WOODSmith Construction Group win North Yorkshire StartUp of the Year 2023 

The SDDE Smith Group are delighted to announce that WOODSmith Construction Group emerged victorious at the prestigious StartUp Awards!

WOODSmith Construction Group win North Yorkshire StartUp of the Year 2023

WOODSmith Construction Group won North Yorkshire StartUp of the Year 2023. 

This achievement is a testament to the exceptional hard work and efforts of the entire WOODSmith team. It is the collective effort of each and every individual that has propelled WOODSmith to receive this recognition. 

WOODSmith took time to extend a thank you to their valued external suppliers, whose support has played a significant role in contributing to the success of the company.

Carl Flatters, Commercial Site Manager, and Callum Robinson, Residential Project Manager, graciously accepted the award on the night. 

Professor Dylan Jones-Evans OBE, creator of the awards, says the events celebrate the best new firms in the UK and recognise the amazing entrepreneurial talent across the nation. Reflecting on the evening he said: 

“In the second year of the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber Startup Awards, we have seen yet again the incredible contribution of new businesses to job creation, innovation, and prosperity across the whole of this entrepreneurial nation.”

“It’s been an honour and a pleasure to read the stories of those individuals from across North East, Yorkshire and the Humber who have spotted the opportunity and taken the risk to launch their own venture, especially at a time when the economy is still fragile after the Covid pandemic.”

The recognition as North Yorkshire's StartUp of the Year 2023 reflects WOODSmith’s commitment to delivering exceptional construction services and exceeding client expectations. 

Gary Wood, Managing Director of WOODSmith Construction Group and COO of The SDDE Smith Group, has nothing but praise for his award winning team, he adds:

“I firmly believe that our success is not measured solely by the number of projects we've completed or the financial milestones we've achieved, but by the relationships we've built and the impact we've made in the industry. I’m so proud of our tight knit supportive team, they are the reason we keep taking things to the next level.”

WOODSmith remains dedicated to innovation, quality, and continued growth, and as part of The SDDE Smith Group, they will continue to push boundaries, deliver excellence, and create better places to live, work, and stay.

Congratulations to the entire WOODSmith team for this well-deserved recognition!

Want to work with WOODSmith? No matter the size or scope of your project, they can work with you to take it from concept to reality. Get in touch on 01287 221461 or visit www.woodsmithgroup.com to find out more. 

Selwyn Hedgley Joins The SDDE Smith Group

The SDDE Smith Group is excited to announce the acquisition of Selwyn Hedgley.  

The SDDE Smith Group is excited to announce the acquisition of Selwyn Hedgley Estate Agents.  

The acquisition of Selwyn Hedgley, a well-established estate agent with a reputation for excellent customer service, will further expand The SDDE Smith Group's reach, offering a wider range of services and expertise to their valued clients.

The Selwyn Hedgley brand is heading into its 50th year, and it has built a fantastic reputation as a trusted local estate agent. The business started in 1974, initially as an insurance brokerage that quickly moved into an estate agency. In 2005 Selwyn Hedgley settled on the strapline ‘Experience Is Everything’ and these values remain integral to the company today. 

Selwyn Hedgley Estate Agents will continue to operate under their existing name, but now their clients will benefit from The SDDE Smith Group's extensive resources and expertise, which includes companies such as WOODSmith Construction, Grey-Smith Legal, Styled Interior Design, resicentral® and Host & Stay.

"We are delighted to be joining The SDDE Smith Group, a company with a proven track record of excellence in the property industry," says Gareth Walsh, Managing Director of Selwyn Hedgley.

"When first approached by Dale, we had no intention of selling but were blown over by the confidence and dynamism of Dale and the group, which is infectious." 

Gareth continues: "I wanted this dynamism and forward thinking approach to take the new Selwyn Hedgley back to where it belongs, at the top, delivering a superb customer experience, backed up by all the facets of modern marketing."

Dale Smith, CEO of The SDDE Smith Group, echoes Gareth’s enthusiasm for the acquisition, adding: "We felt that the Selwyn Hedgley business was a great fit for our existing property focused brands from across The SDDE Smith Group, and that we could help and support the growth of the Selwyn Hedgley brand through the resources that the group structure brings."

