People Property Place – Détails, épisodes et analyse

What does it take to design and deliver a £2 billion real-estate platform serving over a million UK pensioners - while keeping a long-term focus in a short-term world?

This week, I sat down with Alistair Smith, Head of Real Estate at Border to Coast Pensions Partnership, to unpack his 30-year career spanning advisory, private-equity, and institutional real estate - and the leadership lessons learned through every market cycle.

Alistair's journey includes senior roles at abrdn, where he led European real-estate investment management, before joining Border to Coast in 2022 to launch its UK Direct and Global Indirect Pooled Funds - now managing roughly £2 billion across 11 partner funds.

We discuss navigating mergers, restructuring portfolios, and how to build enduring value in an industry defined by change.

Key Topics Covered In This Episode

✅ From Advisory to Institutional - The path from chartered surveyor to head of real estate

✅ Mergers & Change - Lessons from the abrdn / Standard Life integration

✅ Redundancy & Resilience - How to rebuild and refocus after a career shock

✅ Building Border to Coast - How to pool 11 pension funds and create a £2 billion platform

✅ Long-Term Value - Why durable income beats short-term churn in real-estate investing

✅ Market Outlook - Where he sees opportunity as core real estate rebalances

Oh, and one last thing…

In every episode, I ask each guest: Who are the People, what Property, and which Place they'd invest in if they had £500 million at their disposal?

Alistair's answer reflected discipline, clarity, and a decades-long belief in the power of durable income and quality assets 💷

Got thoughts or questions about this episode? Drop them in the comments - I'd love to hear from you.

And if you're enjoying what I'm putting out, don't forget to hit subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode.

The People Property Place Podcast is powered by Rockbourne – Recruiting Leadership & Future Leadership hires for Real Estate Funds, Owners, Investors & Developers.

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👉 http://peoplepropertyplace.com/

What does it take to stay relevant through four decades, across every market cycle, and still have the hunger to build something new?

This week, I sat down with Will Rowson, Founder of Newland Capital Partners, to unpack his 35-year journey across global real estate — from gritty East London industrial estates to leading Europe's largest investment platform — and what it really takes to adapt, evolve, and keep learning.

Will's career includes senior roles as EMEA CIO at CBRE Investment Management, Equity Partner at Hodes Weill, and CEO of Global Student Accommodation (GSA), where he helped raise over $2 billion in equity. Now, through Newland Capital Partners, he advises leading European managers on capital strategy, equity raising, and navigating a market in flux.

We discuss the power of reinvention, lessons from leadership, and where he believes opportunity lies in the "living" and logistics sectors over the next cycle.

 

Key Topics Covered In This Episode:

✅ From Strutt & Parker to CBRE — Lessons from the early days of valuation and leasing

✅ Across the Cycles — What 35 years in European real estate has taught him about timing

✅ Facing Cancer — How a life-changing diagnosis reshaped his outlook and leadership

✅ The Squeezed Middle — Why mid-sized fund managers must adapt or consolidate

✅ Continuation Funds — What they reveal about today's market

✅ Living & Logistics — Why these two sectors still offer the best risk-adjusted returns

 

Oh, and one last thing…

In every episode, I ask each guest: Who are the People, what Property, and which Place they'd invest in if they had £500 million at their disposal?

Will's answer was pragmatic, data-driven — and full of hard-won perspective 👌

 

Got any thoughts or questions about this episode? Drop them in the comments — I'd love to hear from you.

And if you're enjoying what I'm putting out, don't forget to hit subscribe and turn on the notification bell so you never miss an episode.

The People Property Place Podcast is powered by Rockbourne – Recruiting Leadership & Future Leadership hires for Real Estate Funds, Owners, Investors & Developers.

 

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👉 http://peoplepropertyplace.com/

James Craig, Co-Founder of Oval Real Estate, joins me on the People Property Place Podcast this week.   We discuss James's journey from surveying to running a diversified real estate investment business. He reflects on pivotal career decisions, key deals, and the thinking behind Oval's sector-agnostic strategy.   James shares lessons from launching Oval in a down market, building high-trust partnerships, and navigating complex development and regeneration projects. He also gives his view on current market dynamics, the role of public-private collaboration, and what it takes to build a successful, enduring real estate business.   If you're interested in real estate entrepreneurship, platform-building, public-sector partnership, or value-add investing, this episode is for you.   Key Topics Covered in This Episode:   ·       Betting on Fit Over Convention ·       Why he walked away from his APC and corporate surveying path early, in favour of an entrepreneurial property trading-led environment. ·       Skill stacking – how he learned to originate, manage, and exit deals across Europe ·       Reality of trying, (unsuccessfully) to match deals with capital, and the lessons learnt ·       Oval's origin story, approach to business, investment thesis and partnership philosophy ·       How they have pivoted during market cycles, and have deliberately avoided single-sector exposure. ·       Inside scoop on what it takes to have a successful public & private partnership ·       We discuss key deals, from Digbeth and the Langham Estate to Mayfair offices and the £900m Henderson portfolio ·       Message to would-be founders: "Don't wait. It doesn't matter if it's a good or bad market. You've just got to go for it."   And finally... With £500m to invest, which People, what Property, and which Place would he choose?   Enjoying the show?   Follow and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode.   The People Property Place Podcast  is powered by Rockbourne: Giving real estate investors a difficult choice, who to hire. If you're serious about hiring top real estate talent in 2025 and want to do it differently, DM me on LinkedIn.   #realestate #property #podcast #regeneration #realestateinvestment #placemaking #offices #birmingham #london

