Drivers Jonas is looking to recruit up to 20 staff over the next two years to run its new Birmingham office.
Derek Anderson, DJ’s regional head, said that initially he will look to appoint senior development and planning partners to join investment specialist David Allen, who will run the team.
Anderson said: “We are looking to build up a multi-disciplinary team and will be looking to have around 15 to 20 people in the office over the next two to three years.”
Birmingham will be the latest addition to a regional network which was last expanded with the opening of an office in Manchester four years ago. Like Manchester, Anderson sees the office developing from a base in planning, development and investment matters.
He added that he was hoping to open in Birmingham by April next year.
However, Anderson said he was not worried about competition from Knight Frank which recently opened in the city. “If you look at any of the regional markets, they are highly competitve. But, in general, we will be able to offer something different such as our expertise in planning matters.”
DJ is already advising Land Securities on planning matters for its city centre retail scheme, Martineau Galleries, in Birmingham. Currently, the work is handled by its Manchester office.
He ruled out any further openings in the near future: “In terms of our strengths, there were three clear regional markets we wanted to be in: Glasgow, Manchester and Birmingham. If there is anything else to look at, that will have to be on an opportunistic basis.”
EGi News 17/12/97