The SDDE Smith Group now has two estate agencies under its umbrella, the first being Manhatten Property. When asked about the acquisition of another agency, Dale Smith responded: "We felt that the estate agency side of the group needed a well established local brand that was looking for new ways to grow."

"The team at Selwyn Hedgley have fantastic experience and great knowledge of the local market, and this is exactly the platform we were looking for from which to grow the estate agency side of The SDDE Smith Group."

The SDDE Smith Group and Selwyn Hedgley Estate Agents are committed to providing the highest level of service and expertise to their clients, and the acquisition marks an exciting new chapter for both companies.

Looking to buy, sell or let? Speak to Selwyn Hedgley’s expert team and find out why Experience Is Everything, visit www.selwynhedgley.com today! 

The SDDE Smith Group  is excited to announce our partnership with the North Riding County FA for the upcoming 2023/24 season!

The SDDE Smith Group is excited to announce its partnership with the North Riding County FA.

North Riding County FA

Football fans up and down the country will likely have seen The SDDE Smith Group of companies, including Host & Stay and WOODSmith Construction, advertised on shirts and hoardings in several grounds throughout the English Leagues, and we are delighted that they have chosen to support the grassroots game too.

Gary Wood, COO of The SDDE Smith Group and MD of WOODSmith Construction, played Northern League football for several clubs over 15 years, winning the North Riding Senior Cup with Guisborough Town beating local rivals Marske United being one of his favourite days. While Gary no longer plays (referees can breathe a sigh of relief!), his love for football, especially local football, remains strong to this day. So, when the opportunity to partner with the North Riding County FA came up, Gary knew he and The SDDE Smith Group had to get involved.

“Myself and Dale Smith (CEO of The SDDE Smith Group) have been involved in football from a young age, we understand first hand the profound impact it can have on individuals and communities. Football matters deeply in Teesside and North Yorkshire, where it serves as a deep source of pride for the region.” 

Gary continues: “Back in the day, my wallet suffered the consequences of my on-field behaviour; although I would say my consistent fines and bookings did help fund the North Riding! But since leaving the pitch I had to find new ways to support the county, and sponsorship was the answer. Being able to support the North Riding County FA allows The SDDE Smith Group to contribute to the growth of grassroots football in an area where it truly matters. Our goal,  through the sponsorship of the North Riding FA County Cup Competitions and the Referee CORE program, is to create a safe and thriving football environment for players, referees, and everyone involved to enjoy.” 

The partnership will see The SDDE Smith Group taking naming rights for the North Riding FA County Cup competitions. The County Cup competitions will be re-named to include the groups' portfolio of companies, with WOODSmith Construction mainly sponsoring the men’s competitions, including the prestigious North Riding Senior Cup. Host and Stay, Grey-Smith Legal and Styled Interior Design will share the sponsorship of the junior and Women’s North Riding Cup competitions.

And, for the entirety of the 2023-24 season, The SDDE Smith will be the principal partner of the CORE Referee Programme. After playing throughout the footballing pyramid, both Dale Smith and Gary Wood understand that without the training and development of new referees, the game we know, and love wouldn't be able to be officiated by qualified referees. There are over 22,000 participants currently playing football in some capacity within the county. Without the development of new referees, we would be unable to fulfil the demand across female, male and disability pathways to ensure games are played in a safe and controlled environment.

Founded in 2017, The SDDE Smith Group has established itself as a company committed to its employees, clients, and the local communities it serves. Driven by a genuine passion for property, and their end-to-end solutions for property owners, the Group has thrived, expanding to include 14 companies and employing over 300 individuals throughout the North East and North Yorkshire region.

Steven Wade, Chief Executive at North Riding County FA, says: “North Riding FA is delighted to announce this partnership with The SDDE Smith Group, a company with a track record of already supporting football across the country.”

“Dale and Gary have played the game themselves and therefore understand the power of grassroots football to improve the lives of those involved. We believe that the values of the two companies are very much aligned, with both being passionate about supporting communities and widening opportunities for local people.”

