Setting the Course for Future Investment and Growth

I can’t easily put down in words how much I’ve enjoyed being the Managing Partner (MP) of this great firm, one of the few larger, true LLPs left in our industry. We see talented people who are keen to join or return to this true partnership culture knocking on our doors every day – long may that continue!

Since 2014, when I started as MP, Montagu Evans has grown on average at just under 10% each year. During this period, we have continued to build on our market-leading town planning reputation, but we have also built a fabulous advisory business – both transactional and consultancy – that now works hand-in-glove with our 120-strong planning, heritage & townscape team as we help to solve some of our clients’ thorniest planning and development challenges.

Having decided to retire from the firm after 10 years in the MP role and 30 years with the Partnership to enjoy some time travelling, skiing and exploring (before I’m too old!), the transition to new leadership is gathering pace. Alongside this, the Partnership has set out its initial plans for future growth from our current, strong platform.

Now is the right time to invest. Firstly, we are at the right point in the cycle, and we want to make the most of the many opportunities ahead as the market starts to improve.

Second, our clients have been telling us to grow where we are strong and to invest further to support them as they look to grow their businesses.

Thirdly, because successful partnerships like ours are built on the genuine interest we take in our people, we want to grow to create room for progression and promotions. However, we also have plenty of room – in our areas of strength – for new talent to join us.

Right now, we see additional opportunities in resi/living markets (land, capital markets and student), industrial & logistics (urban, data, open storage), London planning (City of London, Southbank and areas/boroughs with strong transport links) and public sector advisory, with other areas no doubt likely to come to the fore in the future. These growth areas touch all three departments in the firm.

We are investing in these areas right now, and we intend to recruit as well as support our existing teams with promotions and organic growth.

Two Partner appointments have been made very recently – details of the first will follow in the next week – and we expect more new joiners at all levels to follow. Our partnership structure is attractive, and we already have the capacity and infrastructure in place, having disposed of our Property Management business earlier this year.

The Partners who own the business are committed to these plans and have, in the last few weeks, agreed on a significant financial investment to support this additional growth, providing millions in new capital. Whilst some in the industry remain burdened with debt or talk the talk on expansion whilst lacking the financial means to make it a reality, our Partners have stepped up and committed. Our competition seems focused on diversifying service lines, whilst our strategy is to invest in expertise and depth in the areas we are known for.

It has been important to me, personally, to leave the Partnership in as strong a position as possible. This is the final big step to support the incoming leadership and the rest of the business before I step back from the Partnership at the end of March next year, and I am pleased to be able to share this update at this point.

The prospect of more resource, more expertise and more insight, building on our current, resilient position, is exciting and gives our clients even more support at this key time of recovery. Not every business is in the fortunate position of having such long-term investment behind it, and we are looking forward to the new opportunities ahead.