April 1, 2025
Neil Humphrey appointed new CEO of Waterman

Neil Humphrey appointed new CEO of Waterman

Waterman is pleased to announce that Neil Humphrey has been appointed as the new CEO of Waterman effective 1 April 2025, succeeding Nick Taylor who has led the business for the last 17 years. Neil brings a wealth of experience and a strong vision for the future of the company.

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Latest Issue
Issue 328 : May 2025

April 1, 2025

Lismore investor research shows PBSA sector to be a shining light for Scottish commercial property market

Lismore investor research shows PBSA sector to be a shining light for Scottish commercial property market

72% of investors are considering Scotland’s living sector in 2025 The PBSA continues to be a shining light in the Scottish commercial property investment market, according to the latest investor research on the living sector conducted by leading independent property advisory firm, Lismore Real Estate Advisors. A majority (72%) of investors are considering Scotland’s living sector in 2025, with interest highest among investment managers (86%) compared to fund investors (50%). The end of rent caps from April 2025 could provide greater stability, supporting growth in a market already facing a housing shortage, particularly in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Lismore’s research found that portfolio diversification (26.8%) is the primary driver of investment in this market, followed by minimal void risk (24.7%) and liquidity (22.3%), highlighting investors’ focus on stability and resilience. Sustainability (28.3%) remains a top priority for PBSA investors, reflecting the sector’s alignment with ESG standards, while demand is also driven by unit mix considerations (24.1%) and reliance on overseas students (23.0%), particularly in prime locations near Russell Group universities. Chris Thornton, Associate Director of Lismore said: “The PBSA sector continues to be one of the shining lights, performing strongly, driven by resilient demand and stable capital values, particularly in cities with a Russell Group university. Despite concerns over international student numbers, institutional investors, private equity firms and specialist platforms remain highly engaged in this sector.” Murdo Mcilhagger Managing Director of MYS Student Living added: “The PBSA market has returned to fundamentals, with strong assets continuing to perform well, supported by macro tailwinds such as growing international student demand and policy shifts. While transaction volumes remain below average, activity is picking up as debt costs ease. “Investors must focus on customer demand, location quality and operational efficiencies, particularly as sustainability becomes a key factor in both revenue generation and cost management. However, challenges persist, including a lack of sellers, thin interest in secondary assets and fire safety remediation impacting liquidity.” Elsewhere in the market, Lismore’s quarterly review statistics show that it has been relatively slow start to the year, with cautious investor sentiment, limited stock availability and ongoing economic uncertainty dampening activity. Transaction volumes in Q1 totalled £202 million, with the largest transaction being Realty’s £66.20 million acquisition of Abbotsinch Retail Park in Paisley (as part of a portfolio) from Ashby Capital. Other notable transactions included L&G’s purchase from Glencairn Properties of the PBSA development at Lower Gilmore Place, Edinburgh for £35 million, Cervidea’s acquisition of 98 Buchanan Street / 31Royal Exchange Square in Glasgow for £13.80 million and French investor, Remake Asset Management’s acquisition of the Nike Store at 18-20 Buchanan Street, Glasgow for £11.87 million. Chris Thornton concluded: “The commercial property market remains cautious amid a mixed economic backdrop and geopolitical uncertainty, with a lack of quality stock delaying significant activity until Q2. Private capital continues to target prime city assets, while selective office yields attract opportunistic buyers. “As spring arrives, signs of renewed momentum are emerging, particularly in the most liquid sectors – industrial, retail warehousing and living.” The full Lismore Quarterly Review for Q1-25 is available to download from: HERE Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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The official UKREiiF After Party: Regeneration Brainery DJ Battle 2025, ‘The Spin City Showdown’ of the UKs Metro Mayors

The official UKREiiF After Party: Regeneration Brainery DJ Battle 2025, ‘The Spin City Showdown’ of the UKs Metro Mayors

