Alex Kirkhope, partner, commercial, Shoosmiths

Kirkhope is a partner in Shoosmiths’ commercial team, based in Leeds, and acts for clients across the public and private sectors on transactions involving the procurement and use of technology. In addition to his lengthy track record of advising on major IT and business process outsourcings for UK government and local, national and international corporates, he has also worked on a range of projects reflecting the growing use of technology and data in the built environment, ranging from his role advising technology providers on the deployment of “smart city” solutions in UK cities through to his involvement in high value technology-led transactions in the real estate investment and development sector.

Dr Helen Hughes, associate professor, Leeds University Business School

Hughes is an associate professor at Leeds University Business School and a chartered occupational psychologist. She has expertise in workplace collaboration, studying the social dynamics of workplace relationships and the ways that organisations can harness them to improve both their performance and efficiency, and the wellbeing and satisfaction of their employees. Hughes is passionate about engaging with organisations so that research can be used to support business and community development. She has secured £899,000 in direct funding, and has worked in partnership with industrial partners ranging from Rolls-Royce and Arup, to the NHS, The Alzheimer’s Society, and Leeds City Council. Currently, she is a co-investigator on ESRC-funded project Adapting Offices for the Future of Work, which is looking to support economic recovery by identifying effective office design and work practice adaptations that also support remote and hybrid working.

Chair: Tim Burke, deputy editor, EG

Burke joined EG as deputy editor in July 2019, before which he was property editor at Financial News, a Dow Jones publication. Earlier in his career he wrote for and edited magazines covering capital markets and businesses across developed and emerging economies, including titles at The Economist Group and Thomson Reuters.

Mark Jackson, development director, Scarborough Group International

Jackson is a senior member of the SGI leadership team, having worked for the group for nearly 18 years. Based in London, he initially joined the SGI in 1995 under the Teesland banner working within the property development team. In 2002 he joined one of SGI’s development partners, Gladedale Group, eventually becoming managing director of its mixed-use division. He then rejoined SGI in January 2010 following its acquisition of a number of new assets and expansion of its property development business across the UK. As development director, Jackson leads the masterplan vision and delivery of a number of SGI’s development projects, including three of its four flagship Northern Powerhouse schemes; Thorpe Park Leeds, Sheffield Digital Campus and Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park.

Mark Wilson, director, UK investment, Savills

Wilson works in the Leeds office, specialising in commercial and mixed-use strategic investment advice in the Northern Regions. He has a strong track record having provided advice on commercial and mixed-use developments, investments sales and acquisitions, including a number of sale and leaseback transactions. He has 16 years’ experience in commercial property and joined Savills in 2008. Carter specialises in the Yorkshire office market. He provides agency services and strategic advice to a number of major landlords and a wide range of occupiers seeking accommodation within the Yorkshire area, with a successful track record to his name. He has advised a number of clients on the redevelopment and subsequent letting of many of Leeds’ most iconic office buildings including 9 Bond Court for Legal & General Investment Management and 7 Park Row for CBRE Global Investors.

Patrick Carter MRICS, director, national offices, north, Savills

Carter specialises in the Yorkshire office market. He provides agency services and strategic advice to a number of major landlords and a wide range of occupiers seeking accommodation within the Yorkshire area, with a successful track record to his name. He has advised a number of clients on the redevelopment and subsequent letting of many of Leeds’ most iconic office buildings, including 9 Bond Court for Legal & General Investment Management and 7 Park Row for CBRE Global Investors. Paul Pavia is the head of development for MEPC, an urban regeneration specialist and business park developer and asset manager. Pavia has overall responsibility for all development activity across the MEPC managed portfolio and is leading on the development of the Noma Estate in Manchester and Wellington Place in Leeds. He has been at MEPC for more than 12 years and has delivered more than 1m sq ft of commercial property development in that time. He is passionate about sustainable development and his team are working with some of the industry’s leading sustainability organisations to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings.

Paul Pavia, head of development, MEPC

Paul Pavia is the head of development for MEPC, an urban regeneration specialist and business park developer and asset manager. Pavia has overall responsibility for all development activity across the MEPC managed portfolio and is leading on the development of the Noma Estate in Manchester and Wellington Place in Leeds. He has been at MEPC for more than 12 years and has delivered more than 1m sq ft of commercial property development in that time. He is passionate about sustainable development and his team are working with some of the industry’s leading sustainability organisations to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings. Richard is a partner in the real estate division at Shoosmiths and was part of the original team to establish Shoosmiths in Leeds. He is a highly regarded landlord and tenant specialist and acts for some of the most active and acquisitive tenants, including household names Sports Direct, House of Fraser, Evans Cycles, Flannels and Bensons for Beds. Having lived in Yorkshire his whole life and having practiced in Leeds he has seen the city develop and evolve and has taken a legal role in developing, acquiring and financing some of the most recognisable sites in Leeds. He is acutely aware of the demands and constraints placed on developers and recognises a greater need for collaboration if Leeds are to achieve its ambitious aims.

Richard Outhwaite, partner, real estate, Shoosmiths

Outhwaite was part of the original team to establish Shoosmiths in Leeds. He is a highly regarded landlord and tenant specialist and acts for some of the most active and acquisitive tenants, including household names Sports Direct, House of Fraser, Evans Cycles, Flannels and Bensons for Beds. Having lived in Yorkshire his whole life and having practiced in Leeds, he has seen the city develop and evolve and has taken a legal role in developing, acquiring and financing some of the most recognisable sites in Leeds. He is acutely aware of the demands and constraints placed on developers and recognises a greater need for collaboration if Leeds are to achieve its ambitious aims.

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