Celebrate Good Times – One Year On

At the end of September 2019 PACT Property & Assets Ltd, celebrated its first year of trading.  

September 2019

 

Looking back on the past 12 months Chris Price and Patrick Downes, founding Directors, reflect on the steep learning curve of embarking on a new venture and the exciting journey into the unknown.

 


SOLID FOUNDATIONS

Having both previously come from long established, respected businesses, Edwards Symmons and Bruton Knowles, we recognised the importance for the business to start with solid foundations and the decision was made early on to provide enough capital to give the business every chance of success.  Capital Law from Cardiff were appointed to carry out the legals for the formation of the company with our partner investors.

Senior Partner, Duncan Macintosh, at Capital Law commenting on commercial property issues stated “ there’s nothing that beats real experience”


THE NAME GAME

When you start out in business the last thing you think will keep you awake at night is what you will call yourselves but for some considerable weeks in those early days we thought of little else, “DownesPrice”? – “PriceDownes”? – “Dull, Dull and Duller”!.  We were keen to establish a brand that reflected the ambitions of the business and we worked closely with brand consultants Brond of Bristol, the masterminds behind brands such as Longleat and Gloucester Rugby club.  PACT has a number of connotations (a formal agreement between individuals or parties) and as an acronym it represents  ‘property, assets, collaborative, thinking’,  describing what we do and the partnership we are looking to build with our clients which are at the core of how we act.

And we couldn’t be more delighted with the brand and how it looks and feels – fresh, clean, bright and vibrant


TWO HEADS ARE BETTER THAN ONE – or THREE, or FOUR…’

As professionals, client focus and service delivery, sits at the core of your being, but starting out on your own changes the look of your TO-DO list.  Suddenly ‘buy coffee’ features regularly and advisors and suppliers, who might previously have just been names on a payment run, become allies and colleagues all rooting for you.   We are indebted to our advisors, Crowe Uk,  First Solution IT Consultants, Atelier Studios Web Designers and Allstar Marketing who understand what it means to be a start-up and have been very supportive as we found our feet.

One of the most satisfying parts of being a business owner, large or small, is the opportunity to provide employment and we are delighted that Debbie Sams, who previously worked alongside Chris at Edward Symmons, joined us as Director of Operations and Finance.   A stickler for detail and compliance, Debbie keeps us on the straight and narrow, not only ensuring that PACT meets its statutory and regulatory obligations but also in enabling us to meet any specific requirements set by clients.  She brings extensive experience in the property and auction sectors and in the corporate recovery market in particular and is invaluable to our business plans for the coming months and years.

Commenting on her appointment “I am delighted to be joining PACT at its conception.  Supporting Chris and Patrick as they build the business and to be part of its successes provides a great sense of achievement”

 

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT

Over the year we have re-connected with many clients and have been instructed by local companies and individuals to assist with property and asset issues. Our work has been varied and interesting, including

• a substantial site search on behalf of Howard Tenens and Ede Builders for both logistic and development opportunities;
• reported on a 50 unit holiday park in Devon for RSM;
• acted as a Non-Executive Property Director for several clients in respect of local properties and further afield at Stourport, Bridgnorth, Daventry & Oxford;
• providing Land development advice at Stourport, Warminster & Malvern
• assisted the Beeswax Wrap Co in their search for premises and leasehold negotiations
• commenced instructions for Three Counties for a new cycle pathway and also a prestige 40 log cabin, and
• purchased thousands of tote bins for a retained client.

Having had the experience of working for large corporates it is a breath of fresh air to be able to put clients firmly at the centre of all our activities and provide a truly personal service.

As we celebrate this first milestone, we wanted to say a Big “Thank You”  to all our clients and advisors for their support and to whom we are very grateful.

We believe the future is bright and we move forward into our second year with a spring in our step.