Short-term decision making has dominated economic, environmental and social governance in recent years. Economic decisions in particular have appeared to be made without proper long-term foresight. In this episode of Fisher German talks, we highlight the importance of thinking long-term when you’re planning a sustainable business. Here’s how to plan effectively for the future.Andrew Bridge, Managing Partner at Fisher German, is joined by Sarah Walker-Smith and John O’Brien. Sarah is CEO of Ampa, Chief Executive of Shakespeare Martineau, Chair at the Eden Project Morecambe, Past Governor at NTU and advisory board member at Anthropy. John is the Founder and Chairman of Anthropy, and the Former EMEA Managing Partner of Omnicom’s 100 Agency Group and a veteran of the British Army. He has over 40 years of multi-sector leadership experience and has run organisations in over 20 countries, and is a best selling business author with a WH Smith no3 & Forbes Top 125 Leader’s Read.Together they discuss the importance of a purpose-driven business model (one that goes beyond short-term profits), connecting personal purpose with business (Sarah discusses the ways in which she uses workshops and initiatives to inspire innovation), and the evolution of corporate responsibility to ESG governance (the focus should be on embedding ethical practices into a companies DNA, John explains).

In the four years since the COVID pandemic, we've seen huge changes in demand for office space, as well as a shift in expectations from employees. Companies are having to adapt to rapid evolution in how they plan, manage and utilise offices.  What does the future hold? What can owners and occupiers expect to see in the coming years? To answer this, Charles Warrack, Partner at Fisher German, is joined by Marcus Baumber and Richard Suart. Marcus is a Commercial Surveyor within the Manchester Office. Richard Suart is Property Director at Calthorpe Estates, leading the company’s asset management team.  Together they explore the trends in the Manchester and Birmingham office markets, and the difference in attitudes to the office across generations. Office demand post-Covid has declined, bringing with it a host of challenges and opportunities. How do owners improve secondary spaces? What sustainability and environmental schemes exist? And how do landlords attract occupiers in changing times?

As part of the Environmental Act of 2021, regions in the UK must adhere to the Local Nature Recovery Strategy, a plan for environmental conservation. Divided into 48 geographical sections, each LNRS will be tailored to its specific area and contain a local habitat map and a written statement of biodiversity priorities. What does this mean for landowners and what are the plans for the next ten years?  To answer this, Vicky Povey, Agribusiness Consultant at Fisher German, is joined by Tristan Baxter-Smith, Land Advisor at Nene Rivers Trust. Nene Rivers Trust promotes green infrastructure and supports the protection of the environment from climate change.  The LNRS has wide-reaching impact on farmers and landowners. Getting involved has numerous benefits, as Tristan explains. How will the role of farmers evolve across the next decade? Listen to find out.

Many of the buildings in the UK are classified legally as ‘listed’ – which means they’re legally protected due to their historic or architectural significance. Managing, preserving and improving these listed buildings requires adherence to strict regulations surrounding something called LBC (Listed Building Consent). Thomas Blake, Partner at Fisher German, is joined by Scott O’Dell, Associate Partner at Fisher German and guest Hannah Hamilton-Rutter, Heritage Director at Marrons, to explore the unique set of challenges and complexities that listed buildings can present for owners, sellers and developers. Hannah and Scott discuss the importance of talking with local authorities before applying for planning permission to handle challenges better and build good relationships with conservation officers.  How do government policies and economic factors affect listed buildings? Where should property owners go to get the best advice? What’s the best use of a heritage property to ensure its long-term maintenance and preservation? Listen to find out.

The warehouse market, often referred to as the ‘shed market’, is well-known for being fairly traditional. Historically, leases operate on a minimum 5-year basis, but could all that be about to change? Is flexibility coming to the shed market? There’s a lot of talk at the moment around mixed-use developments that combine logistics and residential spaces; the combination can transform local communities.  To discuss the future of the shed market, host Rob Champion, Partner at Fisher German, is joined by Mike Price and James Hemstock. Mike is Head of Commercial Transactional at Fisher German, while James, heads up Capital Deployment and Leasing at Prologis UK, the leading developer and owner of industrial, warehouse, distribution and logistics property in the UK. Together they explore the shift towards flexibility in the shed market, the impact of ESG and quality demands on warehouse spaces, and the trends in the market that are driving evolution.  Existing and potential occupiers are demanding agility and flexibility. How can the industry meet the demand? Listen to find out.

