Meet Steve, our senior commercial agent. Specialising in the buying and selling of going concern businesses, Steve hit the ground running when he joined the commercial team and has proved himself to be a real asset to the company. When he’s not working he loves spending time with his two children, volunteers for the Guide Dogs and supporting Coventry City.

What is your SBK job title and where are you based?

I am senior commercial agent, specialising in business brokerage. My main base is the Stratford-upon-Avon office, but I cover most of the country, so I could be working from any of our offices or out on the road wherever the job takes me. But wherever I am on any given day, I am always available on my mobile.

What is your role and what does your job entail?

Whilst I am involved with the sale and letting of commercial property, I mostly focus on helping people to buy or sell going concern businesses. There certainly isn’t a typical day, I could be in Chester advising a retailer on how to maximise the value of a group of convenience stores, or the East Midlands looking at acquiring a care home with a client. I could be discussing marketing options with a couple wanting to retire from running their bed and breakfast in the Cotswolds. Or I may be sat at my desk calling through clients to provide a weekly update on the marketing so far and building a plan for the next week.

What did you do before this job?

Before joining Sheldon Bosley Knight, I spent 10 years working at a large national business brokerage firm, specialising in retail businesses like convenience stores and petrol stations. I was also part of the small team delivering the sale of a massive national chain of garden centres with over 150 sites. Before that I had worked in residential estate agency since 1999.

How did you get into the property industry and how long have you worked within it?

I qualified as an engineer through an apprenticeship with Rover Cars, and at the end of my time there I decided I fancied a change. I saw an advert for a job with a Coventry estate agency so I applied thinking it would give me something to do whilst I figured out what I wanted to do for a career. But here I am, a quarter of a century later, still working in property and loving every minute of it!

What attracted you to working for Sheldon Bosley Knight?

I had a few dealings with Sheldon Bosley Knight through my previous roles. When time for a change came around, I had a chat with the leadership team and was impressed by their values and approach to the business. Luckily, they felt the same about my approach to the business and it just felt like the right fit from the beginning. 

What’s the best bit about your job?

I love getting out and seeing all sorts of different businesses and seeing the different ways that people run their operations. It means I can have fun creating a unique marketing proposal for each and every business. 

What qualifications or training do you need to do this job?

There are no qualifications for what I do that are as important as experience and honesty. I have an abundance of both. There are very few situations or obstacles I haven’t overcome at some point in my career, so very little surprises me. When it comes to difficult conversations, because everything can’t go smoothly every time, the best way to deal with them is to be honest and get to the point quickly. The sooner we address any issues, the sooner we can resolve them.

What motivates you to work hard?

I have always been keen on setting new records. I always want to achieve the most outstanding result in any given situation. 

Who or what inspires you?

I am a volunteer at Guide Dogs, and I meet some incredibly inspiring people through that. They make me realise nothing is unachievable with the right mindset and level of effort, no matter what looks like it could get in the way.

What are your career goals?

Short term, I would like to help grow Sheldon Bosley Knight’s commercial agency and business brokerage department. I want to put us in the market leading position by delivering strong results and helping others in the department fulfil their potential. Longer term, I would like to progress to a position within the firm where I can support people across all departments to become the very best they can be.

What do you do when you are not at work?

I am married and have two wonderful children. The eldest is a keen actor and singer and my youngest is an avid footballer. I am a season ticket holder at Coventry City with both kids and am also a coach for one of the football teams my youngest plays in (he is in three!). On the odd weekend not fully taken up with football, I like to get away in my caravan and occasionally have a go (normally without much success) at fishing. But my day starts every day with a nice walk with my two dogs, whatever the weather. 

What is the best piece of career advice you have ever been given?

My late father always told me to be a man of my word. To this day I will never make a promise I don’t intend to keep. This has always stood me in good stead. Whilst there are times I am up against someone promising the earth, I would rather not take on work on the basis I would be disappointing a client. It is surprising how many people come back to you later.