Enterprise Inns - Targets property professionals
Enterprise Inns – one of the UK’s largest pub
operators – is launching a major recruitment drive to attract
leading property professionals.
The FTSE 100 company’s property department is unique within the pub
industry as two years ago it was registered as a chartered building
consultancy. Head of Property Russell Burtons believes this,
together with the fact that his team manage £5.3 billion of assets,
means they are well placed to attract ambitious chartered surveyors.
“Although during the last 17 years we have been viewed as one of the
country’s most successful businesses, we don’t have the profile
within the property world that we should have,” said Russell.
“For example, each year we have an aggressive acquisition programme
to acquire £100m of individual pubs as well as investing around £60m
in our existing 8,000-strong estate. In addition, our regional
property managers are each responsible for around £150m assets. But
despite this, we are often not a first choice or the obvious route
for career minded surveyors and facilities managers.”
Russell, who is based at Enterprise’s head office in Solihull, is
aiming to change this through a combination of national advertising,
a new graduate training initiative and by developing closer working
relationship with industry bodies such as the Chartered Institute of
Building (CIOB) and Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
“I recognise that it’s up to us to raise our profile and ensure that
the industry understands that we’re a serious player. During the
last 12 months I’ve strengthened the team and now employ 52 people.
We shall continue to invest in the department and our pubs, helping
licensees to build long-term sustainable businesses in a fiercely
competitive marketplace.”
Russell believes that one of the benefits of operating in such a
dynamic sector, is that you have to constantly look for new ways of
working and sharing best practice. For example, in order to drive
standards and improve quality levels, Enterprise is currently
reducing its base of around 900 contractors to about 25. This will
enable suppliers to get to know the Enterprise business better,
ultimately allowing the company deliver a better service to its
licensees.
“Traditional procurement methods don’t always deliver the best
result and the industry has shifted more towards partnership working
with suppliers. As a company this is something we want to embrace.”
Russell admits that his own career started in a more traditional
sector – working for Next as a maintenance surveyor and then a
project manager, with responsibility for delivering a rolling
programme of store design and development. He then moved into the
leisure sector and in 1991 started his own practice, providing
property management support to a range of clients.
“Surveyors tend to follow fairly traditional career paths – we’re
trying to shake things up and demonstrate that there are some great
alternatives that allow you to use your skills in a more
entrepreneurial way.”
Email:
jo@getvital.co.uk
Arundel Jones Associates Ltd
Hill Farm, Linton Hill, Maidstone, Kent ME17 4AL
Tel : 01622 745333
news@buildingdesign.co.uk
Registered in England and Wales No. 07334149
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