Noted for her calm and approachable demeanour, in only her first year into her job at Hartnell Taylor Cook Bec Harries has already proved herself a mainstay in the busy agency/retail team. In addition to her work responsibilities, she’s also on the BPAA (Bristol Property Agents’ Association) committee, organising events and activities for the wider Bristol-area agents.
We took five minutes to sit with her and learn more about her life at Hartnell Taylor Cook:
How long have you been with HTC?
I joined Hartnell Taylor Cook in January 2024.
What was your route into surveying?
I worked as a letting agent previously, then joined a commercial property consultancy and worked my way up from an admin role to surveyor. I completed my RICS qualification on the job.
What do you like most about working at HTC?
I enjoy the variety of work that we undertake, which ranges from strategic marketing, leasehold and freehold negotiations for private and commercial clients and getting to visit a wide range of properties across the South West, and I have a great team that is very supportive.
Briefly, how would you describe your role to someone who isn’t a surveyor?
I work in the Agency section of HTC, in the retail team, so the best way to understand this is I essentially find tenants for shops, cafes & restaurants – any property that falls under the ‘retail’ heading. On the other side, we also act for occupiers helping them find them new sites. It’s a role that’s varied and challenging and requires a good understanding of the needs of both tenants and occupiers.
What advice would you give someone wanting to become a surveyor?
Go to all the networking opportunities available – it really helps getting to know your peers!
Outside of work, how do you like to relax?
Spending time with my family, getting out and about with my energetic two-year-old son, going to the gym and running when I can find the time and, of course, trying Bristol’s finest eateries!
What’s something people might not know about you?
I cycled from Bristol to Paris a few years ago for charity; yes I am still ‘riding’ out on this. It was such a good experience and would love to do something like this again.
Spotting the perfect property or tenant requires skill and exceptional market knowledge. We work with the biggest names in retail and leisure, including leading owners and tenants of prime high-street, shopping-centre and retail-park holdings and successful developers. Clients trust our exceptional market knowledge and expertise to help them achieve their objectives.
You can find out more about our agency teams here:https://htc.uk.com/agency/retail-leisure/
If you’d like to know more about life behind the scenes, you can read our previous post here: https://htc.uk.com/news/behind-the-scenes-with-htc-meet-steven-shaw/
