The firm, which has branches in Wednesbury, West Bromwich, Great Bridge, Willenhall, Walsall and Bilston, have enrolled six of their staff, all under 25, on to a specialist estate agency training program.

The two year course in the Sale of Residential Property and Residential Property Letting & Management leads to a nationally recognised qualification and technical certificate, allowing the staff to become a member of the Association of Residential Letting Agents and/or the National Association of Estate Agents.

Lee Morton, managing partner, said: “Since our formation 21 years ago we have built an enviable reputation for providing excellent service based on our core values of integrity, honesty, professionalism and innovation.

“That reputation matters to us very much and we are determined to maintain and hopefully exceed it.

“As part of that process it is crucial that our young people are given the education, experience and knowledge they need to develop their careers. This is why we have set them this challenge.

“As a multi-discipline practice, it is essential that all of our staff have the training and skills required to be able to provide our customers with the level of service expected of an award winning agent.”

Last year saw the firm celebrate both its 20th anniversary and scoop the Best Small Midlands category in the Estate Agency of the Year Awards run by Estate Agency Events in association with The Sunday Times and The Times, and sponsored by Zoopla.

Each week last year Paul Dubberley brought an average 21 properties to market, arranged 219 viewings, took 34 offers and moved 11 people into their new homes.

James Preece from Colliers International’s offices team said Eddisons had agreed to a part let of the second floor on a five year lease.

The eight storey Pithay building dominates the city centre offering flexible and contemporary office accommodation on one of the largest single open plan floor plates in Bristol.

James Preece said: “Our Q1 report underlined a dramatic recovery in the city centre market and this deal is further evidence of the increasing confidence in the sector.

“Once again tenants are looking to maximise flexibility on floor plates of their choosing while demanding quality refurbished accommodation.”

Formerly home to a number of Government departments including the Government Office for the South West, the COI, the Health and Safety Executive and HMRC, the Pithay boasts two reception areas both of which have been extended and refurbished to a high standard.

James Preece added: “The roof and lifts have been replaced and exterior redecorated. The on-site team provide first-rate back up for tenants to ensure the building is well run and provides after-hours access and excellent security.

“There are also a number of attractive smaller suites from around 1,300 sq ft upwards that allow The Pithay to accommodate businesses of all sizes and there is a very competitive car parking ratio of 1 space to each 900 square feet leased.”

The Pithay is situated between Cabot Circus and the Mall Galleries, Castle Park and the city Centre and close to all the local amenities and public car parking. Temple Meads railway station is just a short walk away.

Stuart Rea, Head of the Charities Team and Partner in FBC Manby Bowdler’s Corporate Department, says that he expects the introduction of Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) status, a new legal form for charities, to boost the firm’s workload considerably.

He says: “We have been advising charities and their trustees on all aspects of the law for many years, from charity law to property, employment and intellectual property law, but with the on-going changes to the legal framework for charities, this is really taking off.”

According to Mr Rea, the new Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) status offers additional legal protection for both charities and their trustees, cuts down on red tape and paperwork for charities, and makes it easier to recruit trustees.

Ben Snelling and Sam Kinloch join five fellow directors at expanding Clive Emson Auctioneers.

Working with a network of 600 estate agency outlets, the 40-strong firm has recorded sales of more than £1 billion since being founded in 1989 by one of the auction world’s most engaging characters, philanthropist Clive Emson.

A series of four auctions over one week, at high-profile venues from Kent to Cornwall, are held eight times a year, attracting thousands of bidders in the sales rooms and online, as well as widespread media attention.

Venues are at the Clive Emson Conference Centre at Kent County Showground, Maidstone, the Ageas Bowl near Southampton, The Hilton Brighton Metropole in Brighton and St Mellion International Resort, St Mellion, Saltash Cornwall.

Clive, a Member of the College of Fellows of the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) and National Auctioneering Committee for the NAEA and Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), explained the promotions for Ben and Sam.

A familiar gavel figure on BBC’s Homes Under the Hammer series, Clive said: “Our commitment to staff and their commitment to the business is not just rhetoric but is best demonstrated by the announcement that Ben and Sam have accepted invitations to join the main board of directors.

“They will bring fresh ideas to the decision-making process and can ensure a bright future for the business and maintain a smooth transition as it grows into the future.”

Ben, a senior auction valuer, joined the firm in 2003 and has more than 10 years’ specialist auction experience, working from the Maidstone office in Kent.

He is a Fellow both of the National Association of Valuers and Auctioneers (NAVA) and the NAEA.

Sam, also a senior auction valuer, has a similar length of experience and comes from a family of estate agents and valuers.

A Member of the NAVA and NAEA, Sam is based at Clive Emson’s Brighton office at Rostrum Lodge, The Level, Ditchling Road.

Other directors are chairman Clive, managing director James Emson, Kevin Gilbert, John Stockey and Hilary Harwin.

The firm, with Investors in People and ISO accreditations, receives instructions from corporate and independent estate agents, statutory bodies and private clients.

Clive Emson’s latest round of sales in May saw £16m worth of lots sold, including two former fire stations in Kent, with a 75% success rate.

