Galbraith Recruitment Matters 2024

Recruitment

Welcome to Recruitment Matters 2024

...A culture where employees can bring their full self to work and feel supported to succeed...

I was delighted to be asked to contribute to our 2024 Edition of Recruitment Matters.

A huge part of my role as People & Culture Manager and that of my team is supporting our offices across Scotland and Northern England to attract and retain the right talent to ensure we can continue to grow and develop as a business.

This has been particularly challenging in the last couple of years, with the battle for talent more competitive than ever. However, we continue to focus on fostering a culture where employees can bring their full self to work and feel supported to succeed.

I have been with the Firm since 2019 and I am proud of what we have progressed in this time. From the recognition of a new digital era resulting in the introduction of our people platform with self-service and integrated payroll, to revising our performance check in process to focus more on conversations and more regular touch points, to launching new benefits to suit differing employee lifestyles and much more. We continue to use our employee feedback to inform our decision making and People Strategy at Galbraith.

Health & Wellbeing remains a huge priority, which has resulted in the roll out of mental health awareness training for all employees and the introduction of Mental Health First Aiders across all our geographical locations. Alongside this we also actively encourage our employees to get involved in things that are important to them outside of work, including the use of volunteering days and access to charity match funding.

Hybrid Working has featured hugely over the course of the last 3 years and has allowed the Firm to embrace new ways of working, which offer us greater flexibility and accessibility across our geographical location. We continue to work at this, to ensure that we are adapting.

We are striving for progress not perfection and we are not doing too badly in my opinion!

Taking the Next Step

I hope that if you are reading this edition of Recruitment Matters as a potential applicant, you can see lots of opportunity at Galbraith across our various Business Streams and Departments and through the fantastic insights of our very own people you will get a snapshot of the variety of roles we offer.

Please do get in touch if you would like to have a conversation about working at Galbraith and taking the next step in your career.

Stefanie Bennett People & Culture Manager

@stefanie bennett LinkedIn

Email: hr@galbraithgroup.com

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My Journey

I have diversified my work, into becoming a multidisciplined professional, with a strong focus on Agribusiness Management...

Jack Marshall

I have been part of the Galbraith team in one capacity or another now for over ten years.

The journey began while I was still at school in 2013 where I completed a work experience module.

I worked every Friday afternoon as an Office Junior in the Castle Douglas office over a threemonth period. Most of my work centred on office administration and I gained an insight into Galbraith, CKD Galbraith as it was known back then, and the world of Land and Estate Agency.

This experience gave me a good steer on working in an office environment, while being linked to the wider rural economy and getting out and about. I then applied to a variety of higher education courses and went on to study Rural Business Management at SRUC (Scotland’s Rural College) in Edinburgh.

During my four years in Edinburgh, I was fortunate to be successfully gain further professional work experience with the Firm in the Castle Douglas office, working as a summer intern between my second and third year, returning the following summer ahead of my fourth and final year. These were both three-month blocks, shadowing both the Rural Management and Residential Sales & Lettings teams. I was involved in a variety of different work ranging from accompanying colleagues on sales pitches, property inspections, farm visits and valuation inspections.

Having this wide range of work fuelled my passion to pursue a career in Surveying. When returning to my studies after the summer breaks, and upon hearing the common “buzz” phrase from a variety of rural surveyor’s presentations “No two days are the same,” I was inspired to pick up the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) accredited modules. By selecting these, I was then able to gain a RICS accredited degree, putting me on the pathway to fulfilling my newfound goal of becoming a RICS Chartered Surveyor.

After graduating in 2018, I was successful in the recruitment process at Galbraith being offered the role of Graduate

Surveyor in the Castle Douglas office. As I joined, I was thrown in at the deep end. I had to call upon my previous experience and was involved in a whole host of different work, ranging from the valuation of farms and estates, to selling residential houses and plots mixed with the management of residential house lets.

The initial six-month period flew past, and an opportunity had arisen to fill a vacancy on the Isle of Bute in their in-house Estate Management team. I began a secondment on the island for nine months, working with the Estate to manage both their agricultural and residential property portfolios. While there I developed immensely as a professional and learned a valuable lesson to improve landlord tenant relations.

I then took time out from my professional career to return home to the family dairy farm for 18-months. During this time, I worked in the family business, learning ever more about the workings of the farming business as well as the practical elements of the job.

