
Introducing David Grey, Appointed as Group Delivery Director at The Shore Group
Fast-growing support services contractor, The Shore Group has appointed David Grey as Group Delivery Director, A key component of the Group’s ambitious expansion plans, David has a wealth of experience in construction, M&E and fit-out project leadership across the built environment, property and aviation sectors. David has a strong commercial and operations background working as a Director for CBRE Workplace Solutions for almost 15 years. In his new role David is committed to further enhance the Group’s brand as a challenger to market leaders. “It’s an honour to have been given this opportunity by James Hobden and Lewis Yorke-Johnson and The Shore Group board. I’ve known Lewis for almost 20 years and am excited by the rapid transformation of the business, and their determination to combine deep project delivery experience with the scale and breadth of the wider group.” – David Grey, The Shore Group. With commercial and technical oversight on all Group projects, David’s new role aligns with the Group’s transformation into a tier 1 support service provider with deep technical capabilities and strong financial performance. Outside of project delivery, David has set himself a personal goal: opening up technical careers to more young people, an aim that sits alongside the Group’s wider social value programme. “Having begun my career with a JIB apprenticeship, I’m know the value in grounding a career with a strong technical skillset. In my role as Group Delivery Director, I want to create the opportunities that support employment for young people, and help them develop the skills that will support them for life.“ – David Grey, The Shore Group. That commitment to youth employment sits alongside the Group’s social value and community priorities to reduce the environmental impact of every project it delivers and continue investing in the towns and cities where it works. With a rapidly expanding team of experienced project managers, commercial managers and operational leaders supported by an in-house project workforce, The Shore Group is building a team ready to deliver on the largest frameworks and projects across the UK. With deep pre-construction and technical expertise supporting civil engineering, construction logistics, capital projects, small works and M&E delivery capabilities, The Shore Group supports clients in the built environment, property, retail, data centre and aviation sectors. Co-Founder Lewis Yorke-Johnson adds. “The Group is expanding and evolving at pace. David’s arrival further enhances the technical capabilities we have and is statement of our ambition over the coming years. The foundations of the business are strong, now it’s time to deliver more for a clients and move to another level of performance.” – Lewis Yorke-Johnson www.theshoregroup.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Conveyancing Association Chair Nicky Heathcote to step down following second term
The Conveyancing Association (CA), the leading representative body for the conveyancing industry, has today announced that Non-Executive Chair, Nicky Heathcote, will step down from her role as she nears the end of her second term leading the Association. Nicky will remain in post while the Board appoints her successor, ensuring an orderly transition and continuity across the Association’s ongoing work on behalf of its members and the wider conveyancing profession. During her tenure, Nicky has led a number of initiatives designed to strengthen the Association and ensure it continues to represent the interests of conveyancing professionals across the UK. This has included implementing a new governance framework, developing a member-focused strategy that places members at the heart of the Association’s work, encouraging firms of all sizes to join the CA to bring the whole Conveyancing community together as one voice and ensuring members’ views have been represented throughout an unprecedented number of Government consultations and industry initiatives focused on improving the home buying and selling process. Following the appointment of her successor, Nicky will continue to play an active role across the property sector as Chair of the PCCB Compliance Committee and as a member of the Women in Conveyancing Committee. The Association also confirmed that Treasurer and one of the original founders of the CA, David Hodgson is stepping down from the Board. The process of appointing successors to both Board positions is now underway. Nicky Heathcote, Non-Executive Chair of the Conveyancing Association, said: “Chairing the Conveyancing Association has given me the opportunity to work alongside our members and organisations across the wider property industry, all with a shared ambition to improve the home buying and selling process. During that time, we have strengthened the Association’s governance, developed a strategy that puts members at the heart of everything we do and ensured the profession has had a strong voice across Government consultations and industry reform. “It has been an honour to represent conveyancers and I am proud to have been part of such a collaborative community. While I will be stepping down as Chair, I remain fully committed to the sector through my wider industry roles and look forward to continuing to support the Association during the transition to a new Chair.” Eddie Goldsmith, on behalf of the Conveyancing Association Board, said: “The Board would like to thank Nicky for the leadership, commitment and direction she has provided to the Association. Under her tenure, the CA has strengthened its governance and continued to ensure the views of conveyancing professionals are represented across Government, industry and regulatory discussions. “Nicky has played an important role in strengthening collaboration across the property industry, helping ensure the CA continues to be at the centre of issues affecting conveyancers, consumers and the wider housing market. “We would also like to thank David Hodgson for his outstanding contribution as Treasurer, managing the CA not for profit books and his wider contribution during his 25 years with the Association. He has done an incredible job. The process of appointing their successors is now underway.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Aston Group, the award-winning, end-to-end building services, regeneration and compliance company have strengthened their senior leadership team with two new hires