“The support that The SDDE group are providing will allow us to continue to invest in the development of the game across Teesside and North Yorkshire during the 2023/24 season, supporting the development of our referee workforce and providing the very best experience for those adult and youth teams involved in our prestigious county cup competitions.”

The partnership with The SDDE Smith Group is assisting us in our quest to ensure that football remains accessible to all, ensuring that individuals have the chance to have fun, showcase their abilities, and even pursue professional careers in the sport.

We’re excited to kick off the season with The SDDE Smith Group, building stronger, more united communities, where the impact of football reaches far beyond the boundaries of the pitch!

The SDDE Smith Group announce Host & Stay and Durham Cricket Partnership 

The SDDE Smith Group and Host & Stay are now Principal Partner and Principal Staycation Partner of Durham County Cricket Club!

The SDDE Smith Group announce Host & Stay and Durham Cricket Partnership

Local North East business Host & Stay, one of the UK’s fastest-growing, family owned, holiday home management businesses, has partnered with Durham Cricket Club in a multi-year deal.

The SDDE Smith Group and Host & Stay are now the clubs Principal Partner and Principal Staycation Partner.

This exciting partnership between Host & Stay and Durham Cricket Club aims to celebrate the appeal of both cricket and staycations, bringing people together to enjoy the excitement of the sport and the pleasures of UK holidays. With this collaboration, Host & Stay hopes to continue its growth and expand its reach to cricket fans and holiday-goers alike, providing them with the best possible experience.

Starting at the beginning of the 2023 season, the partnership will showcase the Host & Stay branding throughout the Seat Unique Riverside ground. The collaboration also includes various matchday branding and activities that will enhance the overall experience for fans.

Be sure to watch the video below to learn more about Host & Stay and discover an exclusive discount for Durham Cricket fans on your next UK getaway!

As a company currently managing over 750 holiday homes, Host & Stay understands the significant role that Durham Cricket Club plays in the local area. With many of its employees supporting the club, Host & Stay was eager to form a partnership that could make a real impact.

Owner and group CEO Dale Smith said: "Durham Cricket Club is at the heart of the Durham community, and we know as a local business they share the same community-based values as we do. This is core to our partnership, and we look forward to delivering our objectives together to the benefit of our local community with some industry-leading innovations."

Tom Seymour, Durham Cricket Commercial Director, said: "We are delighted to have partnered with Host & Stay as our Principal Staycation Partner. It is fantastic to have partnered with a business that is prominent in the North, and the family themed nature of the business aligns with what we are about at Durham Cricket."

Host & Stay is part of The SDDE Smith Group and is committed to pushing boundaries to create better places to live, work, and stay.

Host & Stay are here to elevate the game! Visit their website to find your perfect stay or see how they can help your property earn its full potential via their hands free, hassle free holiday home management service: www.hostandstay.co.uk

Keep an eye out at the Seat Unique Riverside for Host & Stay’s new signage!

The SDDE Smith Group are delighted to announce the launch of resicentral®, a digital property management solution controlled in a single bespoke app.

The SDDE Smith Group are delighted to announce the 
launch of resicentral®,  a digital property management solution controlled in a single bespoke app.

resicentral® launch

Manage the controls of an entire building in one place? Sounds out of this world… but resicentral® has created just that, and it's set to be at the centre of the universe for property developers.  

Resicentral®, innovators in smart technologies, have launched a bespoke platform for property owners, management teams, and tenants. 

Yorkshire born business resicentral®, part of The SDDE Smith Group, has launched a first of its kind smart building platform. A feature rich cloud based software and products, designed to create safer, smarter buildings, enhance the tenant experience, and drive improved tenant retention across residential and commercial property portfolios. 

The resicentral® apps can be tailored for a single specific function, such as video entry, or expanded to control all elements of the building, including, but not limited to, heating controls, air quality monitoring, access control, leak detection and in-room automation. The possibilities are almost endless; customisation for individual residents and specific building management requirements, results in building owners only paying for the functionality they require.

MD James Baird says, “resicentral® has been designed to help property developers and asset owners boost the IQ of their residential and commercial property portfolios and to further enhance the resident experience supporting tenant retention.”

