Finance Specialist Joins Principle as Service Charge Accountancy Team Grows By 50%
A finance specialist with more than a dozen years’ experience in the property sector has joined fast-expanding Principle Estate Management. The appointment of Andrew Cleverley (pictured: left) as a service charge accountant means Principle’s team in that area has grown by 50% to three, with the residential management company’s total staffing now standing at 38.
Mr Cleverley joins Principle after four years working in service charge accounts at Centrick Property, and another eight years working as a cashier at GVA Grimley and as a finance assistant at Phoenix Beard.
Paul Richardson (pictured: right), finance manager at Principle, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Andrew to our team as we continue to provide our annual service charge accounts more quickly to our customers. “He impressed us at interview with his excellent and directly relevant experience in the property sector and the fact that he was well-aligned to our company values. “This has been validated by him settling in really quickly and already making a difference in his first few weeks as we reallocate Principle’s growing portfolio across the expanded team.”
Mr Cleverley, who lives in Edgbaston, joins a growing number of staff who walks to work at Principle’s offices in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, including all three service charge accountants.
Outside of work he is a keen hobby board-gamer with a collection of more than 100 games, an interest that also sees him volunteering with Battle Systems tabletop gaming company at conventions and in game development. Mr Cleverley, who enjoys rock and metal music festivals and has appeared as an extra in two films and several TV shows, said: “I’m really pleased to have joined the friendly and professional team at Principle. I was immediately drawn to Principle because of its reputation, and I was even more engaged at interview when I heard about the company’s vision to positively impact the everyday lives of its communities. I also like the way that Principle uses the modern Qube data system, and I’m now enjoying bringing my experience into the service charge accountancy team.” Principle Estate Management was launched by Brett Williams, a past chairman of the Association of Residential Managing Agents and Joe Jobson. Both are chartered surveyors with over 40 years of experience in the sector between them. The growing company now looks after a portfolio approaching 8,000 units in over 250 developments across the UK.
Zurich Signs on for Another Year Sponsoring ALEP
Zurich Insurance Group has extended its sponsorship of the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners (ALEP) for an additional year. The global insurance company has been one of ALEP’s primary sponsors since 2019 and has supported the Association’s growth into one of the leading voices in the leasehold sector.
Clare Grove, ALEP’s Communications and Marketing Manager, said: “We are thrilled that Zurich has decided to renew their sponsorship of ALEP for another year. The company has been a vital support for the Association, especially in supporting us through the last year, where we have had to adapt to hosting our events online and working from home.
“We look forward to continuing to work with Zurich to find new opportunities within their sponsorship and ways in which the two groups can mutually support one another.” Matthew Austwick, Account Executive at Zurich, commented: “Our ongoing association with ALEP is testament to the success of the sponsorship over the last year. We hope to continue our backing of the Association to help it to offer a vital voice at the forefront the enfranchisement sector.”
Eight New Hires for Realty Law’s Revamped Legal Team
Specialist property debt collection firm, Realty Law Limited, has announced the expansion of its Birmingham-based team with the appointment of eight new staff. The new hires are led by senior residential property litigator Liz Rowen, a former partner of law firm Keebles, that was recently acquired by Knights. She is joined by former Knights colleagues, Evie Britton, Kirsty Elliott, Cherice St Louis, Abby France and Sam Cooper, as well as two new administration assistants.
Realty recently announced the appointment of experienced property litigator Darren Clegg to lead the commercial property debt collection practice and develop its extensive portfolio of regional and national clients. Its latest new additions represent a significant increase in the firm’s capacity and capability which has also benefited from an investment in new AI software and a fully integrated practice management system.
Gregory Emms, Director of Realty said: "The recruitment of Liz Rowen and her team will significantly improve Realty's offering to new and existing clients. Realty's strength and depth of knowledge now makes it one of the country's leading property related debt collection practices. All of us look forward to working with Liz and her team to offer an exceptional service to our clients." Liz Rowen said: “Having worked within the property management industry for over a decade, Realty Law was a natural fit for the team and I. In an industry that has faced rapid change, Realty’s focus on providing an excellent client service, together with its approachable ethos, aligned perfectly with the team’s values. We are all very excited to be able to expand the services that Realty will now be able to provide to clients and support the continued growth of the firm.”