INVESTMENT
PICTURE : TOM BANKS .
Make it Middlesbrough
Mayor Andy Preston ( left ) joined managing director Ian Lowes to mark the arrival of Lowes Financial Management to Middlesbrough .
Lowes Financial joins the Boro boom with new office move
Back in 1971 , Edward Heath was prime minister , Arsenal were the league and cup winners , Michael Caine starred in the now-iconic Get Carter and T-Rex stormed the charts with their effervescent hit Get It On . It didn ’ t grab the same sort of headlines , but a young , well-intentioned and determined Ken Lowes rented a small office on Newcastle ’ s Pilgrim Street , with a view to providing independent financial advice with a difference .
People were living through 9.4 % inflation 1 , £ 5,632 average house prices 2 and £ 2,000-a-year average salaries 3 , so finances being structured correctly made a big difference to how they experienced the years ahead .
Ken ’ s objective was to build an independent service that prided itself on a personal approach to financial planning , enabling him to help people with their personal finances and allowing clients and their families to achieve their goals to build , protect and ultimately pass on their wealth .
After Ken ’ s son , Ian , took over the reins as managing director in 2002 , he continued to grow the business , with Lowes moving in 2016 to a stunning office , Fernwood House , just a few doors down from their longstanding home , Holmwood House , on Clayton Road .
Fast forward six years to today and , from that little acorn , a mighty oak has grown . Lowes is proud to manage over £ 1bn of client assets and are an awardwinning firm that has been crowned Best Investment Adviser at the prestigious Money Marketing Awards two out of the last three years . In addition , they regularly achieve remarkable client satisfaction results , such that 96 per cent of clients would rate their client service and investment advice as “ good ” or “ very good ” 4 , according to the firm ’ s own biennial client satisfaction survey .
For a thriving business with a 50-year history under its belt , Ian says the next chapter is about “ cementing Lowes as the largest and best independent financial advisory firm in the North-East ”.
The latest exciting step was to join the Middlesbrough revolution championed by mayor Andy Preston , with Lowes opening a new office in the prestigious Commerce House building on the town ’ s Exchange Square .
Sitting with Andy in the understated elegance of the business lounge surroundings of Commerce House , Ian reflected : “ Like most in the North-East , we ’ ve been aware of the superb work the likes of Andy Preston and Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen have been doing for the for Middlesbrough and the wider Teesside area for years now .
“ We ’ re thrilled to have a truly superb office space in Middlesbrough that our longstanding clients can easily visit .
“ Commerce House is on the doorstep of an impressive proposed £ 34m railway station redevelopment , alongside the superb public realm improvements across Exchange Square , and is fitting for a company looking to make its own contribution to the exciting changes taking place on Teesside .”
Welcoming Lowes to the town , Andy explained : “ Not for many decades has Middlesbrough known a period of investment and construction like we ’ re currently experiencing . We ’ re bringing new energy , ambition and , most importantly , all kinds of jobs to the centre of our town .
“ It ’ s absolutely brilliant to have an established financial company with Lowes ’ reputation and standing committing to Middlesbrough . These are exciting times and we look forward to working closely with Lowes in the years ahead .”
Christine Huntingdon , facilities manager at Commerce House , said : “ We ’ re honoured to have a firm of Lowes ’ reputation and prominence move into the building and we look forward to welcoming the Lowes team for many years to come . We have further exciting news coming soon , so watch this space !”
Lowes Financial Management is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority . 1 Office of National Statistics ( https :// www . ons . gov . uk / economy / inflationandpriceindices / timeseries / czbh / mm23 ) 2 ThisisMoney . co . uk ( https :// www . thisismoney . co . uk / money / mortgageshome / article-2462753 / How-items-cost-risen-line-house-prices . html ) 3 ThisisMoney . co . uk ( https :// www . thisismoney . co . uk / money / mortgageshome / article-2462753 / How-items-cost-risen-line-house-prices . html ) 4 2021 Lowes Biennial Client satisfaction survey
To find out more about how Lowes ’ unique investment approach and personal service can benefit your financial future , say hello by visiting Lowes . co . uk , calling 0191 281 8811 or emailing Hello @ Lowes . co . uk .
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