Lodders Life Issue 10: Bromwich Hardy

In the very first issue of Lodders Life, we spoke to Tom Bromwich, one of the founders of Bromwich Hardy. Ten years down the line, Lodders continues to work with the Coventry-based property consultancy, collaborating on commercial property transactions.

Established in 2008, Bromwich Hardy has forged a reputation as one of the leading commercial property specialists in the area. We caught up with Tom to discuss the current state of the market and find out what the team has been up to.

What does the market look like for you now?

“Bromwich Hardy has grown really well since 2014. We have doubled our headcount and are now a 14-strong team. Whilst the markets are good, transactions have slowed due to the uncertain economic and political environment. As a firm, we have worked hard to keep up momentum.”

Any surprising growth areas in the market?

“The biggest surprise has been the growth in rents, particularly industrial rents, which have continued to rise until this year. Nobody predicted how quickly they would grow. The pandemic saw increased demand for warehouse space due to the growth of online shopping, and this has arguably had a lasting impact on the industrial rental market.”

Can you tell us more about your position at Get A-Head Charitable Trust?

“I have had the honour of being chairman of Get A-Head, which supports people with head and neck diseases, for ten years now. My involvement with the charity actually began 15 years ago, when my twin brother was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. John Watkinson, the founder of Get A-Head, is the surgeon who operated on my brother. Since this time, it has been a pleasure to see the charity grow, with this year marking our 30th anniversary. Like many charities, the pandemic knocked us back, but we came out of it fighting and are pleased to be hosting our special anniversary gala ball this year, as well as getting involved in some major national initiatives.”

Bromwich Hardy was a fellow sponsor of Atlantic charity rowers, the Brightsides. Why did you decide to get involved?

“It was an amazing experience to sponsor the Brightsides team alongside Lodders and other companies in the region. I have personally known the team’s skipper Rod Adlington for a long time and was delighted that he nominated Get A-Head as one of the two charity beneficiaries. Upon learning about the mammoth challenge the team was planning to take on, we did not hesitate to offer our support and are truly in awe of what they have achieved.”

Supporting sports and athletics is part of Bromwich Hardy’s commitment to the community – what role does sport play in the company’s culture?

“As a company, we’re sports mad and have always been keen to give back to our local community. For many years, we were the main sponsor of Kenilworth Rugby Club and now proudly sponsor Coventry Rugby Club. We go and watch matches and even have the players come in and talk to us about things like teamwork and self-discipline. In addition, we are sponsoring a local Coventry boy to go to America to participate in the World’s Strongest Kid competition, and a local girl who is making her way in the clay shooting world with an ambition to shoot for Team GB in the Olympics. I personally take a lot of inspiration from their dedication and determination!”

What’s next for Bromwich Hardy?

“We have been lucky enough to receive several regional awards in recognition of the team’s exceptional work. Going forward, we will strive to maintain our position as the number one commercial agent in Coventry and Warwickshire – something we are very proud of.”