The UK’s metro mayors will battle it out on the decks for an iconic night of head-to-head musical entertainment at this year’s UKREiiF. Powered by Capital & Centric, the first Regeneration Brainery DJ Battle will take place at the O2 Academy Leeds, one of the country’s most popular music venues, on 21 May 2025. For one night only, the mayors will deliver spinbacks not speeches, regional rivalries will be tested, and the only fiery debate will be whether house is better than techno.  Ticketholders can expect a dazzling production, an all-star lineup of mayors-turned-DJs, and an electrifying clash of styles, from disco anthems to indie classics. This will be an evening where politics takes a backseat, and the musical talents of the nation’s regional leaders are revealed. This landmark event will raise money for UKREiiF’s official charity partner Regeneration Brainery.  All monies raised from ticket sales will go towards Regeneration Brainery’s continuing support of more than 6,000 young people from under-represented backgrounds, enabling them to gain hands-on experience in the property and regeneration industry.   Regeneration Brainery’s national social mobility programme offers in-depth insights into the property industry, through workshops, work experience, and opportunities to connect with inspirational mentors. “Brainees” develop crucial employability skills, with over a third of participants now in the industry.  With a crowd-powered vote, the audience will be the ones to decide who destroyed the dance floor with their powerful beats, and who should stick to their day job.   At only £20 a ticket, The Regeneration Brainery DJ Battle 2025 will be an event not to miss, where the power is in the playlist and the audience will decide which of the mayors is worthy of following in the footsteps of The Stone Roses, The Killers, and Robbie Williams in taking to the O2 Academy stage. Matt Christie, Director UKREiiF, said:  “We cannot wait for a night that will go down in industry folklore, one where we get to witness our regional leaders showcase their hidden talents. It’s going to be a special evening, featuring several special guests, raising money for an incredible organisation that UKREiiF is proud to support as its charity partner. I have my guesses who will emerge victorious, but I can’t wait to see who the audience decides is champion of this battle.”  Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Neil Humphrey appointed new CEO of Waterman

Neil Humphrey appointed new CEO of Waterman

Waterman is pleased to announce that Neil Humphrey has been appointed as the new CEO of Waterman effective 1 April 2025, succeeding Nick Taylor who has led the business for the last 17 years. Neil brings a wealth of experience and a strong vision for the future of the company. His leadership will be instrumental in driving our strategic initiatives and ensuring continued success across Waterman’s operations in the UK, Ireland and Australia. With 30 years in the industry, Neil has been an integral part of Waterman, having served as a main board director of Waterman Group Plc, alongside his role as UK Chief Operating Officer. He has been actively involved in driving various strategic and operational aspects of the company and has also played a significant role with the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE), where he served as Chair of ACE’s Procurement and Pipeline Advocacy Group. Neil’s appointment as CEO marks a new chapter for Waterman, promising continued innovation and progress. Commenting on his appointment as CEO, Neil said: “I am honoured to take on the role of CEO at Waterman. We are entering a period of significant change in our industry, with digital innovation fundamentally reshaping what we do and how we deliver for our clients. I am excited to continue to work with our talented team to drive our innovation forward and position ourselves as the consultant of choice for our clients, our people, and new talent. I would also like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Nick Taylor for his exceptional leadership and the strong foundation he has built.” In handing over the CEO role to Neil, Nick Taylor commented: “I have full confidence in Neil’s ability to lead Waterman into its next phase of growth. His vision and dedication will undoubtedly drive the company to new heights.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Do You Need an Accident Attorney to File a Progressive Insurance Accident Claim?

Do You Need an Accident Attorney to File a Progressive Insurance Accident Claim?