The commercial property management specialist has sold his company, Birmingham-based David Neale Surveyors Ltd, to colleague Neil Tunks.

It is the third time David has sold a business: his firm was acquired by Vail Williams in 2006 and he first sold to Hillier Parker (now CBRE) in 1994, when he was appointed a partner and his practice was used as a launch pad for the firm’s newly established Birmingham office.

David began his career as a trainee at Grimley & Son (now GVA) in 1960. Birmingham-born, he has worked in both his home city and in London for Cheshire Gibson and Elliot Son & Boynton, as well as Hillier Parker and Vail Williams.

The 70-year-old attempted retirement twice before, but now says he is planning to spend his dotage on the golf course and the beaches in Spain, where he has a holiday home.

He said: “I have spent more than half a century in property. In that time, I have seen massive changes to the way surveyors are trained, the introduction of a raft of legislation and the implementation of IT. I have worked through three recessions, the worst of which is undoubtedly the one we are still in now.”

David Neale Surveyors, based in George Street, was set up with a handful of clients in 2009 after David left Vail Williams.

He said: “I fully intended to retire in 2009, but was asked to manage a handful of ‘legacy’ clients. The thing snowballed and before I knew it I was back in business! In the last couple of years Neil Tunks has been my right-hand man and I was determined to give him first option of taking on the business.”

Neil joined the firm two years ago as associate director. He previously worked for DTZ and the Aviva fund.

At David Neale Surveyors he handles property portfolios for Birmingham Cathedral, Birmingham Dogs Home, Great Malvern Holdings, Jubilee Estates and the Queen Anne Trust.

The firm was recently appointed to manage Chester Cathedral’s property holdings and has recruited Sam Tarjomani, ex-Hindwoods Chartered Surveyors, to support expansion plans.

Neil Tunks said: “When David said he was planning to retire I was keen to take over the reins. It is a great opportunity to acquire an established business, which I know inside out, but with potential to grow.

“We have established a niche for clients who want the kind of personal service they can’t buy at the big corporates – the kind of service David is synonymous with and which I fully intend to be a hallmark of the business going forward.

“In addition, I have ambitious plans to add new service lines to the asset management business, including agency, rating and landlord and tenant.”

The firm will continue to operate from George Street under the name David Neale Surveyors.

The top family attraction is expecting a record breaking number of visitors during its opening weekend on May 24 as people from across from the UK plan to visit the zoo’s new arrivals.

Edwina Hart, Minister for Economy, Science and Transport will be opening Penguin Coast at the launch event on Friday, May 24, seeing the enclosure open to the public for the first time.

The £500,000 investment has been in construction for the past 6 months as penguin fans have been awaiting the arrival of the 24 Peruvian, Humboldt penguins.

The two acre state-of-the-art development has potential to house 40 penguins and contains a penguin nursery, beach area, a 100m3

saltwater pool and a play area with specialised plants and rocks.

Tim Morphew, Zoo Manager at Folly Farm, said: “The penguins are part of a European Breeding Programme and we’ve committed to providing them with the best conditions for breeding.

“The excitement has been building across the country since we first announced the penguins were coming and we’re expecting a high number of visitors on opening weekend. We believe that our under water viewing pool will be the most popular attraction as people will get to see for themselves how amazing and interesting these animals truly are. They all have their own personalities and it’s been fantastic witnessing them settle in.”

Minister for the Economy, Edwina Hart, said: “Investing and developing our tourism product is key if we are to drive higher tourism earnings for the Welsh economy. I’m delighted that the Welsh Government through the Tourism Investment Support Scheme has been able to contribute nearly £70,000 for the development. I’d like to congratulate Folly Farm on investing in this new enclosure which will attract new visitors and will refresh the attraction for repeat visitors.

“I’m also pleased that Folly Farm found a Welsh based solution for the pump house needed to create a saltwater environment for the birds by working with IAT, the Anglesey-based international supplier of aquariums and sea life and that they have been able to work with local builders and suppliers where possible.

“I’d like to wish this latest venture every success and I expect the investment will reap the deserved rewards during this special 25th anniversary year.”

Many penguin enclosures still operate as freshwater pools with added chlorine, but with questions surrounding the long-term effects of chlorine on penguins, Folly Farm opted for a more natural environment with Wales’ first saltwater penguin pool. The enclosure also has a spacious nesting site for its new additions which is twice the minimum recommended size- giving the penguins more space to ‘dry off’, minimising the risk of fungus which can be harmful to the birds.

The penguin enclosure will be included in Folly Farm’s new offering, ‘The Zoo Keeper Experience’. This experience gives families the opportunity to experience a behind the scenes tour of the zoo conducted by a top Zoo Keeper and families will also have the opportunity to feed the animals.

And this month it has had a helping hand from worldwide logistics company, PSP, to get closer to its European market.

WaveJet is a revolutionary Personal Water Propulsion system that seeks to change the way people interact with water. A clean, quiet, battery-powered dual jet drive, the WaveJet Power Pod is a device which can be attached to any WaveJet-ready personal watercraft, including surfboards, stand-up paddle boards and boogie boards to help users go faster.