Michael (Mike) Bevens joined the Aston Group senior leadership team in July as the new Head of Operations. Mike was formerly Operations Manager at TSG Building Services. Mike has a strong background in building services operations and contracts management with social housing and Local Authorities. In his new role overseeing the Aston Group operational performance, he will be working closely with the team to continue the successes and seek ways to continually improve delivery. Mike comments: “What has impressed me most since joining Aston Group is the commitment, expertise, and dedication of the people across the business. I’m excited to build strong relationships with colleagues, customers, and partners as we continue to enhance our services and support the company’s ambitious growth plans.” This appointment adds to the recruitment of Michael Hutchison, the new Aston Group Head of Commercial, who joined from a Commercial Manager role at Bell in May. With an extensive background in commercial management and quantity surveying, Michael brings over 15 years’ experience across social housing, property services, commercial and public sector. He has a proven track record of leading the growth and commercial performance of £multi-million operations, with expertise spanning financial governance, reporting, risk management and team development across planned maintenance, decarbonisation, fire protection and responsive repairs. Michael shares: “Being part of a people-centric organisation is what drew me to Aston, as I believe this is among the most important attributes for a business to have. I appreciate where the business has come from and am eager to see where we will take it next.” Commenting on the new hires, Chris Masters, Managing Director of Aston Group adds: “Mike and Michael align with the Aston Group focus on operational excellence and join us at a time when we are seeking to further expand the business and build on our incredible success over the last financial year. They both have strong, relevant experience they can bring to our projects, and I look forward to working with them as new members of our senior leadership team.” For further information visit https://astongroup.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Savills Strengthens Prime London Presence with Sloane Street Office Consolidation
Savills has strengthened its prime central London residential operations by bringing together several of its key sales and lettings teams under one roof, reinforcing collaboration across some of the capital’s most prestigious property markets. The property consultancy has relocated its Knightsbridge residential sales and lettings teams to its flagship office at 139 Sloane Street, creating a central hub for its prime residential business covering Chelsea, Knightsbridge, Belgravia and Mayfair. The move forms part of a wider operational consolidation strategy designed to enhance collaboration between specialist teams while providing clients with access to a broader range of expertise from a single location. Sloane Street, Savills’ largest and longest-established residential office in central London, now brings together residential sales, lettings and specialist advisory services within one of the capital’s most sought-after property districts. While the Knightsbridge lettings team will continue to operate under its existing brand and retain responsibility for the same geographical area, its relocation will allow closer day-to-day collaboration with colleagues across the wider Prime Central London business. The office also accommodates Savills’ London Private Office and Super Prime Lettings team, creating a comprehensive residential property hub serving domestic and international buyers, investors, landlords and tenants across London’s luxury housing market. For the residential property sector, the consolidation reflects an increasing focus on integrated client services, where sales, lettings and specialist advisory teams work more closely together to meet the evolving needs of high-net-worth individuals and institutional investors operating within Prime Central London. Richard Gutteridge, Head of Prime Central London and Head of the Sloane Street office, said: “We are delighted to be bringing everyone together under one roof. Having everyone back home at Sloane Street marks an exciting new chapter for the business, and increased collaboration will enable us to continue delivering the market-leading service our clients expect. With the Private Office and Super Prime Lettings team on hand, there will be even closer alignment across the whole of Prime Central London.” Georgina Bartlett, Head of Sloane Street Lettings, added: “We are very much looking forward to welcoming our colleagues to Sloane Street. Our personal approach and commitment to clients are second to none, and bringing our teams together will further strengthen communication, collaboration and the service we provide. This move creates an exceptional platform from which to support clients across some of London’s most sought-after residential markets.” The consolidation marks another step in Savills’ long-term investment in its Prime Central London operations, positioning its flagship Sloane Street office as a key destination for residential sales, lettings and advisory services while strengthening the firm’s presence across the capital’s luxury property market. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Developer confidence deteriorates further as specialist finance becomes increasingly critical