Robert Wolstenholme Founder of Trilogy Real Estate LLP 

Trilogy is a UK-focused investment and development management business Robert set up in 2015. He is a charismatic, creative and ideas-driven founder and a top thought leader in the education and innovation real estate space.He started his career at JLL before moving to Resolution Property where he held the title of Investment Director.

Robert has a degree in Architecture from the Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL and a qualification in Chartered Surveying (MRICS), as well as a diploma in Finance from the Securities Institute.

I sat down with Robert to discuss a broad range of subjects which covered some of the following topics:

 

How he got into real estate

Why the business is called Trilogy

Creating creative destinations

Building educational institutions for the talent of tomorrow

Opportunities in the market

FOCUS - being an inch wide mile deep investor

Raising money

Oh, and one last question - who are the People, what Property, and in which Place Robert would invest should he have £500m of capital at his disposal.

Catch the full episode which is live on Spotify, Apple and Youtube NOW!

The People Property Place Podcast 🎙 is powered by Rockbourne

Who do you want to see on the Podcast?

Link in the comments below to get listening 🎧 👇🏻

 

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6oCDnwWSTP685l6sn8F0a6

Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/people-property-place/id1652694140

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLugt7vb7tPvbp_im8m7PoAq4U0mG3TeYR

#podcast #realestate #property #peoplepropertyplace

 

Podcast produced and edited by Matt Cook at https://mattcookproducer.com/

 

Tobias Evans, Founding Partner and Chief Investment Officer at Blue Noble LLP.

Blue Noble was founded in 2017 by a team of experienced real estate professionals from HSBC Alternative Investments - During their tenure with HSBC, the team transacted in and managed over $5 billion of real estate assets across the US, Europe and Asia.

Blue Noble offers specialist real estate investment management, through club deals, segregated accounts and funds on a global basis. Toby's role here is focused on delivering bespoke investment opportunities, strategic business development, managing existing client relationships, and sourcing new capital.

Toby started his career at Knight frank, having graduated from both the university of Bristol, having studied Mechanical engineering and Cass Business school where he picked up his MA in Property Valuation and Law.

I sat down with Toby to discuss a broad range of subjects which covered some of the following topics:

 

What is the difference between a single and multi-family office?

Dealing with HNWI as clients

Challenges setting up a business

What is marriage value

Getting comparable evidence as a first mover

How he got into real estate

Opportunities in the market

Naming the business

 

Oh, and one last question - who are the People, what Property, and in which Place would Toby invest should he have £500m of capital at his disposal.

Catch the full episode which will be live on Spotify, Apple and Youtube from Thursday this week.

The People Property Place Podcast 🎙 is powered by Rockbourne

Who do you want to see on the Podcast?

Link in the comments below 👇🏻

#podcast #realestate #property #peoplepropertyplace

 

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6oCDnwWSTP685l6sn8F0a6

Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/people-property-place/id1652694140

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLugt7vb7tPvbp_im8m7PoAq4U0mG3TeYR

 

Podcast produced and edited by Matt Cook at https://mattcookproducer.com/  

Tyler Goodwin, the Founder and CEO of Seaforth Land.

Tyler has 30 years of global real estate experience and has worked in property development, advisory, investment banking, principal investment, and investment management, and has lived and worked in North America, Asia and Europe.

He has held positions at firms including – JP Morgan, Deutsche Bank, Urban Land Capital, Lodha and set Seaforth Land up in 2015 to revitalise iconic buildings and resalise inspiring schemes, with a focus on central London commercial real estate.

I sat down with Tyler to discuss a broad range of subjects which covered some of the following topics:

How he got into real estate

Working overseas

Working across agency, principal investment, lending and operator side

Learnings from global crashes

Repurposing real estate

Setting up Seaforth Land

Earning the commute

Retrofit & refurbishment

Having a fiduciary duty to investors

Oh, and one last question - who are the People, what Property, and in which Place Tyler would invest should he have £500m of capital at his disposal.

Catch the full episode which will be live on Spotify, Apple and Youtube from Thursday this week.

The People Property Place Podcast 🎙 is powered by Rockbourne

Who do you want to see on the Podcast?

