YRPS Insight: Edition Eight - Flipbook - Page 47
QUESTION TIME
MICHAEL BLAKE, DIRECTOR
DUMFRIES
Lochar House, Heathhall
Dumfries DG1 3NU
01387 402277
ALNWICK
31-33 Bondgate Within, Alnwick
Northumberland NE66 1SX
01665 606800
HEXHAM
Priestpopple, Hexham
Northumberland NE46 1PS
01434 608980
How long have you been at youngsRPS and give us an
overview of what you do day-to-day?
I am Director of the Newcastle commercial property office
of youngsRPS and have been with the company since the
merger with Stanton Mortimer in 2017. Previously I had
been with Stanton Mortimer since 2002, and before that I
was an equity partner at Lamb & Edge, which later became
the Newcastle office for GVA, now Avison Young. I am
involved in various aspects of commercial property, including
management, landlord and tenant work, lettings, valuation
and investment work. I advise a number of property owners
including property investment companies and Charitable
Trusts.
What attracted you to your industry?
From an early age, I was very interested in the built
environment and initially started out on a degree in
architectural studies. I was firmly science based at school
however, I soon realised I lacked the basic art and design
ability to make it as an architect… It hit home during one
project when I struggled to evolve wallpaper designs from
natural plant forms! I am no William Morris. I looked for an
alternative route, which involved buildings, but not their
design. I therefore, went down the urban estate management
route, which led me to becoming a chartered surveyor, and I
never really looked back.
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What has been your greatest achievement?
Outside work, probably producing three well rounded kids
and seeing them establish themselves in their own right.
In the office, there is no one specific thing that springs to
mind, but perhaps winning a large management commission,
or acquiring, on behalf of clients, a high value investment, is
always very satisfying
What has been your biggest challenge?
Steering my businesses through difficult economic times,
such as the recession that followed the financial collapse 10
years ago. The lessons we learnt from that will help us to deal
with the situation in which we find ourselves at the moment
regarding the COVID-19 crisis.
How do you get the best out of what you do?
Adopt a pragmatic common-sense approach to solving
problems or achieving a result. In our line of work, you
need to be strong, but I try to avoid confrontation wherever
possible.
What do you find most interesting about your industry?
Early on in my career, a senior surveyor told me that surveying
was not a property profession but a people profession. That
is very true. I find the diverse range of people I work with –
clients, tenants, other professionals, really fascinating.
NEWCASTLE
23 Grey Street
Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 6EE
0191 2610300
SEDGEFIELD
50 Front Street, Sedgefield
County Durham TS21 2AQ
01740 617377
NORTHALLERTON
80-81 High Street, Northallerton
North Yorkshire DL7 8EG
01609 773004