“Other smart building technologies require users to download and install individual apps to control individual functions, such as music, TV, lighting or access.  Resicentral® brings everything together in a single system, controlled by bespoke apps or an in-room tablet, streamlining automation controls and making for a seamless experience.”

Reflecting on the current climate he adds, “You can’t shy away from the energy crisis in the UK at the moment and we are seeing a surge in demand for our ResiAIR™ technology to help create energy efficient buildings that are safer and smarter.”

As the energy crisis continues into Spring, resicentral® is helping property managers to get ahead of the curve by monitoring, managing, and optimising their buildings' energy usage. The system includes an ESG Portal with real-time granular data of the building’s energy consumptions, allowing asset owners, property managers as well as tenants to make informed decisions about their energy use. Property managers can also benchmark and implement a fair usage policy using other resicentral® technologies, which offer the ability to set thresholds and even provide accurate bills for excess and under usage.

Already enjoying the benefits of resicentral® is the prestigious Live Oasis Manchester St James development, managed by the YPP Group. The installation included lighting and TV controls, blind automation, integrated video entry and access control, room temperature monitoring, air quality sensors and occupancy monitoring installed throughout the 60-apartment scheme, all accessible for residents through the mobile apps and in room tablets.

YPP Group managing director Omar Al-Nujaifi says: “The benefits this product range brings to the Live Oasis in Manchester are unparalleled with any other smart building technologies we have seen. Manchester is a vibrant, creative and innovative city, and our latest development offers apartments for a modern generation of tenants who are not only looking for a stylish abode but something that is technology rich, sustainable and a connected place to live. These products and platform create an enhanced lifestyle that fits our residents’ needs.”

At each stage of a developments lifecycle, resicentral® can be added to existing building infrastructures, current hardware or buildings at any design stage.  Successful partnerships have been forged with Assa Abloy and Comelit; where resicentral® integrates with these applications or with retrofit schemes where these systems have already been deployed. 

Dale Smith, CEO of The SDDE Smith Group, is excited to see the continued growth with resicentral®: “I’m hugely excited to welcome the resicentral® brand, technology, and team to The SDDE Smith Group.” 

“We are always looking for best in class solutions for our asset owners and the resicentral® technology will allow us to deliver the very best in property smart controls as well as drive improvements in both sustainability and user experience.” 

Dale adds: “What James and his team have developed in the last two years is truly unique in the marketplace and I’m certain that it will become a ‘must have’ for property owners across multiple use classes.”

The SDDE Smith Group has long been a leader in the property industry; their all encompassing approach with WOODSmith Construction, Host & Stay, Grey-Smith Legal, Manhatten Property and now resicentral® gives potential investors an end-to-end solution for all property matters. 

Resicentral® offers its clients an all-encompassing approach to energy efficiency, tenant safety and building management. Looking to work with resicentral™? Or want to know more about streamlining your property with smart technologies? Visit www.resicentral.co.uk or contact hello@resicentral.co.uk  today.

A Simple Decision: Host So Simple Acquisition

Host & Stay acquires North West short-term let company Host So Simple.

Host So Simple Acquisition

Host & Stay, the UK's fastest-growing family-owned holiday let management company, acquires Host So Simple, a Liverpool-based short-term let property management company.

The merger is a natural progression for these two award-winning companies, bringing together their shared values and commitment to quality. The Host & Stay portfolio will now exceed 900 properties, providing guests with an even wider range of exceptional accommodation.

Host So Simple, started by Katy and Joe Davies in 2016, has experienced remarkable growth and success in Liverpool through its end-to-end short-term let management service, and this level of service is exactly what resonated with the Host & Stay team. As part of the wider SDDE Smith Group, Host So Simple will further enhance its ability to expand across the North West, scaling all aspects of their end-to-end service that has already driven so much success.

Joe Davies, founder of Host So Simple, expressed his excitement about the merger: "We are genuinely excited about the possibilities that merging with a brand like Host & Stay brings, and we look forward to continuing their ambitions of creating better places to live, work, and stay in the wider North West region. We are a company with a strong focus on our team, and it was clear from the initial conversations with Dale that he shared this vision with us. We feel that our ability to grow will be significantly enhanced by being part of the wider group, and we cannot wait to see what the future holds as we expand our services further afield."