Link in the comments below 👇🏻

 

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6oCDnwWSTP685l6sn8F0a6

Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/people-property-place/id1652694140

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLugt7vb7tPvbp_im8m7PoAq4U0mG3TeYR

#podcast #realestate #property #peoplepropertyplace

 

People Property Place Podcast

Hugo Llewelyn – Founder & CEO of Newcore Capital Management LLP

Newcore is a specialist investor in social infrastructure real estate in the UK and it invests in assets that are integral to society's needs.

The business was founded with a belief that capital managers can provide strong returns for investors and intentionally create a positive impact for people and the planet.

Hugo is answerable to all Newcore's stakeholders for managing the business and its investment strategy, including achieving the objectives of each of its separate account and co-mingled fund clients.

Prior to Newcore, Hugo was co-founder and Head of Investment at Protego Real Estate Investors, which was set up in 2004 and sold to Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers (now Barings) in 2010.

I sat down with Hugo to discuss a broad range of subjects which covered some of the following topics:

 

How he got into real estate

Creating investment thesis'

Fund raising

Changes in the capital management space

Balancing good business and social value

Learnings from his first business

Social infrastructure investment

Distributing 10% of company profits to charity

 

Oh, and one last question - who are the People, what Property, and in which Place Hugo would invest should he have £500m of capital at his disposal.

Catch the full episode which will be live on Spotify, Apple and Youtube from Thursday this week.

 

The People Property Place Podcast is powered by Rockbourne.

Who do you want to see on the Podcast?

 

Link in the comments below

#podcast #realestate #property #peoplepropertyplace

 

 

James Lass, Head of Operational Real Estate, Swiss Life Asset Managers UK

Swiss Life Asset Managers has more than 125 years' of experience as a real estate investment manager in Europe. In the UK, they provide three principal investment services to a broad investor base – UK Core funds, UK Separate Accounts and Joint Ventures and UK Value add Strategies.

Prior to joining Swiss Life James worked at Schroder's as a Fund Manager responsible for the Schroder UK Real Estate Fund. He started his career at Allsop, before moving to Savills.

I sat down with James to discuss a broad range of subjects which covered some of the following topics:

 

Operational real estate

View on the market

Where values lie

Growth areas

Advice he would give to those entering the market

Taking risks in your career

Closing the skill gap – moving from agency to the principal side

Role of a Fund Manager

 

Oh, and one last question - who are the People, what Property, and in which Place would James invest should he have £500m of capital at his disposal.

Catch the full episode which will be live on Spotify, Apple and Youtube from Thursday this week.

The People Property Place Podcast 🎙 is powered by Rockbourne

Who do you want to see on the Podcast?

Link in the comments below

#podcast #realestate #property #peoplepropertyplace

Sarah Jones – Head of Asset Management at Brightbay Real Estate Partners

Sarah has 15 years of experience in real estate and has worked at Brightbay Real Estate Partners, formally RDI REIT since July 2015. She specialises in creative hands-on asset management in a range of commercial real estate sectors. 

Prior to this she was at ExxonMobil where she worked across EMEA looking at innovative solutions to the real estate needs of the company. Sarah started her career at DTZ completing her qualification with experience in valuations and corporate recovery.

I sat down with Sarah to discuss a broad range of subjects which covered some of the following topics:

 

How she got into real estate

Early career moves & learnings

Differences between working for a REIT & Private Equity Business

Active asset Management

Benefits of working with a career coach

Winning Gold at the World Cup

How focusing on your strengths is a winning strategy

 

Oh, and one last question - who are the People, what Property, and in which Place would Sarah invest should she have £500m of capital at her disposal.

Catch the full episode which will be live on Spotify, Apple and Youtube from Thursday this week.

The People Property Place Podcast 🎙 is powered by Rockbourne

Who do you want to see on the Podcast?

Link in the comments below

#podcast #realestate #property #peoplepropertyplace

People Property Place Podcast

Ian Marcus OBE – Senior Adviser, Eastdil Secured

Ian is a graduate of the University of Cambridge having studied Land Economy. Since then, he has held roles at Bank of America, UBS, NatWest, Deutsche and Credit Suisse.

He currently sits on the board of 12 companies – everyone from Eastdill Secured, Elysian Residences, Town Centre Securities PLC, Work.life, Shurguard Self-Storage along with a number of others outside the real estate world.

I sat down with Ian to discuss a broad range of subjects which covered some of the following topics:

How he got into real estate

People, People, People

Network & relationships

Risk aversion

Job selection criteria

Capital structures

Balancing 12 jobs!

Opportunities in the market

Favourite deals

Real estate heroes

 

Oh, and one last question - who are the People, what Property, and in which Place Ian would invest should he have £500m of equity at his disposal.

Catch the full episode which will be live on Spotify, Apple and Youtube from Thursday this week.

The People Property Place Podcast? is powered by Rockbourne.

Who do you want to see on the Podcast?

Link in the comments below

#podcast #realestate #property #peoplepropertyplace