We speak to Howard Williams, partner at Montagu Evans, about the career path to his current senior role.
Please tell us a little about yourself and your role?
I am Partner in the Advisory Team at Montagu Evans. My main focus is to work with NHS Trusts assisting them with property matters, including the disposal of surplus land and buildings – most of which need to be sold to enable and fund new clinical facilities – often to housebuilders.
I work with NHS Trusts through the process from cradle to grave and will support business cases; provide valuations; marketing strategies and dispose of surplus estate.
With the advent of the National Hospitals Programme, I am also acquiring land to accommodate/ relocate new hospitals. I have also recently inputted into the government’s white paper on providing homes for NHS staff on NHS land and seeking to provide solutions to ‘path clear’ the delivery of much needed affordable homes for staff.
How did you get into the industry?
It was not the traditional route of a Geography degree and a stint at Reading. I studied Modern Languages at Bristol University, ended up in Paris and Verona then went to Japan to teach English. I returned to the UK and started a Masters in property valuation and law at City University and got a graduate role at Atis Real Weatheralls (now BNP Paribas Real Estate). I was able to use my languages working on a few projects in France and Italy during my time at Atis Real Weatheralls – the most memorable of which was having to assist the UK government with the sale of assets on Lake Como which had been seized.
Property is also in my blood as son of an architect and working within the family business during the summer holidays, so I have always been around the residential development world.
Do you have a ‘typical’ day?
Thankfully not! The NHS estate is varied and throws up all sorts of interesting challenges. It keeps me on my toes, learning and developing my knowledge base be it linked to infrastructure; unusual covenants impacting land, heritage impacts and the politics that surrounds the NHS Estate, as well as the complexities of hospital estates and housing delivery.
Have there been industry figures or mentors that have been particularly influential?
There are two people – Nigel Durman who I trained under and who gave me a solid foundation of knowledge and experience to build on. He introduced me to working with the NHS and the rest is now history. Later in my career, I have had the privilege to work under Adrian Owen, a fellow Partner at Montagu Evans – an inspirational leader who draws out the best in people in terms of realising their potential.
With the ups and downs of the property market – especially over the last year – has your role changed a great deal, with new challenges?
I am of a view that you have to constantly evolve and grow irrespective of market conditions. Technology; market appetite; government policy; planning; costs and so on are all individual cogs that move at their own pace and impact on my day-to-day work. To be ahead of the game you have to be open to new ideas; new ways of doing things to give the best to your clients which in turn engenders loyalty so that you can demonstrate that you have their backs and best interests at heart.
Have you had a favourite moment in your career, or been inspired by a particular project?
The disposal of Broadmoor Hospital has been a long time in the making. I have been involved with the Trust and that site since 2006 and have worked on the delivery of the new hospital, sale of surplus land around the Broadmoor Hospital site and on their London site in Hanwell, West London. The process has been collegiate, and I have enjoyed working as a team. It is great to see new clinical facilities opening off the back of the work I have been a part of as you know that the real estate will contribute to improving the lives of patients and staff as well as helping more people get the new homes they need. I enjoy making a difference to this much-loved institution and I enjoy moving around the country seeing new facilities and knowing that I was part of the delivery.
I am also very proud of being part of the team defeating the CPO order which included an NHS parcel of land in Barking. It was a brutal and bruising process, however standing up for what you believe in and protecting the value of an NHS asset was the main driver and it was pleasing to see that the inspector agreed with our approach. Working with other local operators as part of the process, including a community pharmacist and saving his business, created life-long friends and will now allow him and his family to invest and move forward with their good work.
What are your ambitions for the next few years?
There is only so much one can do as an outsider looking in and assisting the NHS. With my involvement with the National Hospitals Programme, I would like to bring my property expertise and knowledge to that programme so that I can be at the forefront of delivery of this once in a generation change to create much needed clinical infrastructure. On a personal note, I want to continue travelling. Having reached country 61, I want to keep going and get to country 100. With a toddler now in tow the focus of where will shift, however I will enjoy introducing our little one to new cultures.
If someone is looking at starting a career in the property sector – whichever discipline – do you have any advice for them?
Roll up your sleeves and say yes to every opportunity at the beginning and expose yourself to as much as you possibly can. I would also say that working for a partnership also pays dividends as it exposes you to a more entrepreneurial structure where you need to develop your business skills as opposed to relying on your company’s brand to bring work to you. I would also say that you should develop your own brand. Be yourself and not what you think clients want. I have found that being human; generous of spirit and friendly to clients helps build long-term relationships.
