By David Garness, Group Managing Director
It was great to see so many familiar and friendly faces as we held the first Garness Group Christmas get-together for three years.
As always it provided a great opportunity to catch up with so many people and learn about how their businesses have progressed, and where they are heading as we look forward to 2023.
It was also great for me to have the opportunity to speak shortly about my pride in how our business has evolved in 2022.
Over the past 12 months we have formed into a group of three businesses.
Gro Residential Management delivers residential letting management with a strong focus on portfolios and property owners with a business-like approach to investment.
Pure Block Management provides specialist residential block management for apartment developments, and housing developments.
And Garness Jones continues to deliver specialists agency, management, and professional services for commercial property.
These three companies are supported by the overarching Garness Group, a small team that provides admin and accounts expertise needed to free up the trading businesses to focus on delivering a great service level for all our clients.
The change in structure was certainly a big moment for our business – and one a long time in planning – but it has laid the foundations to ensure we build upon 25 years of success.
But it was only one of many milestone moments over the past 12 months, with other notable developments including;
- Moving premises from our trusty home on Beverley Road that served us so well to fantastic offices in the Fruit Market, providing a great working environment for our teams and visiting clients.
- Investing heavily in technology to improve our service levels for clients.
- Investing in our people, bringing in additional experienced personnel and youth to build for the future.
- Being involved with and delivering a number of landmark deals in the area, such as the continued development and expansion of Melton West, which is to be the new home of Smith & Nephew, and the sale of 30 acres of prime city development land at St Andrews Quay.
St Paul’s was a perfect venue given its positive influence on the city
It was great to host our event in the fantastic surroundings of St Paul’s Boxing Academy, a charity we are immensely proud to support at Garness Group, and for which I am a trustee.
With the support of many businesses, individuals, charitable trusts, and Hull City Council, we have managed to deliver an essential refurbishment, and the organisation has evolved into an Academy.
However, as I explained at our event, St Paul’s does so much more than produce champion boxers.
Working with organisations such as CatZero, NHS Mental Health and Hull College, who use the premises as well as people with health issues linked to such as Parkinson’s, dementia, mental health and PTSD, the club now has around 500 members of all ages and backgrounds.
So whilst producing champion boxers is very important, just as important is the example provided in self-discipline and commitment. The champions are great role models and help pull along those that have maybe gone down the wrong path or just need some support to boost self-confidence and to make the right choices in life.
Such people become champions in their own right, and this translates into business too.
There are many former St Paul’s members that have used the values they have picked up here in developing successful careers and creating their own businesses. All of this makes a positive contribution to our economy.
Hopefully, by staging our event at St Paul’s, we have introduced the club to a few new people, who may well now get on board and offer their support – or just spread the word further as to the positive impact it has. I was certainly proud to host our event there, and I am sure people picked up upon my passion for the club too.
Finally, I want to thank both those who attended last week, and those who couldn’t attend, who we have worked with again for your business, support, and friendship in 2022. Many we have worked with for a number of years.
And, on behalf of the Garness Group team, I want to wish all a happy Christmas and prosperous 2023.
