CONTRIBUTION
OUTSTANDING OF THE YEAR Sponsored by
WINNER:
NICK COOTE of Lambert Smith Hampton
This final award was the surprise at the end of a highly enjoyable occasion. It also presented something of a conundrum.
While the winner was well-known in the Thames Valley, he was as yet unknown in the room.
Brandreth provided a humourous introduction and clues to the winner – “a person who some might say lives life to the full …. his enthusiasm and dedication to the Thames Valley property market is unflappable” …“never one to take a no for an answer or be downbeat - even when his beloved Swindon FC are losing”
Simon Perkins (pictured right), managing director of award sponsor McKay Securities, announced the worthy recipient:
• Nick Coote (pictured centre)
The judges wanted their Property Personality of the Year to be “a stand-out person who has promoted and created success in the execution of their property strategy across the region and importantly been involved in promoting the Thames Valley as one of the best places in Europe to do business.”
Coote certainly met those outstanding contribution criteria, having served his whole
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – JUNE 2015
career in the Thames Valley. He began as a RICS qualified commercial surveyor with Campbell Gordon based in Reading.
He moved to Lambert Smith Hampton in 1996 and is now a director, head of the LSH Thames Valley regional offices (Reading, Maidenhead, Oxford, Guildford) and a commercial property specialist. That specialism has revealed itself through his regular well-read Thames Valley Office Market reports.
Such reporting was his strategy to demonstrate LSH sector knowledge and expertise, he revealed later. It has paid off. For example, LSH links with TripAdvisor indirectly came through the Thames Valley market updates.
Coote has been involved in many significant Reading area office developments over the past 20 years, notably the strategic HQ office acquisition at One Reading Central for Yell (now Hibu), and relocating Siemens HQ campus from Bracknell to Frimley.
While receiving his award Coote said: “I dedicate this to my whole team because, in my experience, success in a market is down to the guys and girls who work for you all pulling together and making it happen. So, to
everyone in the LSH Thames Valley team, well done and thank you.”
Later he added: “I am merely the leader of the team, so this award is reflected glory.”
Getting the right leadership tone, letting your team breathe, grow, have fun, and feel they are developing, was vital, he advised. “It’s very easy in some businesses for the senior people, not intentionally, to stifle younger people.”
Coote also highlighted maintaining perspective. “We have a privileged position, working in a really successful region, the second biggest office market outside London, with the advantage of proximity to London and Heathrow. Other UK regions have less velocity in their markets. It’s important that we always understand that.
“Professionally, I really enjoy my work, particularly corporate real estate, because of the different dimensions to it. Actually ‘stopping someone who's walking down a road from falling down a hole’ is professionally very satisfying.”
Then with a quick reminder of the Thames Valley Property Forum at Ascot on September 10, Gyles Brandreth wished everyone a safe journey home and ended proceedings for another year.
www.businessmag.co.uk
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