Foreword

Alex Probyn BSc, FRICS Global President, Property Tax

I am delighted to introduce our third Annual Business Rates Review.

The past year and a half was unimaginable in so many ways. The global pandemic served to change how we work and interact with our colleagues and clients almost overnight, accelerating a digital transformation which will shape the way businesses operate for years to come. This accelerated “digitisation” is perhaps one positive outcome from such a challenging and uncertain time, driven by businesses adapting fast to meet the needs of their employees, clients and shareholders.

Our Property Tax business had already begun its digitisation journey, but there is no doubt that plans were accelerated by the impact of COVID-19. Both internally and externally, our technology evolved and adapted at pace to allow the team to continue to deliver our services with continuity and quality, despite the challenges of remote working in an unpredictable world.

New data solutions will continue to augment and enhance our service delivery as we move through 2021 and beyond. As we head towards the next Revaluation in 2023, our comprehensive data will drive intelligent workflows and invaluable insights to assist our team to deliver the best results for our clients.

As businesses evaluate how much real estate they require postpandemic, our enhanced data solutions will not only provide cutting edge evidence to minimise business rates liabilities, but will also provide a unique viewpoint for lease events, as well as a growing platform capable of a complete service around the overall cost of occupation.

Let’s hope that the worst of the pandemic is now behind us. With businesses having now reopened and life returning to normal, albeit a ‘new’ normal, we are hopefully on a path to a strong economic recovery.

Altus Group will continue to play our part in supporting our real estate clients through our innovative services, and we will continue to adapt, innovate and deliver both for our colleagues and clients and for our shareholders.

I’m excited by the future!