Once Covid had begun to subside, I was then extremely fortunate to be offered a position in the Galbraith Perth office to join the Rural Team in June 2021, where I still work today. I have diversified my work, into becoming a multidisciplined professional, with a strong focus on Agribusiness Management and Property Advisory, with work ranging from valuations to property disposals and disputes. In this current role I find myself doing something different each day. My work takes me from Arable Contract Farming Agreements to Highland Sporting Estates, a variety of professional work and subsidy advice in the middle. I finally fulfilled my goal and became a chartered surveyor in 2022 with Galbraith. I am so lucky to be involved in an amazing team and grateful of the opportunities Galbraith has provided me.

Jack Marshall

07899 980246

A wide network of support

My Galbraith journey started in 2018, when I applied for the summer placement program.

After a brief online interview, I was offered a seven-week placement in our Castle Douglas office. Throughout this placement, I had an insight into the job including estate management, valuations, and residential sales and lettings. This placement confirmed that I would focus on a job within the Land Agency sector.

Following my work experience, I was offered a job to work in the Castle Douglas office on a permanent basis, following completion of my university course, Rural Business Management at SRUC (Scotland's Rural College) in Edinburgh.

After graduating from SRUC, I joined Galbraith in September 2019. For my first two years in employment, I was working towards becoming a Chartered Rural Surveyor and successfully sat my APC in May 2022.

Since becoming fully qualified, I have been involved in estate management, valuations and professional consultancy and more latterly in farm sales within the Dumfries and Galloway Region. There is wide variety within my workload and due to the small rural team, that is within Castle Douglas, we have a wide range of experience in many different job types.

There is a great network of support through the different business streams and offices located across Scotland and northern England, which is a huge advantage of working in a Firm of our scale. We are lucky to be able to travel different offices across the Firm and meet up with friends and colleagues throughout the country.

jack.marshall@galbraithgroup.com

Rose Nash

07342 053 317

rose.nash@galbraithgroup.com

Out and about at

As the Marketing & Events Coordinator, I prepare most Galbraith events throughout the year...

Kirsten Mcquillan

It has been a busy first year for Kirsten Mcquillan as she takes us through her role as Marketing & Events Coordinator.

I joined Galbraith in April 2023 as the Marketing & Events Coordinator within the Marketing team. As a team of four we collaborate to ensure the Galbraith brand is promoted to the highest standard. Initially it was a little daunting coming into an established team but once I started, I felt right at home.

Having participated in Highland Dancing all my life I wanted a change of direction, so in 2018 I returned to Education at Queen Margaret University and gained a Bachelor of Arts in PR, Marketing and Events. After graduating in 2022, I pursued a career within the Marketing and Events industry which led me to where I am today at Galbraith.

The team is spread across the Ayr and Stirling offices, with my role based in the latter. Our hybrid working pattern blends office and home working, with regular trips down to Ayr as and when required. When working from a distance, Microsoft teams' steps in to keep us all in the loop. My colleagues throughout the Firm have been so welcoming and I know if I needed anything I could pick up the phone and they would try and support me if they are able.

As the Marketing and Events Coordinator, I prepare most Galbraith events throughout the year. I also ensure the website and social media channels are kept up to date with all event activity. The Fife Show, Royal Highland Show, Ayr Show and SL&E Conferences are just some of the events I coordinate for the Firm.

I aim to visit as many offices and events as I can to meet more of the Galbraith team in person. I believe

that getting ‘out and about’ is important for all staff so we can build up a strong working relationship. Having not come from a rural background I was initially overwhelmed with some of the conversations but getting to know people in all business streams has helped me to understand the vast amount of work our teams do up and down the country.

During my first year at Galbraith I attended several of our events. Here are my top two:

The Galbraith Agricon

This event was a conference-style held in one of the executive suites at the Home of Scottish Rugby, Scottish Gas Murrayfield. The evening had many distinct aspects to it including speakers from the agricultural and energy sectors, as well as Scottish Rugby legends. Guests ended the evening by watching an Edinburgh Rugby match.

The Royal Highland Show

The preparation for this event begins around six months in advance - from securing the pitch to sourcing Galbraith branded items and ensuring all details both large and small are adhered to. Every part of this event put my training to the test and each day I woke up excited at what the day would bring.

