Building better futures for all
Ever since AG was established in September 2007 in Preston, we set out with one thing in mind: to be the best. And whilst the last 18 months have been challenging to say the least, for everyone, it’s also helped our senior management team to see how we can improve and what we need to enhance to ensure clients get the best from us.
The pandemic has also shone a spotlight on how we all live, work and interact with the built environment, creating a demand for our expertise. We’ve grown the business and now have three offices across the North, providing us with the catalyst to increase our Manchester presence and take additional space at our Canada House office, facilitating growth while meeting demand.
Our clients rely on us to give them expert advice. Over the years, while we’ve helped corporate clients with their property estate, we’ve now also developed a reputation for being the first-choice partner in helping registered providers make the best use of their properties and create better sustainable communities.
Over the course of this year, we have supported client projects totalling £100 million which will help make better use of the built environment. We’ve worked on award-winning schemes for fashion empires and helped build over 500 new homes.
As our business grows, our vision has become more rounded. While we still have that drive and ambition to be the best at what we do, our team now plays a significant role in building better futures and is working on significant schemes to see existing communities revitalised or build new ones.
Whatever projects we are engaged in, they all make an impact. We’ve recently helped Community Gateway on a £2.2 million project called The Spires. It will provide much-needed accommodation for homeless people and those at risk of homelessness by offering a secure tenancy for up to three years for those hoping to get back on the housing ladder.
Our housing team is also involved with the multi-million-pound proposed regeneration of Lancaster’s Mainway estate. They are also working with Torus developments in Liverpool to see a landmark mixed-use housing scheme deliver affordable, sustainable, multi-generational living and enduring community connections.
These projects are critical because they’ll help people thrive, and we’re proud to have been involved in them as they are helping build a better future for all.
If we take that theme and look at our business, we are always looking at how to improve or level up. If we don’t develop our knowledge base and help our people progress, our clients won’t get the expertise they rely on.
AG is also in the business of building better futures for our people. Without them, we wouldn’t be where we are today, and we must invest in them too. That’s why we’ve developed the AG Academy, which provides structured training and is designed to help people excel through bespoke programmes. It will also help them climb the career ladder, becoming the future leaders of our business.
We’ve welcomed more colleagues to AG. Not only are we dedicated to investing in them, but we are also focused on creating a culture in which they can also develop personally. And we’re actively recruiting now, as we’re looking for more people to join us as we continue with our five-year business plan, which will see us double in size.
Our progress has not gone without notice, as we’ve been included in Building Magazine’s prestigious 150 Best Consultants league table, rising five places from 2019. A significant achievement given we are competing against global businesses.
Next year will be our 15th year in business, and it’s crucial for us that we never lose sight of having the intention of being the best. Best for our clients and best for our people.
Here’s to a prosperous 2022 for us all.