Leading commercial development and regeneration specialist Wykeland Group has appointed experienced property professional Andrea Morley as Associate Director.
Mrs Morley, whose career in property spans more than three decades, said Wykeland’s “creativity and ethos” took her back to why she first joined the industry.
The daughter of a building contractor whose passion lay in period and listed properties, Mrs Morley saw at first hand the positive impact regeneration can have on local communities.
She has now joined Hull-based Wykeland as Associate Director, with a remit to help the company’s 500-plus occupiers reach their full potential, as well as exploring new opportunities to expand the developer’s portfolio.
Mrs Morley has joined Wykeland from Yorkshire-based property and regeneration company Harworth Group, where she was Director of Asset Management.
She said: “As someone who has worked in Yorkshire’s property and development scene for many years, I’ve always been very aware of Wykeland and the work they do.
“I love the ethos of the company and you can see the principles and personality of the business come through in the way they approach projects.
“I’m very proud to have joined a quality developer that strives for change and to make a positive social impact in everything they do.
“Wykeland are a bright light in the region and that light shines through the projects they deliver.”
Mrs Morley grew up in Louth in Lincolnshire and studied building surveying at Lincoln University before completing a degree in Urban Land Economics at Sheffield Hallam University.
Her career began at Shop and Store Developments, where she focused on high street retail, working with national chains including Boots, Waterstones and Edinburgh Woolen Mill.
A successful spell at developer Bayford Group followed, where she worked as a Senior Surveyor, before Mrs Morley joined Lidl as the retailer’s Acquisitions Manager.
Prior to joining Wykeland, Mrs Morley’s role at Harworth Group involved overseeing the company’s portfolio of industrial and logistics properties and developments.
She said: “We’ve now got more than 500 occupiers across our developments at Wykeland. Those occupiers are incredibly diverse in what they do, working across all sectors.
“I’m really focused on making sure the spaces those businesses occupy meet their needs, which are ever-changing and evolving, and also their growth aspirations.
“The relationships Wykeland has developed with both its occupiers and partners struck a chord with me. It’s a company doing things for the right reasons and with a real moral investment in the areas they work in.”
Wykeland is one of the North’s leading property development and investment companies, with a growing portfolio of assets in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.
Wykeland Managing Director Dominic Gibbons said: “We’re delighted to welcome Andrea to the business. She has a very strong track record in asset management, particularly of business and retail space, which are areas in which we specialise.
“Her appointment brings additional experience and expertise to our team to enable us to continue to retain and grow our portfolio and deliver excellent service to occupiers.”
Wykeland’s flagship schemes include Melton West business park in East Yorkshire, one of the region’s most significant sites for large-scale investment and employment. Construction is underway at Melton West on a £180m Amazon fulfilment centre, while enabling works are taking place ahead of construction of a new £120m facility for global medical technology business Smith+Nephew.
As well as driving forward its major assets, Wykeland has taken on challenging city centre projects, as other developers back away.
Wykeland is currently restoring the Grade II-listed Burton building in Hull city centre, bringing the art deco landmark back into use after years of dereliction. Another exciting ongoing project in Hull is Castle Buildings, which has been unoccupied since the 1970s. Previously a symbol of Hull’s once buoyant maritime industry, Castle Buildings is now being restored to create more than 6,000 sq ft of prime commercial space.
