With the new year in sight, we reflect on what 2022 has brought to the HCS team in another successful year.

GROWTH

This year our focus was to elevate the perceptions of our business to reflect our growth, hard work, dedication, and professional offering. Our project – operation HCS re-vamp!

Working with talented local businesses, our new website was launched in the later part of the year to accompany our glossy new brochures. Our signature red aesthetic has now been modernised and integrated in new ways across all aspects of our marketing. A project we are so very proud to have finalised.

We started a new CPD presentations programme for solicitors, estate agents, and property managers and held our first News on the Block Knowledge Bank webinar – with over 300 interested viewers! Our presentations on topics such as Surveys, Expert Reports, Licence to Alter and Section 20 – roles and contributions of the surveyor and conflict avoidance – have proven a success and we look forward to providing more in 2023.

HCS were delighted to be Silver Sponsors at the Brentwood Business Showcase in October, which was a hugely popular event run by Brentwood Borough Council. Our Managing Director, Christian, led a talk on ‘the secrets of sustaining a successful business’ and provided insight on how to maintain business growth, as well discussing some tips he has taken onboard in bringing HCS into the end of our first business decade.

We carried out a wider range of services in 2022 than previous years. We have been instructed on Section 20 Major Works in and around London, valuation work as far as Wales and the Northeast, Asset Management Plans on educational premises, and we have seen an increased demand on our Architectural and Structural Engineering offerings. Our survey work continued to flow, with unique properties including a listed windmill replenishing our surveyors’ appetite for core building surveying! Our professional services arm went from strength to strength, with an increased demand on expert reports and party wall services.

AWARDS

We were delighted to take away Runner Up Brentwood Business of the Year at the Brentwood Business Awards, along with finalists in the Best SME category and Shortlisting for News on the Block Property Management Awards Professional Services Provider of the Year. Both award ceremonies were thoroughly enjoyed by the team – and were an opportunity to pull out our gladrags rather than a hi-viz.

PEOPLE AND PLANET

We took pride in giving back to the local community, with Lucy planting trees with the Brentwood Environmental Business Alliance and supporting Blue Serif’s 12 Days of Christmas campaign in donations to the Daily Bread foodbank. Lucy, Eve and Natasha Howe enjoyed hosting our stand and the popular building block game in the Shenfield Christmas Fayre. We think our Lego prize and prime positioned leader board drew competitive attention from parents and children alike, whilst HCS were proud to sponsor the locally famous children’s face painting stand.

HCS welcomed new members, Natasha Spoors and Eve Brown to our administration team. Natasha and Eve are the first point of call for our clients, a team headed by Caroline, and have worked hard to ensure that a client in need is put at ease and deadlines expedited where we could – leading to wonderful positive client feedback for each of the team. We were also pleased to welcome new building surveyors Harry Hart and James Halligan.

Our new additions have settled into the HCS family, adding to the fun we have had in our Monday Morning team activities and social gatherings. The ‘Team Cup’ has made its way around the HCS teams, to sit with the winner from games such as ‘Bin Basketball’, ‘Picture Consequences’, ‘Spin the Measuring Wheel’, ‘Paper Aeroplane Competition’ up to ‘Plant Your Nose on Rudolph’! The games always leave the team smiling and laughing after a more serious start to the week.

As a final note, our team members have celebrated varying sporting successes this year which we are proud to mention here. Dan Bailey proudly completed the Chelmsford Marathon – a superb achievement – while Christian racked up many miles on his cycling adventures, including completing the Ride London event where he completed 100 miles in a day. Steve and Spencer threw themselves back in to their surfing passions in the summer, with Natasha Spoors excelling in her weekly netball sessions. Sean led on the World Cup sweepstake, with the team enjoying the first England game over a pizza on the big screen. Spencer was crowned victorious as Argentina won, with David and Natasha Howe following in 2^nd and 3^rd places. Howe we enjoy a competition!

In all, we feel blessed to have a wonderful team around us. HCS wouldn’t be where we are without them.

2022 has been a positive year for our company and we are always grateful for the support we receive. We look forward to more exciting opportunities ahead in 2023 and wish all our clients, contacts and colleagues a happy & healthy Christmas and New Year.