Following a long and rewarding corporate career Nikki Skelton has set up a niche consultancy to advise and transact for corporate and private clients on a diverse range of property matters. Following a short lived ‘career’ as a biochemist, Nikki has been practising in the property market since 1987.

Retail Market Pioneer

Having completed an MPhil in Land Management at the University of Reading, Nikki joined the retail team at Hillier Parker in 1990 and qualified as a Chartered Surveyor in 1992. She initially gained a wide range of experience dealing with supermarkets, department stores and shopping centres, but soon established herself as a leading light in the fast evolving ‘out of town’ retail market.

Everyone was on a steep learning curve in those days as retailers were quickly evolving and changing their high street concepts to work in out of town locations. Developers, investors and valuers alike were constantly surprised at the pace of both the evolution and development of this fast growing property sector. Nikki was fortunate to be part of that evolution dealing with development land sales, leasing new and existing schemes, valuing the growing portfolios of many major investors and over time dealing with the rent reviews and lease renewals.

By the mid 1990’s Nikki had set up one of the first ‘dedicated full service’ out of town retail teams bringing together, asset management, development and leasing, investment and lease advisory/valuation expertise in one team. It turned out to be the blue print format for many other firms and new niche practices operating today.

Over the course of the following decade, Nikki developed the business and the team at CB Hillier Parker and then CBRE. Hers was one of the first out of town retail teams to provide valuation backed asset management strategies. This enabled clients to fully understand and quantify the risk and rewards of revising tenant mix, subdividing premises or extending units and building standalone pods to accommodate and accord with market demand and to improve their income stream or investment value or both.

These principles are as valid today as then and can be applied across all sectors; for commercial, retail or residential property.

Detail & Discretion

The real estate sector has dramatically evolved over the last decade. Nikki had first hand experience of the practicalities of running a team and a business post acquisition and merger. She has also advised on the acquisition, merger and de-merger of a number of high profile retail organisations domiciled domestically and globally.

Detail is at the heart of everything Nikki does and she is an acknowledged expert in the evaluation and valuation of real estate. She advised on the feasibility, viability and valuation of a large number of shopping parks when they were in the development stages and as they evolved over the years. For example, Broughton Park in Chester, Edinburgh Fort and New Mersey Shopping Park in Liverpool. Similarly she advised on the lease construction and valuation of some of the first large out of town properties to trade on two floors.

She has provided Expert Evidence for both occupiers and owners for arbitration and independent expert cases as well as for litigation in Court.

Well known for being forthright and bold, Nikki has never shied away from difficult or controversial projects and assignments. Although much of Nikki’s work has been very much in the public eye she is highly valued and trusted by her clients for her ability to deal with highly sensitive and confidential assignments.

Commercial & Residential Expertise

A million miles away from global corporate practice, Nikki has also had stewardship of a portfolio of commercial and residential properties. This is where over a similar 25 year period, she has gained additional experience of development, asset management and project management largely outside of the pure retail arena. However, whilst the dynamics of those markets are different, the principles of creating value for the greater good are exactly the same whether it is a regionally dominant shopping park, a locally sought after business park or a residential extension.

Creating Successful Teams

Nikki passionately believes that the best outcomes are directly linked to bringing together the best people and teams to achieve the desired results. She has a long and successful track record of building and running teams, often bringing together people from many different areas or organisations with the sole aim of them working together to achieve the best outcomes for themselves and their clients, shareholders and stakeholders.