Bidwells move to bolster Scottish team after successful year

The Scottish arm of national property consultancy Bidwells generated strong fee growth in 2016.

The group – which has a major office in Perth – said the 12% rise in fees had come despite a “postBrexit state of flux” in many of its markets and uncertainties surrounding Scottish land reform.

The company said its estate management, client accounting, planning and forestry services had all seen substantial fee growth in the year to December.

Scotland Managing Partner Finlay Clark said: “This growth reflects our unique ability to offer clients knowledge of, and access to, some of the most interesting land and property markets with the highest growth potential in the UK.

“Alongside our specialist services of planning and client accounting, our teams have worked hard to bring us into 2017 in a very healthy position.

“2016 was a very exciting year for Bidwells as we launched our new brand but it was also a year of economic uncertainty in the UK; despite this, our teams once again delivered exceptional results for our clients.”

The firm employs 500 people in the UK and has moved to bolster its Scottish team.

Ralph Peters and Darren Hirst - both senior members of the rural team at Perth – have been made group partner and divisional partner respectively, principal planner Corinne MacDougall named as associate and Alan Chalmers joining as head of client accounting services.

The forestry team has also seen a shake up with Ian Stewart appointed as a consultant in Fort William and Kate Sheppard moving to join the Perth office.

New recruits Kate Sheppard and Ian Stewart have joined Bidwells forestry team.