ESTATES MANAGER CANDIDATE INFORMATION PACK
Dear Candidate Thank you for your interest in the role of Estates Manager with AF Blakemore & Son Ltd, one of the largest and most forward-thinking family-owned businesses in the UK. Established in 1917 as a counter-service grocery store, A.F. Blakemore has grown over the last 100 years into a national portfolio of brands, including 263 SPAR stores, Philpotts, a chain of prepared- food stores, and Vegan Store, a specialist online wholesaler and retailer. Across the UK A.F. Blakemore employs more than 7,000 people and has a turnover of circa £1.1 billion. A.F. Blakemore is the largest SPAR distribution company in the UK and a member of the Unitas Wholesale and Country Range groups and is a significant supplier to the independent grocery sector as well as pubs, restaurants and caterers across the UK. The business is committed to developing a loyal and dedicated workforce that is focused upon excellent customer service and behaving with integrity. The company has always strived to build partnerships with suppliers and trade partners while never underestimating the role that it plays within the communities it serves. Underpinning everything that A.F. Blakemore does is the company’s values statement, the Blakemore Way. This highlights what A.F. Blakemore stands for and the way that the company has always done and will continue to do business. They’re seeking a diligent, solutions focussed Estates Manager, to oversee the management of A.F. Blakemore’s diverse portfolio. This is an exciting opportunity to join a client side, values led business with an excellent culture and a supportive working environment.
Please read on to find out more about A.F. Blakemore and the opportunity.
Daniah Williams MRICS
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ABOUT US
trading divisions 105 years old
A.F. Blakemore was founded in 1917 by Arthur and Harriet Blakemore in Wolverhampton and has grown to become one of the UK’s largest privately owned family businesses. Click here to find out more about the history of the Blakemore brand. A.F. Blakemore’s success has been built upon a distinct culture focused upon positive and friendly relations with staff, customers and the communities it serves. The Blakemore Way is a means to define this culture and ensure that the longstanding values of the Blakemore family continue to drive the company’s growth for the next century. The Blakemore Way underpins A.F. Blakemore’s approach to business and puts into words what the company stands for and why it exists.
Logistics Blakemore Logistics distributes to more than 900 SPAR stores across England and Wales and supports the distribution needs of the A.F. Blakemore group. Our Logistics division occupies warehousing across 7 sites, 2 of which are owned by the group on a freehold basis. Our operations within these buildings serve customers across our Blakemore Retail own store estate (263), Blakemore Trade Partners SPAR stores, operated by independent retailers (650), as well as Wholesale Distribution, Food Service and Fresh Foods divisions. Whilst our SPAR trading area is geographically localised, our Wholesale Distribution, Food Service and Fresh Foods divisions operate nationally.
Blakemore Retail With more than 5,000 employees and 263 SPAR stores located across England and Wales, Blakemore Retail is the largest independent convenience store operator in the UK. Also under our remit is 15 Philpotts Sandwich Shops, 23 Greggs and 50 Subway franchises. We also operate 115 Post Offices which includes 41 Main Offices (traditional fortress counters) and 74 Local/Local Plus counters where customers are served at our normal SPAR service points. Of the 263 SPAR stores operated by Blakemore Retail the group owns the freehold of 63 stores with an OPCO/PROPCO structure in place between Blakemore Property Ltd and AF Blakemore and Son Ltd. The landlords across our leasehold properties range from large property investors/institutions to single store landlords who have often historically operated the convenience store business at the site. We plan to expand the Blakemore Retail store portfolio by way of the acquisition of existing business and new to market sites by 25 new sites per year.
7,000 colleagues £1.1 billion
annual sales
Our Purpose To grow a family business in ways that are profitable and sustainable for the benefit of colleagues, customers and communities
Our Values:
We build a better future. We strive to create a better place for the next generation. By thinking of tomorrow but acting today. We are rooted in our communities and the environment and believe passionately about playing our part in making them sustainable. We achieve our goals together. Our strength comes from our collective success. We invest in every person and partnership, nurturing talent, and equipping our teams with the skills they need to flourish. While our business strategies and operations must change constantly in response to the changing world, our Purpose and Values will remain a constant.
We are one inclusive team. Our people are our strength, everyone is a key part of the team. We listen and support. We treat each other with kindness, fairness, empathy and respect, and celebrate not just what we have in common, but our differences too. We behave with honesty and integrity. We believe honesty and integrity are everything. We say what we mean and do what we say. We're authentic and open. We're true to our word with our colleagues, our customers and our partners. We strive for excellence. We love to do better both for our customers and for our people. Even the things that work well, we seek to improve because we’re passionate about service, innovation and results. We love a challenge.
