An end of year message from our CEO
2024 has been a record-breaking year for elections. Around the world, more than 2 billion voters in 50 countries have headed to the polls (according to The Centre for American Progress, a US policy institute). As a result of this as well as several significant geopolitical events, we have all found ourselves navigating through an incredibly challenging landscape.
However, whatever your views, the culmination of the UK election and the subsequent Autumn Budget, means the UK now has an element of certainty – for the next few years, at least. With interest rates topping out, there are signs of green shoots, and we are beginning to see a tentative increase in engagement across our portfolio of businesses.
As a business who thrives on pursuing opportunity, we began our 60th year by undertaking a strategic reorganisation of our businesses. This was possible thanks to every member of the Wigley team, and particularly my colleagues in Wigley Investment Holdings Ltd, our new company Directors, and all the teams in their respective areas.
As part of this change, I have passed the property baton to Chris Parsons, who is now Managing Director of Tetra Real Estate Ltd, Virtus Property Services Ltd, and Waterloo Capital Ltd. Charles Hicks is at the helm of our construction business, Tyto Contracting Ltd, and Danny Leitch is driving forward our critical business support team, Wigley Connect Ltd, who keep the core functions of each of our businesses running smoothly in the background enabling growth and dynamic change.
Across these businesses, we have some exciting and ambitious projects on the horizon, and in true Wigley fashion, we are not sitting still.
Tyto has some quality projects going live in 2025, and we are looking forward to completing our latest project at Albion Enterprise Park, which will see 20 brand-new units delivered for SME businesses in Coventry & Warwickshire.
Development has been incredibly hard over the last 18 months and the viability gap is still causing constraints to move forward. We have several projects in the pipeline and hopefully we will be able to unlock them over the next 12 months.
Tetra and Waterloo have seen strong demand from occupiers, with rent continuing to increase due to a lack of supply. We have held all our assets this year and will be looking to acquire more in 2025.
Wigley Overseas Ltd has worked very closely with our Spanish partners at P I Gibralfaro to secure planning permission for both commercial and residential units in Andalucia and we look forward to unlocking this project in 2025.
Outside of our property and construction businesses, Naunton Downs Golf Club is taking some fantastic strides forward, thanks to our wonderful new General Manager, Henry Glynn. With Henry at the wheel, great things are happening at Naunton. We are looking forward to seeing what 2025 brings under his management.
Away from the day job, Wigley has always been a business that takes care of its community, and 2024 has been no different. Through our various initiatives and events, we have donated over £62,000 to numerous charities and causes close to our hearts. This is something I am personally immensely proud of, and I know this is echoed throughout the team as well.
In the new year, we will see a shift in leadership with our charitable initiatives. I, along with James Ellerington, will be embarking on driving forward the next chapter of Wigley Support Fund, allowing Robert Wigley to focus on causes closer to home through the Wigley Community Fund. He will be joined in chairing the community fund by Claire Lynch.
With all that said, I think I speak on behalf everyone at Wigley when I say we are all ready for a well-earned rest over the Christmas break. We would like to wish all of our customers, supply chain, partners, agents, and network a wonderful Christmas period, and we look forward to continuing to work together for another busy year in 2025.