsec and Etch  acted on behalf of Incipio.

European private equity real estate investment manager, MARK, has appointed Bruce Gillingham Pollard to advise on retail leasing alongside CBRE at the Borough Yards development in London SE1.

The 140,000 sq.ft mixed use scheme, adjacent to the historic Borough Market, is south London’s newest food, retail, leisure and office landmark. Everyman Cinema, Barrafina, Brother Marcus, and The Office Group, which has taken 51,000 sq.ft of space, are among the key tenants.

The site was originally a mixture of derelict land and Victorian railway arches, which have since been restored and repurposed as part of its redevelopment. Designed by award-winning SPARCC, Borough Yards features five mixed-use buildings and public realm.

Borough Yards opened its doors in early 2022, with Paul Smith, Parillan, Bar Daskal, Burger & Beyond, Butchies and Vinoteca other high-profile tenants capitalising upon the area’s high footfall rates.

The scheme connects Borough Market with the River Thames’ South Bank, while London Bridge Station is less than two minutes’ walk away. London’s financial district, Shakespeare’s Globe and Tate Modern are in the immediate area.

Lily Lin, Managing Director at MARK commented: “Borough Yards represents a new chapter for the area and joins a growing list of successful urban redevelopment projects undertaken by MARK. The creation or redevelopment of city-defining landmarks will remain a key focus of ours and work alongside our specialist platform strategy.

“Attracting established and globally appealing occupiers is an integral part of that and the quality of tenants at Borough Yards illustrates our ability to execute this well. We’re looking forward to working with Bruce Gillingham Pollard on strengthening and diversifying the brands which complement our exciting line-up of food & drink concepts.”

Bruce Gillingham Pollard Managing Director, Tracey Pollard, commented: “Borough Yards is rapidly evolving into one of London’s most exciting and multi-faceted retail and hospitality environments”.

“It’s housed in a sensitive and ingenious development which meshes superbly with the surrounding historic building landscape and benefits from the millions of visitors who make their way to this historic and vibrant parts of London.”

A partnership between BBC Studios, Factory 42, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and EE, they will use 5G to create The Green Planet Augmented Reality experience within this flagship building, funded by the Government’s 5G competition and presented by Sir David Attenborough. It will be a totally unique space using ground-breaking technology allowing visitors to travel through 5 digital worlds; Rainforest, Freshwater, Saltwater, Desert and Seasonal using their phone with the aim to use this immersive experience to inspire people of all ages to affect positive change.

After the first meeting with Michael Gunton Executive Producer for The Green Planet, it was obvious that this project would align perfectly with The Crown Estate’s focus on sustainability and their ambition to continue to bring world class experiences to their estate.

For further information, please contact Rupert Bentley-Smith

The next generation of family clubs Jaego’s House will open in Kensal Rise in May 2022, quite literally something for all the family under one roof.

Members will have access to a whole range of services: a jungle gym and soft play; crèche and childminding; Co working office; studio and fitness classes; library; gym; restaurant and waterside cafe; treatment rooms; kids cinema.

We have worked with founder Charlie Gardiner for a number of years and are delighted to have secured the first of his new venture on his behalf. Please speak to Jamie Orme for future enquires.