Dale Smith, CEO of Host & Stay, shared his enthusiasm, stating: "We are extremely proud to welcome the Host So Simple brand into the Host & Stay portfolio. From our initial discussions, it was quickly evident that we held the same passion for property, the same core, family-backed values, and that we were operating very, very similar businesses in terms of process, systems, and attitude towards offering an ‘in-house’ full management service. The merger represents a significant step forward, and we are committed to delivering a best-in-class property management service for our clients."

Since its founding in December 2018, Host & Stay has experienced impressive organic growth, with their property portfolio doubling year on year. Their success lies in their hands-free, end-to-end service, from cleaning and maintenance to marketing and guest relations. 

Host & Stay offers holiday home owners a hands-free, hassle-free management solution, with an industry leading 10% + VAT management fee and no restrictions on owner bookings

Their mission is to make the UK one of the most popular, guest centric holiday destinations in the world, and this initial acquisition is only the start for Host & Stay. 

Over the next three years, the company’s plans include the acquisition of multiple holiday home and short-term rental management businesses across the UK. Through reinvestment of profits, Host & Stay is poised to scale their operations, enabling them to optimise their capabilities, enhance service offerings, and extend their reach to customers throughout the UK. With a firm commitment to delivering best-in-class services, Host & Stay is positioned to establish a strong foothold in the market and drive sustained growth in the years ahead.

Want to start earning more from your holiday home, or book your next unforgettable UK getaway? Visit hostandstay.co.uk.

A 900 unit deal between resicentral®, headline sponsors of Urban Living Festival 2023, and Charles Hope Apartments raises the industry standard for energy management, building monitoring, and apartment automation.

900 unit deal between resicentral® and Charles Hope Apartments secured.

Deals That Make The Headlines

resicentral®, a leading property technology company, made an impressive impact at this year's Urban Living Festival in Canary Wharf. As the headline sponsor of the event, resicentral® showcased their innovative energy management solution, resiEM™, and resiAIR™, a Wi-Fi based intelligent monitoring, control, and sensing unit. Both are designed to reduce energy consumption, save clients money, improve sustainability, and provide valuable data insights.

MD, James Baird, and Dale Smith, CEO of The SDDE Smith Group, the parent company of resicentral®, gave speeches, workshops, and live demonstrations, leaving a lasting impression on attendees. Reaffirmed by securing deals in excess of 1000 units whilst at the event. More on that later.

James and Dale kicked off the second day of the Urban Living Festival with a joint introduction. Dale spoke of the acquisition of resicentral® and his pride in The SDDE Smith Group’s participation as the headline sponsor of the Urban Living Festival for three consecutive years, underscoring the company's dedication to driving innovation and industry collaboration. James followed to speak on the company's rapid growth, highlighting the company's ambitious plans, including the installation of resicentral®’s resiEM™ technology within 520 units in Leeds.

The resicental® cloud platform and resiAIR™ technology work together to give clients control over their buildings by monitoring and controlling individual apartments and spaces. This helps to improve energy efficiency and the resident experience. resiAIR™ uses state-of-the-art processing and sensing technology in a compact device that is about the size of a smoke detector. The system includes features such as temperature setting limits and the automatic shut-off of lighting, heating, and other circuits when sensors detect no occupancy in a given location. The technology uses customisable rules within the platform's rule engine, making them adaptable to various actions with custom configurations.

The accompanying technology, resiEM™, is an energy management platform that compiles granular data across an entire property, breaking it down to each individual unit; benchmarking energy consumption and the estimated costs for power usage. The platform provides real-time and historical reports on energy usage, which property owners can use to effectively monitor and optimise their consumption patterns.

Stemming from discussions and live demonstrations at the Urban Living Festival, resicentral® secured a deal with Charles Hope Apartments to implement resiAIR™ and resiEM™ in over 900 units across 17 locations. By leveraging resiAIR™ and resiEM™ Charles Hope Apartments property managers and residents will experience an evolutionary approach to energy usage and optimisation, raising their efficiency and sustainability standards.

