uk.superbrands.com Superbrands UK Vol. 24 Market Savills has more than 42,000 professionals dedicated to commercial, prime residential and rural real estate across 70 countries. It has an international network of more than 700 offices and associates across the UK, continental Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, India and the Americas. In the UK, Savills is the largest multi-service property advisory business, providing more sector specialisms than any of its competitors. Achievements In keeping with Savills commitment to its people, in 2024, Savills was named as The Times Graduate Employer of Choice for Property for the 18th consecutive year. It has held this position since the category’s inception in 2007. In addition, Savills open and inclusive recruitment policies were recognised when it was named as Best Apprentice Employer 2023-2024 by Rate My Apprenticeship. Furthermore, Savills ongoing programme to champion equality, diversity and inclusion was awarded EDI Programme of the Year at the 2023 Inspiring Women in Property awards. Its head of diversity and inclusion, Chanelle Gray, also won Head of Diversity and Inclusion of the Year at the British Diversity Awards. History Savill & Son was founded in east London by Alfred Savill in 1855. Although located in the City, its practice was largely agricultural at this point. Alfred died in 1905, but his sons Alfred, Edwin and Norman were already firmly established within the business. They continued to grow the firm and it was so well regarded that within weeks of World War I breaking out, Edwin Savill was appointed by the War Office to assess compensation to landowners in Essex and Suffolk for loss of or damage to properties. After World War II, the firm merged with Rees-Reynold and Hunt, rating surveyors and specialist advisors on commercial property investment. This was in line with Alfred’s strategy of expanding into new service lines. In 1972, the firm moved to Mayfair and was rebranded as Savills. The business continued to expand in its new home and in 1988 was listed on the London Stock Exchange and began trading as a plc. In 1997, a 20% share of Savills was sold to First Pacific Davies – one of Asia’s foremost property companies – and the subsidiary was rebranded as FPDSavills. A year later, in 1998, Savills bought majority stakes in the German, French and Spanish arms of Weatherall, Green & Smith. In 2000, Savills plc was listed in the FTSE 250 and acquired First Pacific Davies. To separate the long-standing Savills Fund Management business from Savills plc and to better position the firm for expansion, Savills Investment Management was founded in 2004. To coincide with the company’s 150th anniversary in 2005, the decision was taken to remove ‘FPD’ from FPDSavills. The rebrand brought all the subsidiaries back under the Savills umbrella. In 2006, Savills bought leading Irish commercial and retail property agent and auctioneer Hamilton Osborne King. In 2012, Savills in the UK prepared its separate residential and commercial limited operating companies for a formal merger and began trading simply as Savills the following year. In 2014, Savills announced its biggest ever acquisition of £154m for US firm, Studley. The following year, Savills completed its largest ever UK acquisition, the merger of Smiths Gore. Savills confirmed the completion of its acquisition of Aguirre Newman S.A., the leading independent Spanish and Portuguese real estate advisory firm, in 2017. The following year, James Sparrow was appointed CEO UK & EMEA and Richard Rees was appointed as UK MD. In 2019, Mark Ridley, former Deputy Group CEO, succeeded Jeremy Helsby as Savills Group CEO.
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