Kirsten Mcquillan

07827 352 865

kirsten.mcquillan@galbraithgroup.com

places the utmost importance on the recruitment of the best graduates and subsequent development

Mental Health First Aid

My name is Christina, and I am the Legal and Compliance Manager for Galbraith. The role means I am responsible for supporting Galbraith with many of the regulations that affect the day to day running of the Firm. I deal with a large array of topics daily; no one day is the same which is one aspect of my role that I love.

I serve as a member of the Health and Safety Committee which oversees the Health and Safety of all employees and visitors to Galbraith. We deal with all aspects of Health and Safety, including fostering a positive mental health atmosphere. The workplace can be challenging and often isolating, particularly when hybrid working. An environment where you’re happy and appreciated can still have its tough days. Training Mental Health First Aiders in Galbraith is a solid commitment to support a positive approach to mental health in the workplace; a support network for the tougher days that we all experience.

All the Mental Health First Aiders come from different walks of life, and all areas of the firm. Each Mental Health First Aider is trained to be a point of contact for anyone within Galbraith. The volunteers are not practitioners but are here as an all-important first point of contact for anyone in the workplace who might be feeling under pressure or just under the weather.

I volunteered to be a Mental Health First Aider because I have witnessed the consequences of poor mental health support. I have also seen the enormous benefit of early-stage conversations about mental health. It is a priority for to me to work somewhere which focuses on positive mental health and fosters an encouraging working environment.

Christina White

Christina White looks at the crucial role Galbraith Mental Health First Aiders are playing throughout the Firm and beyond.

The Rural Life with Will Blair

Having grown up North of the Border, I attended Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) in Edinburgh to study Rural Business Management

During my time there, we had several talks from various firms in different sectors. One talk that stood out to me was rural surveying. It really hit home to me when hearing about the people, the variation, and types of work. I quickly realised this was something that I wanted to pursue.

I subsequently joined a medium sized firm in Berwick after leaving SRUC, where I undertook a wide variety of work, leading me to realise that there are no two days the same within this sector. I believe that constantly having to adapt to new ways of thinking in this ever-changing environment has put me in good stead for the future.

I subsequently moved further across the border to Northumberland to a larger firm, which is where I passed my APC.

In August 2022, I was fortunate to be offered a role as a Rural Surveyor with Galbraith in Northumberland. Upon joining the Firm, I was really encouraged by the friendliness of my colleagues as well as their openness and willingness to help one another. This helped the settling in period to the new environment immensely, where I primarily focussed on general rural consultancy and sales. In January 2023 Galbraith opened a new office in Morpeth where I was reacquainted with former colleagues from my previous firm.

Outside of my professional work in Galbraith, I have attended a huge mixture of events ranging from agricultural shows, farming conferences, Edinburgh Rugby matches and young professional events. This has enabled me to engage with likeminded individuals within the industry. Away from the formal duties, I have taken part in the Great Glen Challenge with Galbraith colleagues from across the country. As individuals, we undertook one of four activities including mountain biking, kayaking, walking, and running together with a support driver. We achieved an impressive 4th place out of 25 competitors from this extremely enjoyable team event. This would be

something I would recommend if you were given the opportunity to take part.

My time with Galbraith so far has been very enjoyable, with a vast variety of work and the knowledge held within the firm making it an exciting place to work.

William Blair

07584 383 864

william.blair@galbraithgroup.com

The People & Culture at Galbraith with Lucy Meldrum

I joined Galbraith in October 2022 after graduating with a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management in 2021. Before joining the Firm, I worked for Cala Homes for over a year.

Throughout my time at Galbraith, my Manager, Stef, and the wider Firm have provided great support and guidance, and everyone is always happy to answer any questions that I have.

The People and Culture team support around 200 employees and just over 30 partners, across 13 offices, which has allowed me to make a valued contribution, where we have seen a positive impact on various projects and innovative ideas. I have built key relationships across the business,

especially in supporting Managers in areas such as recruitment.

There have been various elements of the role I have enjoyed. These have included creating guides to support Managers with the numerous steps of the employee life cycle and aspects of people management. The creation of our induction guide and absence guide has been key to supporting the wider firm. I also enjoy carrying out our People & Culture induction with new starts, it is great to get to know new employees this way and assist with any questions they might have.