We last discussed Diversification on this podcast in November 2022, where we looked at the opportunities for landowners to add additional revenue streams to rural property. Inflation was then, and still is, creating a huge amount of risk for rural businesses. Diversification is a way to offset that risk.So, in this episode, host Ellie Savage sits down with Emily and Sophy, creators of Watersedge, a wellness hub near Bishampton, Worcs, to understand how their rural business is thriving. Their story involves the transformation of a family-owned lake into a community-focused wellness centre, with swimming, yoga, paddle boarding and fitness. Listen to find out how they overcame obstacles with planning permission, managing increased visitor numbers and ensuring safety and insurance compliance. Their diversification journey, guided by Ellie and the team at Fisher German, is a blueprint for managing risk and opening up new revenue streams.For more information head to fishergerman.co.uk/insights

Matthew Allen and Richard Gadd are joined by Adam Saunby, Senior Associate at Forsters LLP, to analyse the rural property market.Economic uncertainties and inflation pressures are causing a cautious start to the year, but there’s been a variable supply in rural properties across different regions. Some have seen noticeable increases. Adam highlights the importance of thorough preparation before properties are marketed. Listen to the episode to hear the latest trends in rural property, an expert’s voice on conveyancing, practical tips on legal preparations for sales, strategic decision making and how to address common challenges.Find out more at fishergerman.co.uk/insights00:00:50: Analysing the market00:03:14: Discussing buyer profile and price predictions00:04:21: The country house market00:06:12: Upcoming stock of new instructions00:06:33: Discussing the conveyancing process for property sales00:07:06: Pre-sale preparation00:09:02: Addressing planning issues00:10:08: Importance of site visits00:11:43: The conveyancing process explained00:14:16: The importance of replies to inquiries00:15:09: Preparing a data room and gathering information00:16:24: Drafting the contract and final steps00:18:23: Explanation of holdover for crops, farmhouse, and farm machinery auction.00:18:57: Discussion on overage and its complexities.00:20:28: Going through the selling process - inquiries, responding, tying up loose ends.00:21:15: Explanation of exchange and completion terms in the selling process.00:22:30: Discussing key challenges in the process.00:23:09: Post-completion works and undertakings.00:23:51: Key takeaways from the discussion on the sales process.00:24:27: Importance of taking accountancy advice early.

Featuring Philip Nell, Director of Property & Investment at Birmingham City Council, and Dav Bansal from Howells architects, the third and final episode in the series explores the ambitious "Big City Plan" for Birmingham's future.  With Stuart Flint back in the host’s chair, they discuss the plan's objectives, focusing on sustainable development, innovative architecture, and balancing economic growth with social values. Key questions address the integration of sustainability into city planning; what is the architectural vision shaping Birmingham's future, and the strategies for creating a liveable, innovative city?

In this episode, we look at Birmingham as a city in 2023. What’s happening right now, that’s shaping it as a cultural and business hub? Who are the influential people driving the evolution of the city? Stuart Flint, member of Fisher German’s membership team and head of the National Country Agency Team, is joined by Nicola Fleet-Milne, Chair of the Colmore Business District, and Alex Claridge, Birmingham's Night-time Economy Advisor, to discuss the city's current status as a cultural and commercial epicentre.  They explore the role of the Colmore Business District in shaping Birmingham's modern identity, the resilience of the city through various recent challenges, and the thriving nightlife contributing to its appeal. The conversation focuses on how Birmingham is adapting to the 21st century, the impact of global events like COVID-19 and Brexit, and the city's approach to maintaining its vibrancy and appeal in challenging times.

Fisher German has landed in the centre of Birmingham. To celebrate, we’re shining a spotlight on the people who have shaped this city’s past, present and future. In the first of three special podcast episodes, Nicola Turner MBE, CEO of United by 2022 Legacy Charity, and Ian Metcalfe OBE, a pivotal figure in the 2022 Commonwealth Games bid, join Stuart Flint to explore Birmingham's evolution from an industrial past.  They delve into how Birmingham navigated through economic struggles to a vibrant, cultural hub. They examine the city's strategies for reinventing itself, the transformative impact of the Commonwealth Games, and the evolution of Birmingham's unique identity. How have these changes redefined the city's place on the global stage? Join us to learn more about the inspiring transformation of the city.