Jonathan Samuels, CEO of specialist lender, Octane Capital, believes that continued economic uncertainty has further weakened confidence across the UK development sector during the second quarter of 2026, with developers becoming increasingly reliant on specialist finance to help navigate a more challenging market. The quarterly survey, commissioned by Octane Capital, tracks how developer sentiment, project appetite and reliance on specialist finance are shifting as market conditions evolve. The latest research shows that just 23% of developers now believe UK property market conditions will improve during 2026, down from 35% in the previous quarter, with more than three quarters (77%) now expecting conditions to remain challenging. As confidence has deteriorated, reliance on specialist finance has continued to strengthen. More than four in five developers (83%) now say they expect to utilise specialist finance to help navigate current market conditions, up from 72% in Q1. Bridging finance remains the most widely expected specialist lending product, with expected usage increasing from 40% to 44% quarter-on-quarter. Development finance has also seen an increase in demand, rising from 24% to 29%. The survey also suggests that developers are becoming increasingly cautious when it comes to progressing new projects. Whilst the proportion more likely to break ground on development or investment projects remained unchanged at 20%, the number stating they are less likely to proceed has climbed sharply from 37% to 57%. At the same time, the proportion expecting activity levels to remain broadly unchanged has almost halved, falling from 43% to 23%. This more cautious outlook reflects the continued challenges facing the sector, with almost all developers surveyed (97%) stating that obstacles remain within the current market. High build and labour costs remain the most significant challenge, cited by 35% of respondents, whilst concern around planning delays and uncertainty has increased notably to 29%, making it the second biggest barrier to development activity. Despite the weakening outlook, developers continue to believe that improvements to the lending environment could help unlock activity. Falling interest rates were identified as the single biggest factor that could improve market conditions (23%), followed by improved lender confidence (20%) and greater availability of finance (16%). The findings suggest that whilst confidence has weakened further, developers remain focused on progressing opportunities where possible, increasingly looking towards specialist lenders capable of providing the speed, flexibility and certainty required to navigate today’s more complex market. Jonathan Samuels, CEO of Octane Capital, commented: “The second quarter has seen confidence soften further, with developers clearly becoming more cautious about both current market conditions and the prospects for the remainder of the year. Build costs remain stubbornly high, planning delays continue to frustrate development activity, and wider economic uncertainty is making it increasingly difficult for developers to commit to new projects with confidence. At the same time, we’re seeing specialist finance become more important than ever. The continued increase in demand reflects the fact that developers still want to transact, but they’re increasingly looking for lenders that can provide the speed, flexibility and certainty needed to navigate a far more complex market. Whilst sentiment has undoubtedly weakened, opportunities still exist for those able to move decisively, and that’s exactly where specialist finance continues to play such an important role.” Data Tables and Sources Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Jan Green becomes Chief Commercial Officer for STARK Building Materials UK
STARK Building Materials UK has appointed Jan Green as Chief Commercial Officer, strengthening its senior leadership team as the business continues to develop its commercial strategy and industry partnerships. Jan brings more than 12 years’ experience in the building materials and distribution sector, having held senior commercial roles with other leading merchants. She has extensive expertise in developing supplier relationships, identifying opportunities for growth, and creating greater value for customers and commercial partners. In her new role, Jan will focus on strengthening STARK UK’s partnerships with suppliers and ensuring they have the support, insight and visibility needed to succeed in an evolving and challenging market. She will also work across STARK UK and its brands to help make the business the go-to merchant for products and materials, connecting strong supplier partnerships with the changing needs of customers. Jan’s appointment will build on STARK UK’s customer-first approach and support its ambition to be the UK’s number one building and materials distributor and partner of choice. Jan said: “I’m thrilled to be stepping into the role of Chief Commercial Officer for STARK Building Materials UK. The business has strong foundations and trusted relationships with customers and suppliers, giving us an exciting platform from which to grow. “I’m looking forward to working with colleagues and partners across the industry to strengthen those relationships, create new opportunities and make a positive difference to our business, our customers and the wider sector.” Commenting on her appointment, Ian Goldsmith, Chief Strategy Officer at STARK UK, said: “Jan’s expertise in the building and materials distribution sector combined with her passion for developing strong and lasting supplier and customer relationships is a huge asset to STARK UK. I have no doubt she will make a meaningful impact on both our business and the industry as a whole.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