The roll out of the Cycle to Work scheme has been another highlight. It was great to be given the opportunity to research various scheme providers to evaluate options available to us for selecting the best fit for our employees. It is fantastic that we have had a positive response to the scheme, and it is rewarding to have played a key part and continue to support employees in taking up the benefit going forward.

Health & wellbeing was a key focus for our 2023 People Strategy. The Mental Health Awareness training we delivered for employees, collaborating with Edinburgh College, has been hugely beneficial. We also delivered Mental Health First Aid training towards the end of 2022 which I took part in and learned a lot from. I believe I am better equipped to look out for signs that someone might be suffering from mental health problems, and I have also been given the tools to help me better support anyone who might be experiencing issues. We have had similar feedback from employees who attended these sessions, and it is reassuring to know we are helping to educate people on this important subject.

The supportive environment, opportunities for contributing and learning, and being made to feel empowered to create a positive impact on the firm are just some of the many reasons why Galbraith is a fantastic employer.

Lucy Meldrum

01786 434 600

@lucy meldrum LinkedIn hr@galbraithgroup.com

...The People and Culture team support around 200 employees and just over 30 partners across 13 offices...

Lucy Meldrum

CSR The Bigger Picture

As Marketing and Communications Co-Ordinator at Galbraith I spend most of my time managing the company’s external image.

One thing that makes that a little easier is getting to promote some of the fantastic work done by our Corporate Social Responsibility committee, which I am very privileged to sit on.

I joined the CSR committee in 2023 who have custodianship of all volunteering and fundraising activity at Galbraith. Our goal is simple - to encourage our employees to get involved with initiatives close to their hearts and support them where we can.

During my time on the committee, we have sunk our teeth into some great projects, supporting employees individually as well as organising firm-wide initiatives.

At Galbraith employees are given one day of leave (or two half-days!) a year to volunteer with an organisation of their choosing. To encourage take-up on this, as well as volunteering out of office hours, the committee introduced a Volunteer of the Month scheme. Throughout the month staff can nominate worthy colleagues for the award before we sit down to decide the winner. Not only does the recipient receive a £25 Amazon voucher it also offers a spotlight on the worthy cause they have supported across the Galbraith social media channels.

The committee also processes match-funding applications from employees - contributing up to £250 per individual for fundraising efforts important to them.

2024 brought with it the opportunity to be involved in my first firm-wide fundraiser as part of the committee. Supporting Scotland Rugby legend Rob Wainwright’s fundraising efforts for the My Name5 Doddie Foundation, the Galbraith workforce challenged themselves to travel the distance between Murrayfield Stadium and Stadio Olympico virtually through stationary bikes, walks, runs and more – if you were moving, we were counting!

Looking back at my involvement in the CSR committee I have enjoyed breaking away from the traditional roles of the day job to work collaboratively with like-minded individuals. As an employer Galbraith have created a vehicle for positive influence and opportunity to look at the bigger picture. I feel incredibly grateful to be one of the few entrusted with influencing what that looks like.

Callum Kerr

07920 496 824

callum.kerr@galbraithgroup.com

...My first firm-wide fundraiser as part of the committee. Supporting Scotland Rugby legend Rob Wainwright’s fundraising efforts for the My Name5 Doddie Foundation...

Callum Kerr

Pedal Power

Galbraith launched their Cycle to Work Scheme in 2023 in partnership with the Green Commute Initiative, following feedback from the 2022 Employee Survey.

We felt this was a fantastic opportunity to support employee health and wellbeing, promoting the benefits of cycling to work at the same time as providing an affordable way for employees to purchase a new bike through salary sacrifice.

John Pullen, a Director in our Building Consultancy team based in our Inverness office, was the first employee to join the scheme and shares his experience of the process and what he sees are the most important benefits of joining a Cycle to Work Scheme.

How did you find the process of choosing your new bike through one of the Green Commute Initiative (GCI) registered bike shops?

The process was quick and very straightforward.

Once I had the quote from my selected bike shop, it was very simple to complete the GCI process. The bike details were simply entered into the GCI website, the resulting paperwork forwarded to the People & Culture Team for approval. Two simple agreements were then emailed for electronic signature. Upon completion, GCI provided a voucher which was issued to the bike shop and the bike arrived around 2 weeks later.

How was the internal process with Galbraith?

Absolutely perfect – the instructions are clear and easy to follow. Within 1 week of submitting the application the process completed.

