Hillbreak appoints Watson to lead place advisory team
The ESG, sustainability, and impact firm has broadened its remit, establishing a developer-focused economic and social value service division, which will be headed up by Kelly Watson.
The place advisory team is made up of former employees from Hatch, which closed its Manchester office last year. Joining principal Watson at Hillbreak are senior consultant Sarah Richards and consultant Georgia Harris.
Altogether, the trio will focus on helping investment and development clients develop and deliver measurable economic and social impact strategies that are data-led and evidence-based.
While based at 82 King Street in Manchester, Hillbreak’s place advisory team will work nationwide.
“Joining Hillbreak provides Sarah, Georgia, and I with the perfect platform to continue scaling our impact and we’ve hit the ground running with a full portfolio of early engagements,” Watson said.
“Our shared values and aligned client base make this a natural fit, reflected by the client feedback we’ve had already.”
Watson described the decision to join Hillbreak as an easy one.
“For me and my immediate team, it’s that opportunity to continue doing what we have been doing: working with progressive, enlightened developers and investors and helping them to make that link between their strategic approach and making it work on the ground with a specific scheme and specific project team,” she told Place North West.
Situating the team in Manchester “just makes sense,” she continued, given the city’s appetite for progressive, impact-led development.
“Manchester is the place to be in terms of the level of investment and development activity happening in the region,” Watson added.
Jon Lovell, co-founder and managing director of Hillbreak, said: “The arrival of Kelly, Sarah, and Georgia marks a transformative step in the evolution of our firm, which has just celebrated its first decade of business, and I’m absolutely delighted to welcome them to the Hillbreak family.
He continued: “We have long admired their pioneering work in social value and impact, having collaborated with them several times in recent years on client strategies. Bringing their expertise into the Hillbreak fold allows us to provide the comprehensive, multi-disciplinary leadership that our clients are increasingly demanding.”
Lovell also told Place that the reaction from clients had already been positive. “It’s genuine excitement,” he said. “I’m really chuffed.”
Hillbreak has 24 staff members, who largely work remotely. In addition to place advisory, Hillbreak also offers services in leadership coaching, learning, and strategic advisory with an ESG lens. The company’s clients include Grosvenor, Legal & General, Tritax, CBRE Investment Management, Savills Investment Management, Columbia Threadneedle, Thriving Investments, and LaSalle.
