Short-term decision making has dominated economic, environmental and social governance in recent years. Economic decisions in particular have appeared to be made without proper long-term foresight. In this episode of Fisher German talks, we highlight the importance of thinking long-term when you’re planning a sustainable business. Here’s how to plan effectively for the future. Andrew Bridge, Managing Partner at Fisher German, is joined by Sarah Walker-Smith and John O’Brien. Sarah is CEO of Ampa, Chief Executive of Shakespeare Martineau, Chair at the Eden Project Morecambe, Past Governor at NTU and advisory board member at Anthropy. John is the Founder and Chairman of Anthropy, and the Former EMEA Managing Partner of Omnicom’s 100 Agency Group and a veteran of the British Army. He has over 40 years of multi-sector leadership experience and has run organisations in over 20 countries, and is a best selling business author with a WH Smith no3 & Forbes Top 125 Leader’s Read. Together they discuss the importance of a purpose-driven business model (one that goes beyond short-term profits), connecting personal purpose with business (Sarah discusses the ways in which she uses workshops and initiatives to inspire innovation), and the evolution of corporate responsibility to ESG governance (the focus should be on embedding ethical practices into a companies DNA, John explains).

In the four years since the COVID pandemic, we've seen huge changes in demand for office space, as well as a shift in expectations from employees. Companies are having to adapt to rapid evolution in how they plan, manage and utilise offices. What does the future hold? What can owners and occupiers expect to see in the coming years? To answer this, Charles Warrack, Partner at Fisher German, is joined by Marcus Baumber and Richard Suart. Marcus is a Commercial Surveyor within the Manchester Office. Richard Suart is Property Director at Calthorpe Estates, leading the company’s asset management team. Together they explore the trends in the Manchester and Birmingham office markets, and the difference in attitudes to the office across generations. Office demand post-Covid has declined, bringing with it a host of challenges and opportunities. How do owners improve secondary spaces? What sustainability and environmental schemes exist? And how do landlords attract occupiers in changing times?

As part of the Environmental Act of 2021, regions in the UK must adhere to the Local Nature Recovery Strategy, a plan for environmental conservation. Divided into 48 geographical sections, each LNRS will be tailored to its specific area and contain a local habitat map and a written statement of biodiversity priorities. What does this mean for landowners and what are the plans for the next ten years? To answer this, Vicky Povey, Agribusiness Consultant at Fisher German, is joined by Tristan Baxter-Smith, Land Advisor at Nene Rivers Trust. Nene Rivers Trust promotes green infrastructure and supports the protection of the environment from climate change. The LNRS has wide-reaching impact on farmers and landowners. Getting involved has numerous benefits, as Tristan explains. How will the role of farmers evolve across the next decade? Listen to find out.

Many of the buildings in the UK are classified legally as ‘listed’ – which means they’re legally protected due to their historic or architectural significance. Managing, preserving and improving these listed buildings requires adherence to strict regulations surrounding something called LBC (Listed Building Consent). Thomas Blake, Partner at Fisher German, is joined by Scott O’Dell, Associate Partner at Fisher German and guest Hannah Hamilton-Rutter, Heritage Director at Marrons, to explore the unique set of challenges and complexities that listed buildings can present for owners, sellers and developers. Hannah and Scott discuss the importance of talking with local authorities before applying for planning permission to handle challenges better and build good relationships with conservation officers. How do government policies and economic factors affect listed buildings? Where should property owners go to get the best advice? What’s the best use of a heritage property to ensure its long-term maintenance and preservation? Listen to find out.

The warehouse market, often referred to as the ‘shed market’, is well-known for being fairly traditional. Historically, leases operate on a minimum 5-year basis, but could all that be about to change? Is flexibility coming to the shed market? There’s a lot of talk at the moment around mixed-use developments that combine logistics and residential spaces; the combination can transform local communities. To discuss the future of the shed market, host Rob Champion, Partner at Fisher German, is joined by Mike Price and James Hemstock. Mike is Head of Commercial Transactional at Fisher German, while James, heads up Capital Deployment and Leasing at Prologis UK, the leading developer and owner of industrial, warehouse, distribution and logistics property in the UK. Together they explore the shift towards flexibility in the shed market, the impact of ESG and quality demands on warehouse spaces, and the trends in the market that are driving evolution. Existing and potential occupiers are demanding agility and flexibility. How can the industry meet the demand? Listen to find out.

We last discussed Diversification on this podcast in November 2022, where we looked at the opportunities for landowners to add additional revenue streams to rural property. Inflation was then, and still is, creating a huge amount of risk for rural businesses. Diversification is a way to offset that risk. So, in this episode, host Ellie Savage sits down with Emily and Sophy, creators of Watersedge, a wellness hub near Bishampton, Worcs, to understand how their rural business is thriving. Their story involves the transformation of a family-owned lake into a community-focused wellness centre, with swimming, yoga, paddle boarding and fitness. Listen to find out how they overcame obstacles with planning permission, managing increased visitor numbers and ensuring safety and insurance compliance. Their diversification journey, guided by Ellie and the team at Fisher German, is a blueprint for managing risk and opening up new revenue streams. For more information head to fishergerman.co.uk/insights

Matthew Allen and Richard Gadd are joined by Adam Saunby, Senior Associate at Forsters LLP, to analyse the rural property market. Economic uncertainties and inflation pressures are causing a cautious start to the year, but there’s been a variable supply in rural properties across different regions. Some have seen noticeable increases. Adam highlights the importance of thorough preparation before properties are marketed. Listen to the episode to hear the latest trends in rural property, an expert’s voice on conveyancing, practical tips on legal preparations for sales, strategic decision making and how to address common challenges.

