Premier Estates has announced that its founder and Chairman, Ben Jordan, is stepping away from the company after 27 years at the helm. Ben, who established Premier Estates in 1998, has played a pivotal role in the property management sector in the UK. The company will now be led by Managing Director, Lisa Fantom, who has worked alongside Ben since 2007. Ben founded Premier Estates after leading a management buyout of the private property management department of the housing association where he was employed. Starting with just three employees managing 300 properties in Macclesfield, Ben grew Premier Estates into one of the UK’s leading residential property management companies. Today, the business manages around 35,000 properties across England and Wales, supported by a team of over 220 people. In 2021, Premier Estates became part of Odevo, the rapidly growing international property management group. The move provided the business with enhanced backing and access to leading-edge technology, compliance expertise and professional development opportunities, supporting its strategy of sustained growth. Reflecting on his decision to step down, Ben Jordan said: “Starting Premier Estates was a career defining moment for me and watching it grow into a company that now looks after tens of thousands of homes has been incredibly rewarding. The time now feels right to move on and take some space to explore new opportunities. Customer service has always been at the heart of our business, and our reputation was built on doing the right thing and putting residents first. One of my greatest achievements has been building such a talented and dedicated team. I leave, confident that Premier Estates is in very capable hands, and I know Lisa and the management team will continue to uphold the values that have always been important.” Ben has also been an influential voice in the wider property management industry. As Chairman of the Association of Residential Managing Agents (ARMA) in 2012, he was instrumental in the introduction of ARMA-Q, a pioneering self-regulatory accreditation scheme that raised standards across the sector. Today, ARMA has evolved into The Property Institute, continuing to advance professionalism in property management. A qualified accountant, Lisa joined the business as Finance Director before stepping into the Managing Director role in 2018. During her tenure, she has overseen substantial growth and a widening geographical spread across the UK. The company manages a broad range of developments and property types including several large-scale, multi-phased schemes in London. Lisa Fantom commented: “Ben was a big reason I joined Premier Estates – his passion and integrity have always been inspiring. He cares deeply about people, both the residents we serve and the team who deliver for them every day and that ethos remains at the heart of our business. As part of Odevo, we also have exciting opportunities ahead such as introducing market-leading technology through our sister company Dwellant. This sophisticated portal will give us increased transparency and better reporting for clients and residents. The combination of greater resources from being part of a larger group, combined with our personal, customer-first approach puts us in a strong position to continue growing and delivering exceptional service.” Premier Estates’ client base includes a mix of resident management companies, freeholders and many of the UK’s leading housebuilders, including Barratt Homes, Taylor Wimpey, Berkeley Homes and Cala Homes. With a strong track record built on long-standing partnerships and recommendations, and the continued backing of Odevo, the company is well placed to capitalise on the growing opportunities in the sector. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Watsons, one of the UK’s most respected property firms, is proud to announce it is celebrating 135 years in the property industry. With a rich history that began in Norwich in 1890, the company is marking this significant milestone with a special celebration for employees, clients, and customers on Friday 19th September 2025. Founded by Edwin Watson and his partner Mr. Sadd, who established Sadd and Watsons Estate Agents on Rampant Horse Street, the company has grown from a local estate agency to a leading multi-disciplinary property group. The firm’s journey is a testament to its enduring commitment to the core values of integrity, professionalism, and a client-focused approach laid down by its founder. “Reaching 135 years in business is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team and the unwavering trust of our clients,” said Ray Smith, Chief Executive Officer.  “Our heritage is the foundation of who we are today. For over a century, we’ve navigated changing markets and evolved our services, but our commitment to providing expert advice and a personal touch has remained constant.” Watsons is an award-winning firm of Chartered Surveyors with a national presence in the property industry working throughout thirty counties across the UK. Regulated by RICS and affiliated with The Property Institute, NAEA, and ARLA, Watsons offers a comprehensive range of residential and commercial services including valuation, surveying, block and estate management, lettings, and property management.  The company’s enduring success is built upon a foundation of adaptability, innovation, and a commitment to upholding the highest standards of excellence. The anniversary celebration will both reflect on the company’s journey and look forward to the future. The evening will be dedicated to expressing appreciation, acknowledging the contributions of those who have helped build Watsons’ success across generations.  It will also recognise the years of value and support the company has provided as a well-known brand throughout East Anglia, and a local employer with an established Head Office base in Norwich. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