What do you think are the most important benefits in joining the Cycle to Work scheme?

I enjoy cycling, including cycling to work, and the benefit has enabled me to cost-effectively purchase a new bike to replace a failing old one. There are numerous cycle routes available for my commute, including through our local trails, completely avoiding public roads. Sections of these trips can easily be combined with partial use of the train. It is important that all forms of active travel are promoted for those choosing (or needing) to not use their car for every visit to the office.

Positively, we are currently in the final stages of preparation for the launch of our Car Salary Sacrifice scheme which will be another fantastic offering to our employees allowing them access to a brand new EV for 2-4 years and reducing their carbon footprint at the same time as getting a new car - WIN WIN!

John Pullen

07557 163 140 john.pullen@galbraithgroup.com

has a Graduate Training Programme, second to none, which offers comprehensive on-the-job training and full support in attaining your RICS and CAAV qualifications...

... I get to drive through the Trossachs and various Lochs, passing some of the most brilliant landscapes in Scotland...

Estate Agency with Jamie Currie

Jamie Currie joined the Galbraith Agency team in September 2023, based in the Stirling office. For the latest edition of Recruitment Matters, he sat down for a Q&A about his work as an Estate Agent.

Can you tell us about your role at Galbraith?

I am an Estate Agent, based in Stirling, where I sell Residential and Rural property across the West coast of Scotland, Stirlingshire, and Lanarkshire. It is quite a wide-ranging geographic area.

What has been the career path that has taken you to where you are today?

I was preparing to leave school and I was a bit unsure about what I wanted to do. I joined a local estate agent as a Trainee Letting Agent then joined another local firm as they offered both Sales & Lettings experience. I worked my way through the ranks from Viewing Agent to now pitching for sales weekly. Now I cover a variety of work here at Galbraith and it is nice to use these experiences for my day job. There must be a vast number of benefits covering such a wide geographical area?

To start, it is beautiful. I get to drive through the Trossachs and various Lochs, passing some of the most brilliant landscapes in Scotland, on the way to an appointment. Both on a personal and a professional level it is extremely easy to sell something that you have that enjoyment driving past.

Does working for a Firm with offices across the country allow for much more crossover with colleagues in different areas?

It does! My geography borders our colleagues in Inverness, Perth, Cupar, Edinburgh and Kelso. There are always opportunities and although we have borders, they are merely a guide and we constantly work together on property, which allows for more hands-on experience with the client.

What has been the biggest difference between joining a multifaceted Firm like Galbraith compared to your previous work?

The volume of work is different. At Galbraith I can dedicate more time and attention to detail than I have had previously. The reality is each client is getting a far greater personal experience.

What have you enjoyed most about your time here so far?

The culture is fantastic. I was not sure how I would feel when walking through the door for the first time because of the size of the business and number of staff. Everybody is so easy to get on with and you do not feel any sense of a corporate environment. We have such a close-knit team, but you get the advantage of an almost global reach between the 14 offices. How do you see the role of the Estate Agent changing in the coming years?

Even since I started my career it has changed massively with the advancement in technology. However, I think it is going back to a more traditional way of working with people relying on a more “hands on” experience with the Agent. After Covid there were a lot of people setting themselves up with no prior experience. You should work with someone who has different experiences and is not relying solely on technology, whereas we like to get people through the door with a personal approach.

What advice would you say to someone looking to join Galbraith?

Go for it! The opportunities here are varied and endless. We look at a skill set rather than focusing on the job role and we can tailor you to our model, allowing you to grow as a professional with a progression path.

Jamie Currie

07899 877 739

jamie.currie@galbraithgroup.com

Crunching the numbers with Jason Fraser

I embarked on my journey with Galbraith in early 2017, initially assuming the role of a Trainee Accounts Assistant within the Stirling office. This marked a meaningful change from my previous career within the land drilling industry where I would trade boreholes for balance sheets.

Entering the Firm without any prior experience in an accounts role initially felt a bit daunting. However, any apprehensions I had quickly vanished thanks to the warm and inclusive atmosphere within the Stirling office.

As someone who was undeniably brought up more accustomed to an urban way of living, learning about rural life has been an eye opening and fascinating experience. My time at Galbraith, like many others, has proven that this Firm is inclusive and welcoming to individuals from all occupations, not just those with rural backgrounds.

