Scottish commercial property consultancy FG Burnett has survived the past few years “unscathed” against a backdrop of economic turmoil in its home city, the company’s boss has said.
Managing director Richard Noble added the Aberdeen firm had seen green shoots of recovery start to emerge in Europe’s energy capital since the start of 2017.
And like the main characters in one of his favourite TV shows, The Walking Dead, the Granite City’s reputation for shaking off adversity will see it thrive again, he said.
Mr Noble, 55, has only been MD at FG Burnett for slightly more than a year, having taken over the role from Angus MacCuish.
But the former Harlaw Academy pupil and Heriot-Watt University estate management graduate, has worked for the firm for 20 years.
He’s seen a few ups and downs in the local economy in that time, so is well-qualified to detect winds of change.
“There’s definitely been an improvement in the market since the turn of the year,” he said, adding: “There is more activity on the offices side.
“There will be people downsizing but there are also going to be some new entrants as well because assets are being sold offshore. There are deals happening.”
But the local economy remains “fragile” and it would not take much to knock people’s confidence again on the road to recovery, he warned.
He and his firm are eyeing new opportunities in the central belt to bolster the business and mitigate the impact of the north-east downturn.
“We are active in both Edinburgh and Glasgow,” Mr Noble said, adding: “We need to get an office in Glasgow.
“We don’t rest on our laurels here and are fortunate to have come through the last few years unscathed.
“That is testament to our people and the broad range of services we offer. We are working harder than ever.”
FG Burnett was founded more than 50 years ago and currently employs 32 people.
Its specialisms include acquisitions, sales and lettings, commercial valuations, consultancy services and lease advisory, property management and business rates and taxation work.
The firm’s boss, a former chairman of business development group Aberdeen Inspired, believes the broad range of activities is a model for the local economy to follow.
“We are seeing considerable change taking place in the city centre,” he said, adding: “There is definitely a different attitude.
“We have gone from finding good reasons for nothing to happen to finding reasons to do things, with work taking place on our infrastructure and in our art gallery and museums.
“This is all fabulous and a sign of a city at last getting its act together.
“One (economic development group Opportunity North East) is a huge opportunity for the region’s oil and gas, life sciences, tourism and food and agriculture sectors.
“We are very fortunate to have someone like Sir Ian Wood (One’s chairman) working for the good of the area.
“Aberdeen had it good for many decades, so you can forget about others helping us. I don’t think we are going to get too much sympathy externally.
“But I am very positive about the next 20 years.
“Diversity is key. Oil and as city needs to change. We have got this opportunity to diversify now that we might not have in another 20 years. I don’t really see any barriers towards progress other than political ones.”
