Bradley Hall Chartered Surveyors and Estate Agents – Angus Todd, director
Leading Northern chartered surveyors and estate agents, Bradley Hall, is celebrating further business expansion with the strategic promotion of Angus Todd as director to bolster further growth throughout Northumberland.
Originally from the Northumberland coast, Angus, who joined the property firm in 2019, has been promoted to director of Bradley Hall Alnwick. With over ten years of experience working both in house for some of the largest landlords in the region, and with significant property agents, this is a natural progressive step for Angus.
Angus specialises in commercial and residential property valuation, commercial and residential property sales, and the marketing and sale of new home and land developments.
Angus Todd, director of Bradley Hall Alnwick said: “I am delighted to have been made a director at Bradley Hall Chartered Surveyors and Estate Agents and feel it is a real privilege to be leading the Alnwick operation.
Angus said, “I studied Real Estate at Reading University, however, I always planned to return to the North East to embark on my career. Since returning, I have found the business community in the North East to be extremely supportive, particularly within the team at Bradley Hall.
“It is hugely important to us as a firm that we continue to nurture the property professionals of the future and I hope to continue to support those coming into the industry with professional roles, student placements and graduate roles from the Alnwick office.
Angus continued: “2021 was an excellent year for Bradley Hall and the residential property market, particularly across the North East which has thrived due to the beauty of the area attracting those looking to relocate from cities across the country. We’ve seen huge demand for costal properties and have seen great success particularly in Seahouses, Beadnell and Seahouses. We have seen a sustained level of enquires, confirming the demand for homes across Northumberland as well as stability in the market.
“2022 brings more exciting developments and property to the market. We have a variety of new home sites in Acklington, Beadnell and Christon Bank already on the market, as well as further small scale new build and barn conversion sites along the coast launching in the coming months. Land sales agreements will transpire into further developments, and we look forward to working with new and existing developers, large scale and bespoke, throughout 2022 and beyond.”
Neil Hart, group managing director of Bradley Hall Chartered Surveyors and Estate Agents said: “The promotion of Angus supports the firm’s strategy to strengthen operations and grow its client base across the Northumberland region. I am confident that with Angus leading the Alnwick branch a great deal of growth, that has already begun to accumulate in the area, will strengthen and continue in the future. Whether specialising in residential or commercial agency, Bradley Hall supports a range of clients working collaboratively with local and national organisations to support the regeneration and levelling up the region”.
Bradley Hall operates across the North East and North West, with offices in Alnwick, Durham, Gosforth, Manchester, Morpeth, Newcastle, Sunderland, Leeds, and Tees Valley. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, Bradley Hall offer full-service property consultancy to the North East and North West, with a strong and professional reputation, establishing themselves as one of the region’s most trusted agencies for all commercial and residential property matters.
GB Bank – David Young, chief operating officer
GB Bank, the New “Champion of the North” has welcomed a new member to the executive team. David Young joins as Chief Operating Officer (COO) to support the bank’s strategy to provide lending to underserved regions of the UK.
David will lead the bank’s operational function ensuring GB Bank’s customer proposition is underpinned by the right people, processes, data and technology.
Prior to joining GB Bank, David worked as COO at BFC Bank, where he navigated the organisation through the challenges of Covid-19. David’s experience in banking has also been gained from nine years at Metro Bank where he helped to scale the UK’s first new high street bank in over 100 years, and a number of senior roles at HBOS and Lloyds.
GB Bank recently announced it had secured its provisional banking licence making it the UK’s newest challenger bank. Positioned as the “go to bank” for property developers in the North, GB Bank will address the shortage of funding required to get Britain building again.
It will be a dedicated lender to SME property developers, focusing initially on the North East, Yorkshire and the North West, and will support the levelling up agenda.
Stephen Lancaster, Interim CEO at GB Bank, said: “David joins GB Bank at a pivotal moment as we build on the success of securing our banking licence and becoming the ‘go to bank’ for property developers. His strong track record of success in the customer and employee experience realm is impressive.”
David Young, COO at GB Bank, added: “I am delighted to be joining GB Bank at such an exciting time. GB Bank’s ambition to bring much needed financial support to property developers in underserved regions and make a positive and lasting change in the communities it serves were key factors in my decision to join the team.”
BHP Law – Jemma Ebdon, partner
One of the North East’s longest-established law firms has strengthened its team by appointing a new partner from within its own ranks.
Jemma Ebdon becomes the 11th partner at BHP Law, which has offices in Darlington, Durham, Newcastle, Teesside, and Tynemouth.
Managing Partner John Pratt said: “Jemma has progressed with the company since she joined us 12 years ago, and we are delighted to have made her a partner. It demonstrates our commitment to growing our own talent.”
Jemma’s appointment means every service within BHP Law is now represented at partner level.
She said: “I’m extremely proud to have been made a partner at such a well-established company with traditional core values. It’s a business that believes in investing in its staff, and I couldn’t have done it without the support I’ve received.”
Jemma, who grew up in Newton Aycliffe, started her career in the legal sector when she took a Saturday job with another law firm when she was 16. She progressed to become office junior before moving to another company as a secretary.
She joined BHP Law in 2010 as personal assistant to Senior Partner, Peter Blackett, and took an opportunity to join the conveyancing team as a secretary two years later.
Jemma then committed to a five-year training programme to become a licensed conveyancer, studying in her own time, while BHP Law funded the course.
That led to her becoming licensed under the Council of Licensed Conveyancers, making her a fully-fledged property lawyer, and rising to become team leader of the 18-strong conveyancing department.
Jemma has also had to juggle her impressive professional development with being a mum to Odin, three, and one-year-old Molly.
“When I finished college, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do, but I’ve always been ambitious and driven, and I found my niche in law.
“I love the fast pace and, when you work in conveyancing, it’s about helping to make dreams come true. It’s a lovely feeling to be able to make the call to people to tell them they can pick up the keys to their new home.
“We’re extremely busy at the moment. We thought it would ease off after the stamp duty holiday, but the market has remained buoyant.
“I’m lucky to have such a brilliant team that feels like being part of a family, and I just want to go on building on their strengths to provide a first-class service.”
The company is continuing its strategy of investing in staff, with two members of Jemma’s team also now being supported through training to become licensed conveyancers.
The company’s roots date back to the early 1800s, with Blackett Hart and Pratt being created out of a merger in 1993, before the business was rebranded as BHP Law in 2008.