Galbraith has consistently provided abundant opportunities for growth and advancement, and this trend only is on an upward trajectory. The supportive environment and encouragement from colleagues and management have played pivotal roles in shaping my personal and professional development. Over the span of seven years with the Firm, I have evolved from a Trainee Accounts Assistant to my current position as a Client Accounts Manager. In this role, I oversee a diverse portfolio of more than 70 clients, offering them a range of services. It is a role that I find immensely fulfilling, and I eagerly anticipate the new challenges that the forthcoming years will undoubtedly bring.

In conclusion, my journey with Galbraith so far has been an incredible adventure, and the Firm's commitment to its employees' growth has been invaluable. If you are considering a career change, I strongly recommend seeking out a supportive Firm that recognises and nurtures your potential as I have found at Galbraith.

Jason Fraser

jason.fraser@galbraithgroup.com

Building Consultancy

A unique perspective with James Towers

Being a member of the Building Consultancy team at Galbraith is an interesting and rewarding role.

There are few jobs out there where you survey a baronial castle in the Highlands and an office in London within the same week. We do it regularly, which makes working for Galbraith so unique.

Much of our diverse workload derives from our varied business streams, combined with several direct clients in both the private and commercial sector. Our ethos is very much a hands-on approach, priding ourselves on communication and quality. We carry out a full range of building consultancy services, from project management and contract administration to professional work such as dilapidations, building surveys and technical due diligence. This varying workload and direct approach provide a wide scope of experience, which in turn assists with learning across all aspects of our building surveying profession. Galbraith is a fantastic place to study when working towards becoming a chartered surveyor, showing this time and again with excellent APC pass rates. We also offer excellent career progression post APC, evidenced by our constant growth over the last 15 years.

Our team is very approachable, with a structure focused on the support of graduates from “the ground up.” Our Building Consultancy team is predominantly based in our Edinburgh office, with a presence in the Stirling and Inverness offices too. If you would be interested in a role with us as a part or post qualified surveyor, then please feel free to give me a call to discuss opportunities.

James Towers

07795 027 807

james.towers@galbraithgroup.com

Galbraith is a fantastic place to study when working towards becoming a Chartered Surveyor...

James Towers

Experts in their Field

Galbraith have a plethora of talented people across multiple industry-specific disciplines but for some that expertise also extends into the sporting sphere.

Many relax out of hours with hobbies and sport as a means to re-charge but some have found excellence equivalent to their professional careers. In this edition of Rural Matters, we have taken time to pick the minds of those who walk the tightrope of both professional and sporting success.

For a graduate the journey to pass your APC (Assessment of Professional Competence) and become a RICS accredited surveyor may feel like scaling a mountain - but for Iain Paterson that just sounds like a weekend well spent. Iain works in our Perth office and when not supporting the Residential Sales team he competes in endurance horse riding – long distance racing across tracks varying between 80 to 160 kilometres. This passion was engrained from the age of ten by his mother who was keen to keep him interested in horses. He juggles daily training alongside the day job, as well as travelling the globe competing.

Iain’s talent has seen him represent the Scotland national team seven times and also win the toughest endurance race in the country – 100 miles in one day over the Cairngorm Mountains. Still not satisfied, he has his sights set on becoming Scottish Champion, as well as ensuring his young horse qualifies for British team selection.

The term ‘land agent’ is one that bounces around the industry but for Anna Fisher she’s equally adept on water. The talented rower competes for St Andrew Boat club and has also represented Scotland. Anna works fulltime in our Stirling office as part of the rural team whilst fitting in between six to nine training sessions per week depending on schedule and programme. She finds being organised with meals and nutrition in advance - and scheduling longer training sessions in

the evening after work - allows her to manage the workload effectively.

Anna’s highlight to date is being selected for the Scotland team for the home International Regatta and winning gold in the eight. Attention now turns to qualifying for the 2024 Henley Royal Regatta.

It takes a degree of mental fitness to juggle the workflow of a Rural Surveyor but it’s Rachel Urquhart’s physical fitness which has brought sporting success. Rachel, who works in our Highland hub in Inverness, started CrossFit as a hobby after moving back home following university. After getting a taste for it she began competing and success in Britain’s Fittest Farmer Qualifiers at the 2023 Royal Highland Show led to second place in the Finals in September 2023.

