Resilience and adaptability have been instrumental in navigating the property sector over the past year. Our multidisciplinary teams have demonstrated ongoing growth and flexibility despite political shifts and economic volatility. As we reflect on 2025 and prepare for the opportunities and challenges of 2026, uncertainty continues to characterise our industry, influenced by changing economic and political conditions, legislative updates, and evolving client needs. We spoke with our Managing Partner, Andrew Bridge, who reflected on our accomplishments in 2025 and to gather his outlook for the future.
Market sentiment throughout 2025 remained cautious, particularly following the previous year’s general election. Clients approached decision-making conservatively, especially preceding the Spring and Autumn Budgets. Government reforms in inheritance tax sustained demand for specialist guidance, notably among farming clients.
Despite these challenges, our commitment to delivering comprehensive agency, advisory, and management services helped us maintain robust client relationships and deliver tangible value. A strategic emphasis on urban development, especially through our central London office, enabled us to heighten our agility and responsiveness within the urban market.
Challenging economic conditions, marked by ongoing inflation and high interest rates, continue to slow residential property transactions and affect consumer confidence. The government’s December reforms to agricultural and business property relief have benefited some family farms, small estates, and business owners, offering vital support to rural stakeholders planning asset transfer. We are monitoring forthcoming legislative details to guide our clients effectively.
The government’s substantial reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework, finalised at the end of 2024, produced the most significant policy changes in more than a decade. While broadly welcomed, their effectiveness in addressing the UK’s housing shortage remains under review. Stakeholders, including developers, investors, and occupiers, are working to comply with new regulations, underscoring the need for clarity and stability.
In this dynamic environment, our role as trusted advisers has become increasingly pivotal. We have refined our services to support clients in navigating complex legislative developments, securing funding amidst stringent lending parameters, and adjusting investment strategies to evolving market realities. Our ‘One FG’ approach integrates expertise across all service lines, empowering us to deliver holistic solutions and support client ambitions regardless of external pressures.
Talent acquisition and development remained a strategic priority throughout 2025. We welcomed 162 new colleagues, including six new partners: Ishfaq Hussain to expand our lease advisory offering in Birmingham and the Midlands; Will Kerton to enhance our rural and residential team; Andy Briggs to strengthen our Birmingham valuation capabilities; Simon Eddy as Head of Investment Agency in London; and James Harrop-Griffiths as Head of Asset Management. Additionally, Eleanor Deeley, Joint Managing Director of Deeley Group, joined our leadership team as a non-executive director, further strengthening our national presence and our ability to deliver at scale.
Sustainability continued as a cornerstone of our strategy. Throughout 2025, we collaborated with clients on net zero initiatives and launched ESG Impact, a client-focused programme designed to elevate businesses’ strategic ESG engagement. In May, we joined The Managing Agents Partnership (MAP), a coalition of twenty leading UK property managers committed to advancing sustainable commercial property management.
Our Pathway to Ownership programme was recognised as Professional Services Initiative of the Year at the British Training Awards. We received a trio of awards at the National Grid LLRF Supplier Awards 2025 and were named the 2026 Professional Services UK Growth Champion in property advisory by the Managing Partners’ Forum, which acknowledged our growth, market leadership and ongoing contribution to the sector.
From May to October, colleagues across Fisher German participated in the Big 25 Challenge, transporting a baton between our 25 offices without motorised transport. This ambitious relay covered over 2,400 miles, commemorated our 25th anniversary as Fisher German, and raised over £55,000 for 25 charities nationwide alongside other charitable activities during the year.
We are now exceptionally well-positioned to guide clients through the complexities of today’s property landscape and facilitate their continued success in the coming year. As 2026 brings new challenges, our unwavering dedication to client outcomes and growth will remain at the forefront of our approach.
Central to our philosophy is maintaining close engagement with clients, ensuring that we understand and support their long-term goals. This enables us to help them overcome obstacles, seize opportunities, and build legacies for future generations.
We greatly appreciate client feedback and will continue to uphold the highest standards of service and partnership. Our commitment to agility, investment in talent, and pursuit of innovation remain key to delivering excellence.
Together, we anticipate 2026 will be a year marked by continued resilience, growth, progress, and shared achievement.