A career in retail property might not be the most obvious path for the country’s brightest young up-and-coming minds, given the sector’s recent woes. So why not give them some early encouragement to come give it a try? No more so has this mantra been taken up than at investor and asset manager Ellandi, where associate director Richard Hutchinson has begun indoctrinating his new arrival James with a fully branded Ellandi babygrow. Surely a sign that a wonderful future lies ahead.
Naughty but nice
After one Diary writer boasted on Twitter about how they had won the acclaimed Freddo prize for most contributed stories – pipping the boss to the half-year crown by just one point – one avid reader thought they would help extend their lead with this gem: “Saw your tweet. Big congrats! Have you already written about how SEGRO averted embarrassment during its name change when someone pointed out that including the word ‘industrial’ after the SE would’ve meant the name spelt ‘orgies’ backwards?” No we hadn’t, kind reader, so thank you. If said boaster wins the full-year Freddo, they might even save a bite for you.
You’ve Scot to be kidding
Culture junkies beware – Scotland’s rental reforms could put the Edinburgh Festival at risk, according to the National Landlords Association. The NLA records that almost a quarter of Scottish landlords have sold rental assets over the past three months, while only 5% have bought. It lays the blame on the Scottish Private Residential Tenancy, which was introduced in December. “Because student landlords now have to provide indefinite tenancies, they won’t be able to advertise their properties for the festival, as they won’t know for certain if they will be free and available by the end of July,” says NLA chief executive Richard Lambert in a no-way purposely cobbled together press release sent out slap-bang in the middle of the Edinburgh Festival. “If this sets a trend, and artists struggle to find short-term accommodation, the 2018 Edinburgh Festival could be the last to offer such a variety of talent.” Erm, a touch dramatic perhaps. Has the NLA never heard of Airbnb?
On a mission from God
If you listen to this week’s TechTalk Radio podcast (available on Podbean and Apple Podcasts if you search “techtalk radio”), you’ll hear one lady getting just a little bit annoyed with the church. But if you have a fonder view of spiritual bricks and mortar, why not turn your hand to transforming the Grade II listed St Martin’s church in Brighton into something “commercially sustainable”. The Diocese of Chichester, supported by A Better Brighton & Hove, has launched a competition for investors, developers, architects, surveyors, engineers – anyone, really – to come up with a “viable and practical scheme which is creative and will be the springboard to restoration” of the building. Sounds heavenly. The winner gets £10,000 for their designs and two runners up get £6,000. Those with divine inspiration should enter before 5pm on 12 September to be in with a chance. See www.colander.co.uk/architectural-competitions/colander-competitions/st-martins-church-brighton for more information.
Be your own Abramovich
First it was a lovely hill in Wales that caught Diary’s property speculating eye, and now Staffordshire is enticing us with Hednesford Town Football Club, or the Pitmen, as the team is more commonly known. The club, which sits on almost 5.5 acres of land, has been on the market for more than a year, currently plies its trade in the Northern Premier League – six divisions below the prestigious Premier League. But the club does have a premier history, dating back to 1880, rising up and down the ranks and establishing itself as a well-loved local team. With a 6,000-capacity stand, FA-rated pitch and easy access to the M6 Toll motorway, surely new selling agents Anchor Estates and Marwood Homes can score a deal?
The perils of technology
Who else saw this all-too-common Twitter fail this week? Imagine the scene: you wake up bleary eyed, you reach for your smartphone, and you do what any millennial does – tweet your thoughts to the world. Then you actually wake up and realise you’ve tweeted from entirely the wrong account.
