Graham Crawford

I have advised on the purchase and funding of 3 sites for PBSA in the UK namely in Edinburgh and London. Development value in the region of £220M. Currently advising on funding options.

Consultant - Crawford Property UK

(2022-01)

I have advised on the purchase and funding of 3 sites for PBSA in the UK namely in Edinburgh and London. Development value in the region of £220M. Currently advising on funding options.

Founding Trustee - Grangemouth Community Sports Trust

Founding Trustee of a charitable body set up to accept a CAT transfer from Falkirk Council. Grangemouth Stadium is the pre-eminent athletics venue in Scotland and the CAT transfer will enable the venue to remain open hopefully thrive and ensure access to local sports clubs and the wider athletics community. My role involves legal, financial, and property oversight.

Director - Springford & Company

(2002-01 - 2022-01)

I have been responsible for advising on commercial and residential development and investment opportunities for a variety of institutional and property company clients. The value of transactional activity has been in the order of £850 million.

• Advice on the disposal and timing of investment assets.
• Strategic investment and development advice.
• Creating significant development opportunities.
• Report writing.
• Investment analysis.
• Asset management plans and implementation strategy.
• The promotion of joint venture structures to secure development.
• Overseeing the planning process to improve land value.
• AYR CENTRAL: Site identification and assembly for the Ayr Central Shopping Centre. Value - £60 million. Advice also given on letting and investment disposal.
• DUNDEE/ABERDEEN HOUSE OF FRASER: Identification and the securing of development opportunities for Dawn Developments in Aberdeen and Dundee. These former House of Fraser Stores were developed and let with the investments sold for £40 million.
• SOUTH GLASGOW RETAIL/LEISURE/DEVELOPMENT SITE: Purchase on behalf of clients of a mixed use development site to the South of Glasgow that will support retail/leisure and a major residential development. End value will be in the order of £80 million.
• EDINBURGH: Acquisition of shopping centre investments including Westside Plaza for a property company client, management and subsequent disposal advice.
• AEW: Acquisition of a retail warehouse. Investment portfolio for AEW Europe totalling £45 million, included St Catherine's Retail Park and a number of other assets.
• TECA ABERDEEN: Advice given on the £330M funding of the Teca facility in Aberdeen on behalf of Henry Boot Developments.
• LIVINGSTON RETAIL PARK: Initial advice provided on the acquisition of the site which was developed and pre let to B & M, and Dunelm, with part site sale to a motel and Starbucks Drive Thru. Eventual sale to an Irish Investor for £7.75M, at a yield of 6.15%.
• NOTTINGHAM – AXIS: modelling for a Hong Kong based client, for a purchase price of £17M. Introduction acquisition, financial analysis, and business plan role.
• Dumfries- Dargavel: Purchase of Waste to Energy Facility. Advice also given on sale and leaseback and funding.

Club Director - Falkirk Football & Athletics

(2002-02 - 2011-05)

My voluntary role encompassed

• Board member managing jointly a challenging football club business.
• Specifically controlling the property aspects with key responsibility to sell Brockville Football Ground and oversee the move to a new ground and facility.
• Orchestrating planning, site assembly, development advice and marketing the site which was valued at £600,000 and eventually sold for £9 million.
• The disposal part funded the new Falkirk Stadium which is SPL compliant.
• The new stadium was a joint venture with the local Council.
• Advice and leadership provided on the split of the joint venture between the Football Club and the Council, together with the property advice on the substantial property assets.

Director - Falkirk Football Stadium Limited

(2003-03 - 2004-03)

The role included

• Providing strategic property leadership in the Joint Venture Board.
• Marketing/Asset valuation advice.
• Establishing a procurement procedure that would satisfy the Joint Venture Partnership.
• The creation of a masterplan for the development envelope.
• The selection of a preferred developer for the various development opportunities.

Director - Earlsgate Property Investments Limited

(2003-03 - 2004-03)

Key responsibilities and role included:

• Creation of an investment vehicle.
• Identification and purchase of investment and development assets.
• Managing the business.
• Managing the professional teams.
• Responsibility of investment/development sales which exceeded 75% IRR return.
• Business planning including asset management, development and ultimately the exit.

Director - Debenham Thorpe Tie Leung - Edinburgh

(1993-08 - 2001-09)

The role involved

• Being a Key Director in a profitable business unit within a UK business.
• Developed greater integration between teams leading to improved financial performance
• Managing the retail agency and development team in Scotland with responsibility of achieving financial targets.
• Identifying and securing development investment opportunities.
• Securing sites and negotiating leases for Virgin, Clinton Cards, Pinnacle Vodafone, Safeway, Tesco and La Senza.
• Responsibility for liaising with other Regions on shopping centre investment in terms of opportunities and clients.
• UK wide valuation advice in support of Marks & Spencer defending a takeover bid.
• Safeway store acquisition/sales – totalling £50 million.
• Purchase of The Forge shopping centre for £70 million with subsequent asset management and investment disposal advice.
• Advice on the purchase of prime retail assets for a private Far Eastern investor for £75 million over a 2 year period. Assets included 30/31 Princes Street, Edinburgh and Borders Books in Buchanan Street, Glasgow.
• Asset management advice on a number of prime Scottish shopping centres including The Howgate, Paisley Centre, Piazza, Gyle Centre and Glenrothes Kingdom Centre.
• Identifying and securing the site that led to the development of Edinburgh Quay, Phases 1 & 2. Advised on the exact nature and mix of the development. Also provided funding advice.

Surveyor - Hillier Parker May and Rowden - Edinburgh

(1988-08 - 1993-08)

I started at Hillier Parker as a Graduate Surveyor and progressed to become a Specialist Retail Agent with a development focus.

• Initially over a 2 year period rotated between the retail agency/valuation/management teams in support of my professional qualifications.
• Carried out various rent review/valuations/lettings for institutional and property company clients.
• Letting advice given on various shopping centres.
• Involved in UK wide acquisition for Virgin/Magnet/Hallmark Cards.
• Development understanding of development process and acquired a number of retail development sites.

Heriot Watt University (1984 - 1988)