Blakemore Trade Partners Blakemore Trade Partners supports the independent SPAR estate of A.F. Blakemore & Son Ltd. We have a ‘headlease’ property interest in 55 of the SPAR Convenience Stores operated by our trade partners these arrangements tie our partners to trading under the SPAR brand and purchasing the goods sold in them from AFB. We have plans to expand this by 20 sites per year by acquiring new sites in conjunction with our trade partners and entering into headlease arrangements with existing customers.
Blakemore Property Ltd Blakemore Property Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of AF Blakemore and Son Ltd and owns the groups freehold properties which are predominantly let back to the group on an institutional lease basis. Blakemore Property Ltd also act as a property developer completing new build schemes and conversions of existing buildings for operation by the Blakemore Group.
THE ROLE Estates Manager Location: Willenhall, West Midlands Working Pattern: Office based Reports to: Property Director
Established in 1917, A.F. Blakemore & Sons Ltd is one of the largest and most forward-thinking family-owned businesses in the UK. They’re seeking a diligent, solutions focussed Estates Manager, to oversee the management of A.F. Blakemore’s diverse portfolio. This is an exciting opportunity to join a client side, values led business with an excellent culture and a supportive working environment. The successful candidate will feel comfortable Dealing with a range of Landlord and Tenant matters such as overseeing dilapidations, licenses for alterations and alienation. Work closely with the Property Director in managing your own workload include estates management issues and lease event management, including external consultants where necessary • Assist on all estates matters to ensure the estate remains fit for purpose, allowing the retail and logistics teams to operate effectively and profitably • Manage and take ownership of responsibility in all aspects including business rates, service charges insurance and general estates issues • Routine liaison / correspondence with the leadership team, facilities managers, solicitors, tenants, landlords, together with third party advisers where appropriate. • Ensure all statutory compliance and requirements are met. • Dealing with a range of Landlord and Tenant matters such as overseeing dilapidations, licenses for alterations and alienation • Providing advice on project delivery as appropriate and provision of additional services as required. • Prepare ad-hoc reports and strategy documents as required by the leadership team • Ensure lease events are diarised and reported to the leadership team and their instructions acted upon. Main Duties •
To Be Considered • Effectively multi-task and jump onto differing priorities as they appear • MRICS Qualified desired but not essential. • Previous experience of successfully managing mixed-use portfolios essential. • Self-motivated, ability to deliver set objectives to tight timescales. • Lease management, tenant applications and service charge management experience. • Health & Safety awareness. • Knowledge and understanding of RICS Service Charge Code. Benefits of Employment • Company car (grade 3) or allowance of £6,474 p/a • Bonus of up to 10% of annual salary • Private medical insurance • 34 days holiday per year including public holidays (Increasing after 3, 5 and 10 years) • Company sick pay after 6 months employment, up to a maximum of 26 weeks • Mobile Phone & laptop • Enhanced Maternity & Paternity pay packages • Early access to your pay through ‘EarlyPay’ • 24/7 access to your payslips via HR/Payroll portal • 12.5% Staff discount on fresh items & 10% Staff Discount on ambient products in our company owned SPAR stores (ex. Alcohol & Cigarettes) • Wellbeing support via Grocery Aid – access
to emotional support, counselling, legal and financial advice • Wellbeing App via YuLife – Free 24/7 virtual GP service / Retail discount reward scheme for participation in healthy activities • Company Pension Scheme (2 year service eligibility criteria) • Company Life Insurance worth 1 x annual salary, and 6 x annual salary with Company Pension Scheme membership • NEST pension scheme • Extra Holiday - Purchase Scheme • Cycle2Work – Salary sacrifice cycle purchase scheme • Long Service Awards at key service milestones (e.g. 25 years’ service is £500 in retail vouchers and extra 4 weeks paid sabbatical leave) • Voluntary health cash plans (BHSF) • Opportunity to participate in planned community activities during normal working hours • Payroll giving Equal Opportunities We are an equal opportunities employer and do not discriminate on the grounds of gender, sexual orientation, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, gender reassignment, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, disability or age.
If you would like to find out more about this opportunity, please get in touch with A.F. Blakemore's recruitment partner, The Management Recruitment Group. Daniah Williams MRICS Business Director – Real Estate m: 07989 435 960 e: daniah.williams@mrgglobal.com
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