The UK has net zero targets fast approaching. The government is investing tens of billions of pounds over the next decade in infrastructure, but there will be knock-on impacts to country-wide networks. Some are gearing up to mitigate the risks with new infrastructure - reservoirs, pipelines for water, hydrogen or new electricity upgrades.  Every Utility and Infrastructure operator will start to see the impact on their networks of schemes, management, and the need to maintain resilience. This high-pressure competition for resources and time means more interactions, and increases the risk of asset strikes.  This puts awareness, management and maintenance as a priority for every operator. Rachel Bridge, Partner at Fisher German, returns to the host chair on the podcast to discuss the exponential growth in infrastructure in the UK, and the essential work management and maintenance teams do to manage what is known in the industry as the 4th emergency service. Joining her are Geoff Glover, Pipelines Manager at Sabic, and Murray Peat, Manager of Linewatch. They both highlight the need for awareness of the hazards of high-pressure pipelines, and how safety is always the top priority. Why is the sector called the 4th emergency service? How does the race to net zero contribute to the challenges of operating vast infrastructure projects? And how can we ensure all new projects are as safe as they can be? For more information visit fishergerman.co.uk.

Recent government policies, such as the development of local nature recovery strategies and the introduction of biodiversity net gain, have put sustainability high on the priority list in the agricultural sector. Meanwhile, with a reduction in government subsidies, increasing pressure financially, and stretched supply chains, landowners and farmers are looking at new ways to improve their profit margins. It’s a two-handed approach; juggling sustainable practices with cost-efficiencies. From business efficiency measures to diversification, sustainable farming techniques are changing. As the industry moves towards a net-zero emission goal, the integration of sustainable principles in residential and rural property development is becoming the new norm. Joining host David Kinnersley, Partner and Head of Agribusiness at Fisher German, on this episode is Anna Woodley from Trinity Agtech. Anna is Managing Director of Business Development at Trinity, and she explains how their industry-leading software Sandy is helping to boost profitability and sustainability in agriculture. Farmers are utilising Sandy’s advanced software to make better decisions around the use of natural capital - the natural assets underpinning the ecosystem like soil, air, water, or animals. These technologies enable farmers to model scenarios, analyse impacts, and optimise their farming operations, making profitable and sustainable decisions easier to achieve. Together they explore the role of natural capital in bolstering business resilience and diversifying income generation. Understanding, measuring, and efficiently managing natural capital presents a real business opportunity for farmers and landowners. Embracing these practices doesn't simply fulfil environmental or policy obligations. Instead, it paves the way for more profitable and resilient farming systems, while delivering positive environmental impacts at the same time.

Despite economic headwinds, demand for industrial space continues up and down the country. In a post-Covid world, the industrial and logistics property market has seen year-on-year growth, contributing to the jobs market and economy as a whole: it provides the infrastructure and space that support businesses, who in turn drive economic growth and foster innovation. Rob Champion, Partner at Fisher German, sits down with Jason Rockett, Managing Director of Potter Space – an owner of industrial spaces and business parks – to explore this world and dive into the most active sector of the commercial property market of recent times. The rise in demand for medium sized spaces (sub-100,000 square foot) is ongoing despite the recent economic turbulence; they represent 95% of the whole I&L property market in England, and account for 56% of the sector’s entire floorspace. Jason explains why this is, and examines other trends in the market such as the impact of interest rate rises on the business. With an extensive and varied career (including a stint as a professional footballer), Jason is well-placed to join Rob in explaining the importance of this sector of the property market.

Interest rates are at their highest level for over 15 years, due largely to high inflation which recently has come down slower than anticipated. This has contributed to record low commercial property investment transaction volumes in Q4 2022 and reduced activity so far this year.  Looking ahead, where are transactions continuing to take place? Which sectors remain liquid? Where has pricing strengthened, and most importantly, what are some of the key fundamentals that will continue to drive commercial real estate investment looking forwards? Commercial real estate investment is in part influenced by debt markets. Host, Oliver Deme, Senior Surveyor in the Investment Team at Fisher German, sat down with Greg Manson, Director of OakNorth Bank and specialist in real estate debt finance, to film and record an instalment of the third series of 'Fisher German LLP Talks', delving into the above, and much more.  Together Ollie and Greg give us insights into the real estate market and explore the challenges and opportunities for commercial investment in the months and years to come.

