IFSDG: How long have you worked in
HFD Property
Group?
Stephen: 11 years
IFSDG: How many people work at
HFD Property Group?
Stephen: Over 100 across our 4 main divisions
of Development, Construction, Management and Investment.
IFSDG: What is the vision for HFD
Property Group in Glasgow?
Stephen: We want to help businesses in Glasgow
to attract and retain the best employees and by building
exceptional office space we hope it will help those companies
attract exceptional staff. We're designing buildings that meet the
needs of employees today and in the future, with a focus on
wellness, connectivity and sustainability.
Our Bothwell Exchange development is helping to meet the demand
for new grade A office space and we hope to continue to be able to
play a part in supporting and encouraging inward investment into
the city.
177 Bothwell Street is set to become Glasgow's largest single
office building.
IFSDG: What's a typical day for you?
Stephen: It's an old cliché but no day is
typical. I'm normally in the office for 7:30am to allow myself time
to plan the day and get through tasks that require some quiet time.
It's then a mix of internal meetings with our construction and
property management teams or our external design teams, agents or
lawyers. Projects can range from letting 200 sq.ft to a new start
business in our managed office portfolio, to submitting a proposal
to a corporate occupier for a new £100m office.
IFSDG: Why did HFD Property
Group choose to locate in the IFSD in
Glasgow?
Stephen: When you're building a new office
space, it's all about location, location, location. The IFSD is a
fantastic area with nearby transport links, a wide range of
amenities and is home to some of the largest multi-national brands
that you'd be proud to call neighbours.
IFSDG: Three good things about working
in Glasgow?
Stephen: People (in terms of both staff
availability and the Glasgow attitude), connectivity/transport and
amenities (shops, restaurants etc).
IFSDG: What is your biggest business achievement
to date?
Stephen: In terms of current projects, 177
Bothwell Street is the single largest office development in Glasgow
and will provide exceptional office accommodation when completed in
June 2021.
In terms of previous projects, we will always be immensely proud
of our G1 development on George Square. Taking a fantastic but
unloved building that lay vacant for 10 years and creating new
office space for over 1,500 staff is a great business
achievement.
IFSDG: What is the best investment you ever
made?
Stephen: Not a typical investment, but
completing a Land Economics BSc at University West of Scotland (or
Paisley University as it was in my day!). A fantastic degree with
the benefit of a full year's vocational placement which I spent in
Aberdeen. That year out working set the foundation for my
career.
IFSDG: Which businessperson or company do you most
admire and why?
Stephen: Professionally, it would be Richard
Branson of Virgin. He has been and continues to be hugely
successful across such a wide range of businesses, yet his staff
appear to adore him and he seems to have a lot of fun along the
way.
IFSDG: What did you want to be when you were a
child?
Stephen: As a child I wanted to be a
firefighter, just like my Dad. As a teenager this very quickly
changed to a Property Surveyor - sad but true.
IFSDG: What do you do to relax away from the
office?
Stephen: I spend as much time with my wife and
4-year old daughter as I can when I am away from the office but I
can't say that it's very relaxing!!
IFSDG: I-Phone or Android?
Stephen: Android (Samsung Galaxy for me).
IFSDG: Favourite band?
Stephen: Chvrches
IFSDG: Favourite sport?
Stephen: Formula 1 Grand Prix (if you can call
it a sport).
IFSDG: Favourite movie?
Stephen: The Pursuit of Happiness
IFSDG: Sunshine or snow?
Stephen: Sunshine please.
IFSDG: and finally, what three words sum you
up?
Stephen: Driven, passionate and humorous
(sometimes!).