WilSon Energy, a leading provider of fully integrated Heating, Metering, Pre-Payment and Billing & Bureau Services, has carried out a full audit and replacement of the heat metering system at a high spec residential development in Bath.  North Range is a prestigious new build development located in Bath’s Artisan Quarter situated on the historic Old Walcot Yard. The collection of nine contemporary, lateral and duplex apartments had been completed, incorporating a centralised heat network plant with modular gas boilers. Each property has a Heat Interface Unit (HIU) with an energy meter, with a hard wired Mbus output.  After all the properties were completed, sealed and tenanted it was handed over to the property management company to manage the building and associated billing. It was soon discovered that there was no means of remotely collecting data on energy usage at each of the properties. The only option was to go door to door to collect meter readings, which led to issues with access, lack of accurate billing and no way to resolve any queries regarding energy consumption for tenants and occupiers.   Andy Wilkinson, CEO at WilSon Energy, explains: “A combination of misspecification and a lack of awareness about billing on property, once complete, led to several issues for the property management company. There was no cable network or any data logging devices installed, so there was no remote way to connect to gather meter readings.” After completing a full audit of the heating system, WilSon Energy engineers found that the original meters supplied with the HIUs were low cost, with a single output which could not be connected, as the meters would not accept interchangeable modules.   The WilSon Energy solution included replacing all heat meters with wireless MBus, enabling remote data monitoring and a central data collection device. This removed the need for manual meter readings and meant that access into the properties was no longer required. It also provided hourly updates on usage, ensured and accurate billing for residents.  Andy Wilkinson continues: “It is very common that metering and billing gets forgotten about during the construction phase. The original developer designs the project, specifies the equipment and neither the designer nor contractor has considered the future management of the property. A lack of foresight, knowledge and planning leads to additional costs for new meters and the required installation. This causes problems with ongoing management and maintenance for property or buildings management teams as well as residents. That’s why we like to work with design teams at the commissioning stage to help specify the right heat network and the associated metering, data collection and billing solutions.”  Now that the new wireless metering system is in place, WilSon is also working on behalf of the property management company to provide billing and bureau services to ensure accurate billing and maximising returns on energy costs. As an established energy procurement specialist, WilSon has also secured a better energy supply deal, providing overall savings and reducing costs to residents.  For more information about WilSon Energy’s heat network, smart metering, billing and bureau services, visit: https://wilsonenergy.co.uk/. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

International property management group Odevo has launched SRVO Property, an independent surveying and advisory business set to serve the UK’s residential and commercial real estate market. Formed from Odevo’s existing surveying expertise, SRVO brings together top talent, skills, and experience under a dedicated brand. With a clear vision to become a market leader, it aims to provide comprehensive surveying services and exceptional client support, both within the Odevo Group and across the wider property sector. David Lloyd, CEO of SRVO, said: “We’ve combined the best capabilities, resources, and experience to create a compelling proposition. SRVO will deliver significant value to our clients, setting a new standard for excellence in surveying. By leveraging innovation, technology, and insights, we’re committed to providing forward-thinking solutions and trusted advice to commercial and residential clients across the UK. “We are hugely ambitious and, by investing in our people, expanding our services, and increasing nationwide coverage, we’re targeting 100% growth within the next 12 to 18 months.” Claire Shepherd, CEO for Odevo UK, added: “We’re investing in technology, people, and services that offer exceptional value. The launch of SRVO is the next step in evolving our surveying capabilities—bringing together the best talent, skills, and regional reach under one brand. “This allows us to scale up our services and offer even greater support to clients. As an independent provider backed by Odevo’s collective resources, SRVO is in a strong position to deliver outstanding service, improved resilience, and exceptional value across the sector.” Operating nationwide, SRVO offers a wide range of property advisory services, including building surveys, risk assessments, and lease advisory. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals