Savills : expands rating department with new team in Birmingham

International real estate advisor Savills has expanded its rating department with the appointment of two directors who will be based at the firm's Innovation Court office in Birmingham.

Mark Radford joins from JLL and has more than 25 years experience in business rates . He previously worked at DTZ (now Cushman & Wakefield) and has provided strategic advice on rateable values across most sectors in the Midlands and beyond. Mark has also advised clients including the British Retail Consortium Property Advisory Group on civil proceedings regarding billing, collection and enforcement and twice appeared before House of Commons Select Committees to discuss rating matters.

Nick Chatterley also joins from JLL and has more than 36 years experience in rating, including previous roles in local government with Dudley MBC and private practice with PwC. His expertise includes advice concerning empty property rates for new and existing property and the associated legal processes.

David Parker, national head of rating at Savills, comments: 'Mark and Nick have been a formidable team for a number of years, building an excellent reputation in the Midlands and further afield. We are extremely pleased to be welcoming them into our thriving Birmingham office and expanding the national rating team which is now based across London, Bristol, Chester and Scotland. At a time when business rates are being used by the Government to raise ever increasing revenue, it is vital that businesses embrace cost mitigation and liability management.'

Barry Allen, head of Savills Birmingham, adds: 'Our Birmingham office continues to go from strength to strength and the addition of a rating team has further enhanced the full range of property services we can offer clients. Mark and Nick have a well-established reputation in the industry and we look forward to both working with them and introducing them to our clients.'