The latest government data shows that England has close to 250,000 ‘long-term empty’ homes. It's an opportunity that's certainly caught the attention of entrepreneurs and aspiring developers, who have the time and dedication, to invest in restoring and renovating such properties.On today’s podcast Ellie Lockwood, Senior Associate at Fisher German, is joined by Lucy and Dan Nash, self-proclaimed “property obsessed” developers who spearheaded the award-winning Victoria Road Restoration. Victoria Road is a massive renovation project in which a dilapidated Victorian-era house originally valued at £415,000, has now doubled its original value.Lucy and Dan share their story, and give key insights into the renovation process and their experience within interior design. Alongside the Fisher German New Homes team, they explore the opportunities that lie within property renovation.For more information visit www.fishergerman.co.uk/services/agency/new-homes

Modern life revolves around minerals. We need them to to make vehicles, mobile phones, batteries, wind turbines, medical devices – the list goes on. Without the resource to power and build this technology, industries would grind to a halt. As our tech keeps advancing, so does our reliance on the mineral industry. Because of this the growth and maintenance of the industry is more essential than ever before. One of the biggest reasons for market growth and acceleration of demand is the energy transition. By 2040 the world is expected to need four times as many critical minerals for clean energy technology as it does today. Should we be worried about future mineral supply? How can we mine sustainably? Today, Fisher German talks minerals. Tom Giddings, Associate Partner, and Ben Minns, Chartered Surveyor, are joined by Kirsten Cunningham, Estates Manager at Aggregate Industries, a leading building materials supplier. What is the current state of the minerals industry in the UK today? How vulnerable is the market to geopolitical events? And what role will decarbonisation have on the industry?

The property sector is evolving faster than ever. Fresh growth cycles, new software, innovative technology and, most recently, the post-pandemic shift to working from home and rural residences living have given birth to the rise of the increasingly popular online property auction. Online auctions are a relatively new concept, but they offer a transparent, safe and fast way of selling a property. We’re delighted to kick off our 3rd series of the podcast with an in-depth look at this emerging sector. Tom Dennes is Associate Partner and Head of Auctions at Fisher German. He’s joined by Robin Rathore, Founder and CEO of Bamboo Auctions – one of the leading online auction marketplaces.Robin explains how he identified a market need for quick, reliable property sales and developed his platform to solve the problem. What are the benefits of an online auction compared to a traditional one? Are online auctions just for vacant or abandoned properties? What does the future of auctions look like? Join us as Fisher German Talks online auctions.

The COVID pandemic fundamentally changed the face of the modern workplace. For the first time in our lifetime offices were forced to close, and many companies had to act swiftly to adopt alternative working methods if they wanted to stay productive. With most workers trapped at home, working from kitchen tables and living room sofas, the strengths of a workplace were thrown into sharp relief. The sense of community, collaborative working and creativity were all but put on hold. On the other hand, the pandemic highlighted many of the shortcomings and the outdated attitudes surrounding our typical way of working. Increased flexibility and work/life balance were a huge attraction to new talent. Since that time, many industries have adjusted to a more modern way of working, and in this episode of Fisher German Talks, we’re focused on just that!. Today we’ll be taking a deep look into the face of the modern workplace, the role of ‘the office’, how hybrid working is becoming the new expected norm and what this means going forward.On the podcast today, and our final episode for series 2, David Laws, a partner at Matthews & Goodman, is joined by Atul Bansal – founder of The Sheila Bird Studio. Sheila Bird aims to help businesses relocate and re-brand their image.

As we near the end of the year we’re also nearing the end of the series: the second series of Fisher German Talks. Across the last 5 episodes we’ve explored so many areas of the business, from communications to rural diversification to planning. In this episode we look back on some of the best bits from the series, featuring: Richard Gadd from the National Country Agency Team, discussing the rural property marketRachel Bridge looking at HyNet’s hydrogen pipeline with Helen Boyle of CadentChris May, solicitor at Percival Howes, examining the housing crisis and planning with James BeverleyRuth Ofield, talking about life as a grad in the industry and sharing some tips for forging a career with Jack Dutton and Olivia YatesJames Thompson looking at rural diversification with Anna Collins and Joanne Lampkowski Expect analysis and discussion about the biggest talking points of the year across the industry.Thank you for listening to the podcast across our first 2 series, we hope you’ve enjoyed the insights.

For farmers, diversifying their income by moving away from traditional farming helps to reduce business risk and maximise returns. Land or roof space can be used for renewable energy generation, while old sheds can be used for residential or commercial space.Inflation is creating a huge amount of risk for farming, and rural businesses. Diversification is a way to offset that risk. Traditionally, one of the key barriers to entry into new enterprises is accessibility to funds.On the podcast today: James Thompson, Surveyor at Fisher German, hosts a discussion with Anna Collins, Partner at Fisher German, and Joanne Lampkowski, Regional Agricultural Manager at AMC, to analyse how these barriers can be overcome, why it’s so important to diversify, how the focus on sustainability can help landowners, and identify the methods for financing and planning. They look at the societal trends that influence diversification and detail the advice that landowners should seek before undertaking this life-changing decision.