They do say there’s nothing like some friendly office competition and Rachel is also looking forward to participating in the Baxters 10k in Inverness soon, alongside nine of her colleagues. To maintain competitive pace Rachel manages four to five CrossFit sessions a week around her working schedule, alongside hill walking and rolling wool at the weekends.

These three individuals personify the sporting balance many of the Firm’s workforce find weekly. Although it may appear that high performance alongside full-time employment could be a hindrance, it’s their unwavering commitment and dedication to their craft that allows them to excel on both fronts. We salute you!

Callum Kerr

07920 496 824

callum.kerr@galbraithgroup.com

...We have a superb graduate community

Getting the balance right

At Galbraith, we embrace various forms of flexible working, encouraging employees to strive for a positive work life balance. We understand that different stages of life pose different challenges and flexibility can play a huge part in this. We have a number of employees on flexible working arrangements across our offices.

Sam Clyne, a Senior Negotiator in our Inverness Agency Team, returned from maternity leave in 2023 and shares her experience of our flexible working approach.

Tell us a little bit about your experience of going on maternity leave with Galbraith?

The experience really overall was very good; despite having my baby a month early and her actually arriving on what should have been my last day of work! Galbraith made the process very simple, straight forward and stress free! Being a first time mum, the process was completely new to me however all the information I required was readily available.

What has flexible working meant for you?

Flexible working being available upon returning from maternity leave has been fantastic! At a time when you require it perhaps the most, this has been extremely helpful in allowing me to balance work and family life.

How did you find the process for applying for Flexible Working?

The process was very simple; completing a request form to detail in writing your request which is then sent to the People & Culture team to be considered and discussed with your line manager and a subsequent meeting set up for all to discuss. This open discussion allowed all parties to chat through any possible concerns and agree a fair way forward for all.

What support was given when you returned to work?

I received a good level of support, both from the People & Culture Team and from my immediate team. I returned to work in a new office as we had moved locations whilst I had been on leave, and although that took some adjustment, I felt hugely supported by all of my colleagues and I soon felt like I had never been away!

How are things going in your role?

All going really well, the smooth transition back to work has meant that it has been easy to continue and progress with the role as before.

We were delighted to be able to support Sam back to work on a part-time basis, to allow her to return to work, doing a job she enjoys at the same time as balancing family life!

Samantha

samantha.clyne@galbraithgroup.com

It’s a big organisation, full of lots of different roles - but we all have the same goals...

All roads lead to home

In his own words, Rod Christie discusses his near 20 years with Galbraith, which has seen him travel the length and breadth of the country before coming home to lead the team in a modern office expansion.

I joined our Ayr office in 2003 as a fresh faced (I say that with a degree of artistic license) newly qualified surveyor (that at least is a fact). I was quickly involved in a wide range of work including sales and valuations, wayleave negotiations for the huge number of turbines being built in the region at that time, property renovations and general estate management.

As I gather is common, the broad range of work I was involved with narrowed as I began to get more experienced and accomplished on the valuation and estate agency side of the business. Whilst I had never thought about doing estate agency as a profession before I joined the Firm, this was an element of the business I enjoyed the most. I found it very satisfying winning new jobs but not as much as doing the work and securing the best sale possible. I liked the fast pace of the work, meeting new people and at that

time, the market was beginning to really take off. I must have done something right as in 2005, I was asked to relocate to our newly established office in Glasgow with the remit of extending our estate agency and valuation reach onto the west coast. Newly promoted to Associate, I was excited to do this with the idea of growing a new arm to the business, which was proving challenging but ultimately rewarding.

As has been well documented, the credit crunch and property market crash in 2008 was a testing time to say the least. Within a blink of an eye, the cash-ready buyers we had become used to were gone and in their place were far fewer and much more nervous buyers. It seemed odd to some at the time, but this is when we looked to expand our reach once again, this time to the north-east with my home town of Elgin in Moray to be a steppingstone into what was a relatively untapped

market for the firm in Moray, Speyside, and Aberdeenshire. Promoted to Senior Associate and operating from the premises which formerly had been the shop I used to buy my school shoes from, I set up the new office, again with expansion and growing the business in mind. It was a tough time for the estate agency industry right across the country and it took a few years to really get the Firm established in the area. There is no ‘magic’ to what we do and often it was simply a case of working hard, trying to winkle out and exploit any work opportunity that came our way and taking the advice and benefitting from the experience of fellow colleagues in the Firm. I was promoted to Partner in 2013 and over the next decade or so, we worked hard to become the established name in high quality rural sales across much of the northeast. Post-covid, with our Inverness and Elgin office leases ending in 2023, the advent of hybrid working

A view from the Forest with Alex Flinn

If you are keen on working towards creating a sustainable environment, forestry is a great way of getting involved in tackling some of the elements of climate change, with the benefit of creating sustainable building materials whilst removing CO2 from the atmosphere.