It is already being used by pro surfers Stateside and this year the company introducing the technology to Europe, Ongar Limited, is tasking PSP with transporting the goods across the Atlantic.

PSP has shipped via air freight a WaveJet Ready Rescue Board and WaveJet Ready 11’0 SUP from California to Spain, ready to display at the Palma Boat Show. The worldwide logistics company, which specialises in heavy lift and boat transportation, cleared the cargo through customs and ensured the sporting goods reached their destination on time and with all the necessary paperwork.

Because the items contained lithium batteries, which are classed as dangerous goods, PSP was able to flex its expertise in this area. PSP is one of only a handful of logistics firms that is licensed to transport and pack dangerous goods, which include guns and potentially explosive shipments, such as lithium batteries.

PSP’s managing director, Frank Dixie, said: “This latest shipment is proof that while we may be best known in the marine industry for transporting luxury yachts, marine spares and work boats, there is even more that we are capable of. A huge 80 per cent of our business comes from non-marine freight forwarding projects such as this and we are working to increase our market share of this type of work.”

David Thomas, CEO of Ongar Ltd, WaveJet Exclusive European Distributor, added: “David Thomas, MD of Ongar Ltd, WaveJet Exclusive European Distributor, added: “We are simply delighted to have engaged PSP to guide us through the logistical nightmare of shipping our WaveJets into Europe. From our first meeting at the Tullett Prebon London Boat Show in January, the PSP team led by Mike Austin not only got us to Palma on time but helped crown that with the best-in-show award. We look forward to a great ongoing partnership with PSP.”

May Dudley joined Bruton Knowles in April as part of the firm’s professional team.

May’s new role involves supporting David Pugh, partner and head of the professional team, with valuation and rent reviews for a number of clients including LTSB and Wolverhampton City Council. She will also be taking seats in the firm’s development and rating teams later in the year.

Currently working towards achieving her APC qualification, May graduated from Birmingham City University in 2009 with a degree in BSc (Hons) Property and Construction. She also holds a Masters degree in Rural Estate and Land Management from Harper Adams University College, Newport.

Following work experience placements at firms including DTZ, Landmark and Towler Shaw Roberts, May previously worked within the Property Support Team at Punch Taverns supporting surveyors dealing with rent reviews and investment valuations on the company’s property portfolio.

May said: “I’m looking forward to putting the skills I’ve learnt through my work experience placements into practice and hope to forge a successful career at Bruton Knowles and within the region’s property market.”

Ian Pitt, head of Bruton Knowles’ Birmingham office, added: “We are happy to welcome May onboard and are confident she will become an invaluable asset to the Birmingham team.”

Working in partnership with long-standing clients Bellway Homes and McCarthy & Stone, Trebor has submitted a planning application for a new 10,000 sq ft office building, together with 74 new homes and a 39 apartment retirement scheme.

Father Hudson’sSociety will relocate its operationswithin the Coventry Road site into the new bespoke office premises that have been designed by Trebor to accommodate its 50-strong team together with space for partnerorganisations and a new chapel area.

Tim Bradford, Chief Executive of Father Hudson’s said, “We’re delighted to announce our partnership with Trebor Developments to deliver our new office project. We’ve been really impressed with their approach in understanding our requirements and designing a very attractive scheme.”

“Our Trustees and staff alike are very excited by the development and it will make a huge difference to Father Hudson’s as a charity. We want to stay at the site but the current layout of our buildings is really inefficient, the offices cost huge amounts of money to run and we have redundant buildings that cannot be brought back in to use economically.”

“From our consultations, we have a very clear view from local residents and community representatives that the old buildings should be replaced with new high quality development – something we’re now delighted to have submitted for planning approval.”

Mark Wright, Partner of Trebor Developments, said “We are well experienced in working with occupiers to understand their specific needs and to create attractive, flexible and value-for-money developments and we have established something of a specialism at working with Trusts and Charities.”

“There have been many abortive and unsuccessful attempts to bring forward a solution for Father Hudson’s over recent years but we feel that our joined-up approach between the Charity and the development team, combined with the experts we have recruited to help solve the challenges, sets this scheme apart.”

The scheme has recently been submitted for planning approval and it is anticipated that work on the office project will be underway this Autumn.

Office construction has risen eight per cent over the past six months to 9.7m square feet of space under construction, bouncing off lows of 2.7m in the third quarter of 2010.

The figures, in Deloitte’s London Office Crane Survey, are the clearest sign yet the commercial construction market is back in full swing, with eye-catching designs like the Walkie-Talkie building at 20 Fenchurch Street dominating London’s skyline.

Around one third of space under construction was pre-let in the first quarter, the equivalent of six Shard towers – up from the 2011 slump when just one per cent was pre-let.

Deloitte partner Anthony Duggan said: “Importantly, a number of the ‘bellwether’ vacant schemes across London are now transacting, reducing the ability of potential occupiers to sit back and wait for conditions to improve.”