Property consultancy Vail Williams has been appointed to manage the London headquarters of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ). The union is based near Kings Cross Station and the British Museum in prominent Headland House at 72 Acton Street, on the corner of Grays Inn Road.
Surveyor Lead Emma Cooper leads the Vail Williams property asset management (PAM) team, including facilities management lead Mark Riley and property management accountant Harry Mackenzie in looking after the landmark building.
Vail Williams proactively manages the seven-floor, 10,966 sq ft building which was constructed in 1969, on a day-to-day basis.
The NUJ, founded in 1907 and one of the largest independent journalists' unions in the world, occupies the first floor, part of the second floor and utilises the basement space. Business consultants System Concepts occupies the rest of the second floor, with construction company Myco in temporary offices in the ground floor former café space.
Floor four is currently occupied by global innovation specialists L Marks, with floor three, which has a sun terrace breakout space, occupied by Teachers’ Housing Association Limited. Floor five is currently vacant.
Vail Williams’ full property management service includes managing tenants, collecting rent, administering the service charge, facilities management – cleaning, fire maintenance, any building works, lifts, toilets – as well as being available for any queries. Emma said:
“We were honoured to have been awarded the PAM contract from such a prestigious organisation. Our job is to ensure the NUJ’s asset – in this case Headland House – doesn’t depreciate in value."
“Our team has been working closely with the NUJ to develop a bespoke asset management strategy for the property. We consider it crucial that we offer an optimal and cost-effective customer service to give the client peace of mind that we are seamlessly protecting the commercial success of the building."
“Headland House is in an up-and-coming part of north London with a great deal of development work upgrading the area, to add to the revamped St Pancras Station and the Coal Drops Yard shopping complex and public open space at Kings Cross."
Jackie Clark, the NUJ’s head of finance and membership, said:
“We are indebted to Vail Williams for producing an excellent masterplan to asset manage our headquarters and leave us to do what we do best – protect the interests of our members and fight for journalists and journalism."
“We have found the Vail Williams’ PAM team to be professional, dedicated and courteous, with nothing being too much trouble. We are also impressed with their collaborative and transparent methods.”
NUJ members work across the media, from newspapers, broadcasting and book publishing to magazines, websites, mobile devices, social media and PR agencies – across a diverse range of jobs from reporting, writing, photography and editing to design, videography, communications and presenting.
Carl Grint, Vail Williams’ partner, heads the firm’s PAM operations nationally, leading a team of 31 operating across six regions and working with local authorities, private individuals, property companies and trust funds to develop bespoke property asset management strategies.
The firm manages nearly 400 properties from Edinburgh to Exeter, and Dublin to Dover, with an annual rent roll of more than £44 million.
Vail Williams’ full-service property advice includes commercial agency, investment and development advice, building consultancy, property valuation, planning, lease advisory, property asset management, business rates and occupier consultancy.
Photo: Union Building: Property consultancy Vail Williams has been appointed to manage the prominent corner building housing the National Union of Journalists headquarters and other businesses in Acton Street, near Kings Cross station in London