Forestry is also an important way of aiding natural restoration through native woodland creation or natural regeneration projects, connecting fragmented habitats through woodland corridors and restoring the landscape to its former glory.

If you enjoy being outside in all elements, managing projects to create a more diverse landscape whilst creating habitats for wildlife and producing sustainable UK forest products, then think about the forestry industry. Part of our role here at Galbraith within the Forestry team involves advising clients of ways we can aid the diversification of their assets; from creating management plans, large scale native woodland creations, restructuring of woodlands and restoration projects looking at long term income from carbon sequestration. The emphasis has moved

away from traditional estate management techniques towards more intrinsic forestry and environmental values, for example restructuring woodlands away from plantation planting and towards a more sustainable woodland that can work with the local environment whilst creating a sustainable timber resource for local needs.

Alex Flinn

07584 383 448 alex.flinn@galbraithgroup.com

The Modern Apprenticeship with Kelise Paterson

I joined Galbraith in November 2022 as a Modern Apprentice after leaving school earlier in the year.

My role is a Trainee Accounts Assistant and my coursework was a Business Administration Apprenticeship. I have enjoyed my time with Galbraith so far, I am constantly learning new things and there is always a supportive and welcoming environment within the office. My role is working on our Rural client accounts, and this consists of day-to-day managing the accounts, processing invoices & payments. There is still much more to learn, however I am gaining crucial experience. Combining my training on the Business Admin Apprenticeship and my work at Galbraith helped me learn and gain more knowledge to put into my role.

and improved technology, it was the perfect time to merge two of our most energy inefficient offices into one larger, modern new office in Inverness. We still cover a huge geographical area but balance it now with time working from home, in the office and most importantly out and about meeting new clients.

On reflection of my career to date with Galbraith, I would say that my progression with the Firm has come from a mix of luck, hard work and being prepared to take new opportunities when they came along. My advice to anyone starting with the Firm is to be prepared to adapt, keep learning but most importantly to have as much fun as possible along the way.

Rod Christie

01343 546 362

rod.christie@galbraithgroup.com

In my short career so far, I have been able to complete my Apprenticeship quicker than expected, due to the support within my team and the wide variety of tasks offered in my role. Galbraith have always supported me for new opportunities of progression within my role, so after completing my Business Admin course I have now decided to go on and do another apprenticeship, the AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) This will provide yet more crucial experiences and will help with future development as I take on more challenging tasks and responsibilities.

Kelise Paterson kelise.paterson@galbraithgroup.com

Aberdeen 01224 860 710

aberdeen@galbraithgroup.com

Ayr 01292 268 181 ayr@galbraithgroup.com

Blagdon 01670 789 621 blagdon@galbraithgroup.com

Castle Douglas 01556 505 346 castledouglas@galbraithgroup.com

Cupar 01334 659 980 cupar@galbraithgroup.com

Edinburgh 0131 240 6960

edinburgh@galbraithgroup.com

Hexham 01434 693 693 hexham@galbraithgroup.com

Inverness 01463 224 343 inverness@galbraithgroup.com

Kelso

01573 224 244 kelso@galbraithgroup.com

Morpeth 01670 331 500 morpeth@galbraithgroup.com

Penrith 01768 800 830 penrith@galbraithgroup.com

Perth 01738 451 111 perth@galbraithgroup.com

Stirling 01786 434 600 stirling@galbraithgroup.com

Expertise

Galbraith operates from 13 offices across Scotland and Northern England, bringing our clients a wealth of experience in:

• Building consultancy

• Commercial forestry & woodland management

• Commercial property sales & management

• Estate, farm & forestry sales & acquisitions

• Estates, farming & land management

• Natural capital & carbon

• Property lettings

• Renewables and utilities

• Residential estate agency