Marking 17 years… a reflection from Jonathan Shaw, CEO

To celebrate AG reaching the legal driving age, our CEO Jonathan Shaw shares his reflections on the journey so far – from humble beginnings to a thriving business withthree offices and a national client base. As we look ahead to an exciting new chapter, Jonathan also hints at the changes just around the corner… 

Seventeen years ago, I was a one-man band, working from home before ‘WFH’ was a thing. After leaving international consultancies in Manchester, I realised I missed having a team around me – a tribe to build something with.

One day, I noticed another building surveyor had set up shop nearby. On a whim, I knocked on his door and said, “Fancy growing something together?” It was a big risk – we didn’t know each other well – but as it turned out, we were the perfect balance, yin and yang. Andrew and I got an office and dove into Anderton Gables, figuring things out as we went. No systems, just a golf bag-shaped office phone and a lot of ambition.

I remember experimenting with ‘Dragon Naturally Speaking’ dictation software – a bit of a disaster. I still laugh about it signing off one email with “please do not contact me” instead of “do not hesitate to contact me.”

Those early days were a mix of residential surveys, expert witness disrepair claims, and any commercial work we could land. Our first jobs with Travis Perkins and NCP were a massive boost – but back then, we had no idea we’d grow to a team of 50, with three offices and a client list that includes some of the biggest names in the industry.

Over the past 17 years, we’ve navigated some serious challenges – the credit crunch, Brexit and the Covid pandemic – but we’ve always come out stronger.

One of the biggest hurdles we face today is recruitment, especially with building surveyors becoming harder to find, as fewer people entered the industry during the recession. That’s why we’re so focused on developing home-grown talent through apprenticeships and training programs – making sure we nurture the next generation of surveyors.

As we celebrate 17 years, we’re not just looking back – we’re gearing up for a new era at AG. Stay tuned, there’s something exciting on the horizon… something that reflects where we’ve come from and where we’re headed. Watch this space!

And if you’re looking for a new challenge – and fancy joining a team of down to earth professionals – we’re looking for Chartered Building Surveyors to join us in Manchester and Liverpool. Drop me a note on LinkedIn if you’d like to find out more.