Cluttons continues strategic growth with the appointment of a new national head of business rates to lead the expert team

Cluttons has hired Gareth Buckley as partner and national head of business rates to lead its existing high profile team of experts across the UK. 

Joining Cluttons from Avison Young, he will work closely with Michael Hampton-Riddington – head of rating for the south – and Ryan Jones – head of rating for the north. Gareth’s appointment further strengthens Cluttons’ wealth of business rates expertise and follows the recent appointment of Chris Severs as partner within the Manchester team. Gareth will also be based from Cluttons’ Manchester office. 

Gareth was an original founding partner of WHR Property Consultants LLP, acquired by Avison Young in late 2017, and was responsible for the professional services team and day to day management of the practice. Prior to forming WHR he was also National Head of Rating at Lambert Smith Hampton. 

Gareth has over 35 years’ experience in providing rating advice and advises a wide variety of clients.  He is a former committee member and honorary secretary of the Rating Surveyors Association.   

John Gravett, head of real estate management at Cluttons, said: “Gareth is a significant addition to our business rates offer nationally and is already making a huge impact. Not only is he a standout part of our expanding northern team but has the experience, commitment and vision to lead the growth of our national business rates team working alongside Michael, Ryan and our other partners.” 

Charlie Ardern, head of Cluttons’ Manchester office, says: “Our Northern business rates team is incredibly strong and one of the market leaders so to have our national head also based in our Manchester office further underpins the market presence of our team. Gareth’s appointment also further strengthens our capabilities in the north – not just in rating but across the whole property consultancy lifecycle. In just a year, Cluttons Northern hub has become a major force to be reckoned with in the market, adding four senior roles in the past three months and trebling in size since we opened in November 2021. This is a major investment in talent, with more to come in early 2023” 

These senior appointments also come as Cluttons continues their rating campaign, calling on businesses to check their rateable values now to gain any backdated savings from 1 April 2017 as well as mitigating future bills before 1 April 2023.  

Cluttons has recently made a number of senior hires as part of its strategic growth, including Kevin Scully as head of North East valuation, Alan Watson as partner in project and building consultancy in Manchester, Gráinne Gilmore as head of research, Pippa Rawlinson as head of facilities management and Richard Jones as partner in London building consultancy amongst others.