Case Studies
Drew Colaiezzi, MGFO
Sally McGill, University of Staffordshire
Kieron Broadhead, University of Southampton
Joe Lister, CEO, Unite Students
Testimonials
SFG have been instrumental in assisting the Family Office drive and implement a favourable long-term strategy and implementation of a complex and varied US property portfolio. We have a high level of trust in their services and asset management solutions.
The broad and unique experience coupled with the commercial approach that SFG bring has delivered detailed operational improvements to our resident experience services as well as direction on our strategic asset management approach across our student portfolio.
SFG continues to deliver an unparalleled work ethic, commercial drive and solutions-orientated advice to our flagship retail project in Lisbon. They have navigated their way through a number of complex problems and added value at each step of the way.
SFG produced the University’s accommodation strategy. We made the right choice in awarding them the contract and look forward to continuing the relationship with them. Martin and Robert are extremely knowledgeable and do not produce ‘cookie-cutter’ strategies. Our strategy addresses our particular requirements and covers specifics that will not be covered in other strategies
The student experience is our number one priority at the University of Birmingham, and we knew how incredibly important it would be for us to get this right within our student accommodation partnership. David was invaluable in helping us embed every aspect in dialogue and documents. Having been through the process on the client side himself, he helped us articulate our requirements, broke down all the complex issues, and gave real insight and reassurance to my team about how it would work on the ground. I look forward to working with David on future projects soon!
From the start, everyone in Robert’s team was very easy to deal with. They offered guidance and advice, they project managed the process, helped us shape our decisions from the demand analysis through to options and recommendations to procuring the funders. Their understanding of the education market helped us articulate what we wanted which translated to securing the best deal for our University. They convinced all the stakeholders that the route we were taking was the right one, that we know what the risks were and how to manage them, resulting in what will become first class student accommodation. They helped us turn our vision into reality. I and the team are extremely happy with the strategic input and sector intelligence that Robert and his team introduced to our programme of works.
SFG bring the right blend of commerciality, attention to detail and innovation to managing Southbank Tower – under their management, we have been able to make significant and lasting cost savings and increase revenues year on year.
We appointed SFG based on their deep experience in the sector working for commercial developers/operators, universities and consultants. Their commitment to keeping student experience at the heart of the transaction and understanding of key current issues such as student wellbeing and affordability resonated with all we are trying to achieve on this project at the University.
During a selection process to find a DBFO partner, Martin Hadland helped us enormously on the FM, technical and service level agreements elements of the process. He has a thorough understanding of how Universities and student accommodation work from his previous experience as a director of estates. He has excellent commercial awareness of how all the complex elements of a PPP project interact. I have no hesitation in recommending Martin.