You pay your Progressive insurance premiums every month on time, sometimes you even send them in a little early. You’re abiding by the terms and conditions of your auto insurance policy and expect the same from the company.  However, when it comes to paying out a claim, Progressive has less than a five-star reputation. In fact, recovering compensation in a Progressive car accident claim can be a frustrating process. If you’re struggling to get Progressive Insurance to settle your accident claim, you’re not alone. Thankfully, there are some steps you can take to help move the claims process along in your favor and recover compensation. What Is a Bad Faith Insurance Claim? You may run into problems with what’s known as a bad faith insurance claim. The definition of a bad faith insurance claim is pretty easy to understand.  You believe you’re in good standing with the insurance company. This means you pay your premiums on time and don’t try to submit fraudulent or frivolous claims. You stick to the requirements of your policy, believing that if an accident occurs, your damages are covered. A bad faith claim occurs when the insurance company doesn’t fairly process your claim. The insurance company may also engage in inappropriate actions in an attempt to slow down the approval process or deny your claim. The insurance company may also only offer lowball settlement amounts, far below the actual value of your claim. Examples of a bad faith insurance claim include: Proving a Bad Faith Claim Against Progressive If you believe you’re the victim of a bad faith insurance claim, the burden of proof is on you. This means you must prove the insurance company isn’t properly handling your claim. Why do you want to prove an insurance company like Progressive is behaving badly when it comes to your claim? This is a necessary process if you want to receive compensation for your damages. However, you must prove the insurance company isn’t just making an error. Don’t forget the adage to err is human. Insurance adjusters can make mistakes, and this isn’t a crime. You must prove the insurance company knowingly and/or willfully is acting unreasonably or engaging in egregious behavior by denying your claim. Here’s an example of Progressive acting unreasonably. Progressive Insurance refused to pay out a claim. The reason behind the denial is that the insurance company stated the injured party wasn’t insured at the time of the accident. The defendant provided proof of valid insurance, and Progressive still denied his claim on the grounds of being uninsured.  Since the insurance company refused to thoroughly investigate certain pieces of evidence and improperly characterized the status of the insurance policy, the claimant was awarded both compensatory and punitive damages. Obviously, proving you’re insured at the time of an accident is relatively easy, but it can be more difficult to substantiate other types of bad faith claims. Regardless of how simple or complex your bad faith insurance claim is, it’s always best to work with an experienced attorney. They have the necessary resources to prove more complex claims. How the Duty of Good Faith Can Affect Your Bad Faith Claim Before you can start complaining and taking action against a bad faith claim, you’ll need to understand how the duty of good faith can affect your case. So, what exactly is a duty of good faith? The term applies to basically any signed contract. Both parties agree to abide by the terms set down in the contract when they sign on the dotted line. In other words, your duty of good faith is to pay your premiums on time. The insurance company’s duty of good faith is to settle your claim fairly and in a reasonable amount of time. However, the duty of good faith is a little more complex than simply settling an insurance claim. The insurance company also must properly investigate the claim and defend the policyholder if a liability claim comes up against them. However, liability claim defense only applies if specifically stated in the insurance policy. You must have current and valid liability coverage. Other duties of good faith include paying out damages covered under the policy and approving a reasonable settlement amount. Since the term reasonable is pretty vague, this does give insurance companies like Progressive some wiggle room. This is also why it’s a good idea to have legal representation during the negotiation process.  You need a skilled negotiator to help ensure you receive a fair settlement offer. There isn’t a law against insurance companies initially offering a lowball settlement. A bad faith claim only comes into play if the insurance company refuses to budge from the low offer. Common Law May Affect Your Bad Faith Claims Case You’re probably familiar with statutory law. These are laws passed by legislatures. Statutory laws can be federal, state or only apply to a municipality. When it comes to bad faith insurance claims, an example of a statutory law is the Unfair Claims Practice Act. This law gives you the legal right to sue insurance companies when they behave poorly. Now, on to common law. This is different from statutory law. Common law refers to previous court rulings. The rulings aren’t law but instead serve as guidelines for rulings on future, similar cases.  For example, if someone else has successfully sued Progressive for failing to properly investigate their accident claim. The court may use this ruling to help decide your lawsuit. A skilled attorney can also argue common law to help support your bad faith insurance claim. Let a Personal Injury Attorney Help with Your Progressive Accident Claim Insurance companies have a lot of resources at their disposal and aren’t afraid to use them if they think you’re filing a bad faith claim. Don’t try to go through the legal process without legal representation. From understanding the burden of proof to common law, your attorney can help you prove your Progressive accident claim and recover compensation.

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