NEWS
GROUP EXPANSION
VAS is feeling right at home in new Tees base
BY DAVE ROBSON
A
firm that helps lenders negotiate the property valuation minefield has been making itself at home in its new Middlesbrough base .
VAS Group , the UK ’ s leading property valuation and project monitoring panel management company , moved into prestigious new premises at Riverside Park , Middlesbrough , earlier this year .
And it ’ s a move that has been welcomed by staff and clients alike .
The business , previously based in Redcar , employs 25 staff who assist high street and specialist financial lenders ( both bank and non-bank ) identify the best surveyors to carry out commercial and residential property valuations across the UK .
The 3,000-sq ft office , Stephenson House , is three times bigger than its previous home . And it means that as well as having the space to allow safe working in line with government guidelines as lockdown restrictions ease , the extra room will house new employees as the business grows through 2021 , with eight new staff already taken on during VAS Group ’ s first few months at Riverside Park .
The additional space will also help streamline the firm ’ s IT and technical support , which are key to delivering integrated system solutions for lenders , brokers and valuers .
VAS Group co-founder , Teesside businesswoman Gina May , said : “ Every decision we make is based on service , and the new office marks an essential investment in ensuring we continue to deliver consistently high results and solutions for our clients to enable everyone to succeed .
“ While 2020 was a challenging year for every business in the property sector , we delivered solutions to ensure lenders , brokers and valuers could operate through the lockdown periods .
“ And since the property market reopened last June , our numbers have been exceptional .
“ We love being based in the North-East , and our move into Middlesbrough was very much welcomed by all our staff . Not only do they have better transport links but as we expand , the local talent pool is far more accessible .
“ These are extremely exciting times and we are in the right place to flourish .”
Founded in Wilmslow five years ago as Valuation Audit Services ( hence VAS ), VAS Group has three components : > VAS Panel – a full valuation and project monitoring panel management service for lenders . It currently looks after around 90 lenders throughout the country , with more than 200 valuation firms across all sectors and locations .
> VAS Audit – a dedicated valuation auditing and assurance business .
> VAS Software – a bespoke cloud-based valuation system which allows lenders to manage their own valuations panel more effectively and with more transparency . VAS Panel MD Graham Moore said : “ In the last 12 months , the business here has provided over £ 2bn worth of valuations for lenders . This is a real local success story .”
But while technology is important , VAS believes its employees are key to the firm ’ s success : “ People with technology , not technology with people .”
And as if to emphasise the importance of its people , two new director roles were recently created through four promotions .
Louise Chapman , who started in November 2017 , is now operations director , controlling the day-to-day running
Promotions - VAS Group staff have moved into new director and managerial roles .
of VAS Panel . This includes relationship management with both new and existing clients .
Finance and compliance director Lisa Southall originally joined the team in March 2019 and is now responsible for all aspects of finance and audit control .
In addition , Natalie Keenan , who started in August 2018 , was moved up to operations manager , while Mollie McLoughlin , who joined in October 2018 , was promoted to assistant operations manager .
Louise , Lisa , Natalie and Mollie are all from Teesside .
Gina May said : “ I truly believe we have one of the best and most dedicated teams in the valuations market .
“ Louise , Lisa , Natalie and Mollie all deserved their promotions because of the leading roles they have played in building the business , and their vision for its future .”
VAS Group co-founder Stephen Todd added : “ The group has reached a level where the company requires a far more traditional board structure to meet all future growth aims .
“ For these roles , we only had to look at the people within the business because we have so many exceptional staff who will rise to the challenge .”
Visit vas-group . co . uk
The voice of business in the Tees region | 53