Focusing on Birmingham's ongoing transformation under the "Big City Plan," this episode features insights from Philip Nell and Dav Bansal. They outline the vision for the city's future, emphasizing sustainable development, zero carbon goals, and the balance between financial returns and social value in city planning. The discussion also highlights the role of landmark architecture in Birmingham's economic wellbeing.

Stuart sits down with Nicola Fleet-Milne and Alex Claridge to examine Birmingham's status as a cultural and business hub. They discuss the city's evolution as a 21st-century destination and tackle topics like the night-time economy, resilience through the challenges of Covid, and the role of the Colmore Business District in shaping Birmingham's present.

Explore Birmingham's remarkable journey from post-industrial decline to a dynamic, modern city in the first episode of our special feature on Birmingham's rejuvenation. With Nicola Turner MBE and Ian Metcalfe OBE, host Stuart Flint explores the the city's economic and cultural transformation, highlighting the significant impact of the Commonwealth Games and its impact on Birmingham's rediscovered identity and pride.

The UK has net zero targets fast approaching. The government is investing tens of billions of pounds over the next decade in infrastructure, but there will be knock-on impacts to country-wide networks. Some are gearing up to mitigate the risks with new infrastructure - reservoirs, pipelines for water, hydrogen or new electricity upgrades. Every Utility and Infrastructure operator will start to see the impact on their networks of schemes, management, and the need to maintain resilience. This high-pressure competition for resources and time means more interactions, and increases the risk of asset strikes. This puts awareness, management and maintenance as a priority for every operator. Rachel Bridge, Partner at Fisher German, returns to the host chair on the podcast to discuss the exponential growth in infrastructure in the UK, and the essential work management and maintenance teams do to manage what is known in the industry as the 4th emergency service. Joining her are Geoff Glover, Pipelines Manager at Sabic, and Murray Peat, Manager of Linewatch. They both highlight the need for awareness of the hazards of high-pressure pipelines, and how safety is always the top priority. Why is the sector called the 4th emergency service? How does the race to net zero contribute to the challenges of operating vast infrastructure projects? And how can we ensure all new projects are as safe as they can be? For more information visit fishergerman.co.uk.

Recent government policies, such as the development of local nature recovery strategies and the introduction of biodiversity net gain, have put sustainability high on the priority list in the agricultural sector. Meanwhile, with a reduction in government subsidies, increasing pressure financially, and stretched supply chains, landowners and farmers are looking at new ways to improve their profit margins. It’s a two-handed approach; juggling sustainable practices with cost-efficiencies. From business efficiency measures to diversification, sustainable farming techniques are changing. As the industry moves towards a net-zero emission goal, the integration of sustainable principles in residential and rural property development is becoming the new norm. Joining host David Kinnersley, Partner and Head of Agribusiness at Fisher German, on this episode is Anna Woodley from Trinity Agtech. Anna is Managing Director of Business Development at Trinity, and she explains how their industry-leading software Sandy is helping to boost profitability and sustainability in agriculture. Farmers are utilising Sandy’s advanced software to make better decisions around the use of natural capital - the natural assets underpinning the ecosystem like soil, air, water, or animals. These technologies enable farmers to model scenarios, analyse impacts, and optimise their farming operations, making profitable and sustainable decisions easier to achieve. Together they explore the role of natural capital in bolstering business resilience and diversifying income generation. Understanding, measuring, and efficiently managing natural capital presents a real business opportunity for farmers and landowners. Embracing these practices doesn't simply fulfil environmental or policy obligations. Instead, it paves the way for more profitable and resilient farming systems, while delivering positive environmental impacts at the same time.

Despite economic headwinds, demand for industrial space continues up and down the country. In a post-Covid world, the industrial and logistics property market has seen year-on-year growth, contributing to the jobs market and economy as a whole: it provides the infrastructure and space that support businesses, who in turn drive economic growth and foster innovation. Rob Champion, Partner at Fisher German, sits down with Jason Rockett, Managing Director of Potter Space – an owner of industrial spaces and business parks – to explore this world and dive into the most active sector of the commercial property market of recent times. The rise in demand for medium sized spaces (sub-100,000 square foot) is ongoing despite the recent economic turbulence; they represent 95% of the whole I&L property market in England, and account for 56% of the sector’s entire floorspace. Jason explains why this is, and examines other trends in the market such as the impact of interest rate rises on the business. With an extensive and varied career (including a stint as a professional footballer), Jason is well-placed to join Rob in explaining the importance of this sector of the property market.

Interest rates are at their highest level for over 15 years, due largely to high inflation which recently has come down slower than anticipated. This has contributed to record low commercial property investment transaction volumes in Q4 2022 and reduced activity so far this year. Looking ahead, where are transactions continuing to take place? Which sectors remain liquid? Where has pricing strengthened, and most importantly, what are some of the key fundamentals that will continue to drive commercial real estate investment looking forwards? Commercial real estate investment is in part influenced by debt markets. Host, Oliver Deme, Senior Surveyor in the Investment Team at Fisher German, sat down with Greg Manson, Director of OakNorth Bank and specialist in real estate debt finance, to film and record an instalment of the third series of 'Fisher German LLP Talks', delving into the above, and much more. Together Ollie and Greg give us insights into the real estate market and explore the challenges and opportunities for commercial investment in the months and years to come.