Another major industry award as property agency celebrates 15 years in business

Prop-Search has clinched another major industry award, reinforcing its position as the pre-eminent commercial property agent across Northamptonshire and the Midlands in the year it celebrates 15 years of trading.

The national property publication, Estates Gazette has named PropSearch ‘The Most Active Agency’ in Northamptonshire following an impressive year of commercial deals.

The deals competition is an independent survey based on Radius Data Exchange, which provides a detailed breakdown of full-year transaction volumes on both national and regional levels, and across various property types: industrial, office, retail and leisure sectors, and investment markets.

Simon Toseland, a director of Prop-Search, says: “Since 2008 we have won more awards for commercial property transactions in Northamptonshire than any other UK agent. Indeed, we have won awards in ten out of the 15 years we have been trading - the first coming just three years from forming the business in 2011.

“This is a fantastic achievement especially when you consider our competition.”

In 2022 Prop-Search completed ten times more transactions than industry giants such as JLL and LSH. “With our 90 reported deals eclipsing the competition, says Mr Toseland. “This is a true reflection of our detailed knowledge of the Northamptonshire market and its businesses. We pride ourselves on our interaction with the regional occupier market, as well as working closely with investors and landlords.”

In every sector of the commercial property industry, Prop-Search offers unrivalled market knowledge and experience across Northamptonshire and the Midlands. This enables the company to evaluate and advise on value trends, take-up, supply and demand, not only providing essential information in helping businesses and landlords in rent reviews, leasing and purchasing but also assisting developers in understanding the viability of development.

As well as working on more than one million sq ft of rent review and lease renewal work, the PropSearch team is currently advising on the UK’s largest Combined Renewable Energy Park, based in North Northamptonshire and generating close to 200GWh from wind and solar.

The project boasts an associated Innovation & Science Park, with a direct wire power feed from the Energy Park at a pivotal time as the cost and supply of energy continues to have a signnficant impact on businesses and the role of sustainable renewable energy generation fast becomes a priority.

Prop-Search was also ranked in fifth place in both the industrial and retail markets in the East Midlands, with associate director Samantha Jones securing a mention as being ranked as the sixth Most Active Agent in the East Midlands. She is the only Northamptonshire surveyor to appear in the top ten listing. n Find out more at www.propsearch.com

Bill aims to end EU legacy and employers must adapt

More than 90 per cent of HR professionals do not fully understand the implications of forthcoming changes to UK employment law.

The changes, being proposed by the government around the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill, are daunting and confusing for many, new data reveals.

The Bill aims to introduce legislation to replace the 2018 European Union (Withdrawal) Act - part of the UK leaving the European Union with agreement to allow the UK to retain most EU legislation in its domestic legislation even after Brexit.

The Bill, introduced in September last year and if passed, will mean that most retained EU laws will no longer be in force. Every clause within it will require agreement, change or deletion.

The latest SME Business Survey by Northamptonshire HR consultancy HR Solutions finds that 44pc of participants admit that they need further support on employment law. A recent study by HR

Solutions’ parent company Worknest found that 93pc of HR professionals admit to not fully understanding the EU Reform Bill’s implications.

HR Solutions, based in Kettering, uses its annual SME Business Survey results to inform the support the firm offers clients and the wider business community. The business hosted a recent employment law seminar to address some of the concerns and provide advice and will focus specifically on the EU Law (Reform and Revocation) Bill and its implications for employers at a webinar on May 11.

“We highly recommend that if you are unsure about anything surrounding employment legislation, you should prioritise seeking expert advice and