Richard Maurin, CEO of Charles Hope Apartments, shares his thoughts: "Charles Hope Apartments has chosen resicentral® as a technology partner across our UK portfolio due to the product's superior features offering our business a range of energy-saving and operational management benefits. Charles Hope's ethos is to provide unparalleled customer service; our commitment to lowering energy usage without impacting the customer sits alongside that. resientral® offers a data-driven solution that allows us to do this, unlike any other product on the market."

resicentral® is committed to sustainability and ESG principles. Through its innovative resiEM™ platform and resiAIR™ technology, the company compiles real-time data on sustainability practises, including Kwh of energy, resident engagement, and carbon offsetting.

At the close of this year’s Urban Living Festival, it is clear that resicentral®'s contributions will have a lasting impact on the property industry as a whole. Their dedication to innovation, sustainability, and collaboration sets a high standard for others to follow. It is an exciting time for urban living, and resicentral® is at the forefront, shaping a future where technology and sustainability converge for the betterment of residents and communities.

Want to know more about resicentral®’s energy management and smart automation solutions? Head to www.resicentral.co.uk and find out more! 

Acquiring Success: 2023's New Appointments

Never the ones to be complacent, The SDDE Smith Group have got ambitious plans to bring in the next level of growth – something they’re well on their way to achieving thanks to some recent big appointments.

2023 New Appointments

The SDDE Smith Group are making their intentions for continued growth very clear with the appointment of six new senior roles in the business. 

The Group is ambitious about their goals: “We have seen fantastic growth across the last few years, with revenue growing more than seven times from £2 million in 2020 to £15 million in 2022, but in order to keep that pace and drive towards nine figure annual revenues, it is essential that we continue to develop our leadership structure and bring knowledge and experience into the Group. Our latest senior appointments do exactly that." says Dale Smith, CEO of The SDDE Smith Group.

The Group has already made some big moves since its inception in 2017, and now employs more than 300 colleagues, predominantly in the North East of England. In September 2022 the Group made its first acquisition when it acquired Cochranes Law Firm to become part of the Group’s Grey-Smith Legal brand, and already in 2023 the Group has acquired ResiCentral, a property technology business, and is soon to complete on the acquisition of a Teesside based Estate Agency business. 

However, it’s not just the additional companies they are acquiring, they are acquiring the very best talent to take The SDDE Smith Group to the next level.

Gary Wood has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer for The SDDE Smith Group, bringing more than 10 years experience in senior management roles within the construction industry. His expertise will be put to good use as he oversees all operational aspects of the business, from strategic planning and implementation to project management and delivery.

Gary’s enthusiasm towards the Group is undeniable: “My goal is to improve and develop the groups operational strategies and performance across the board whilst supporting our brands and individuals to collaborate and thrive together! This authenticates our all encompassing approach as we strive to push boundaries to create better places to live work and stay.”

Gary has successfully led WOODSmith Construction Group from start-up in March 2021 to £5 million turnover in its second year of operation, and is now expecting to exceed £10 million in revenue across 2023. Gary’s passion and relentless operational drive have been one of the key factors in WOODSmith Construction’s rapid growth, and he now brings those same qualities to his Group role.

Ben Duncan has been appointed as Commercial Director, of Host & Stay, focusing on the expansion and growth of the Host and Stay's  integrated services. Ben joined The SDDE Smith Group in 2018 as Finance Director, and he brings extensive commercial and financial experience to the role, which will be invaluable in growing the Host & Stay portfolio to over 1,500 holiday homes across 2023. Ben has overseen the development of the group's central finance function which has been established to support the rapidly growing business, and has been instrumental in the development of the group’s ESG Strategy across 2022.

Ryan McKnight – People & Places Director

Ryan McKnight's extensive knowledge and success in the Football industry might just make him the signing of the season! Ryan joins The SDDE Smith Group as People & Place Director, overseeing the People Department, the Group’s ESG strategy, and the new StayLocal project. He also remains as Redcar Athletic FC'S Managing Director.

Having ran the trade publication for the UK Football Industry, FCBusiness, as Editor-in-Chief for 7 years Ryan went on to work in and lead a number of football league sides, co-founded leading private academy 'NEFA' and has retained his own Football industry research consultancy where he is a leading figure in the field of fandom. "I'm over the moon to be joining Dale and the rest of the team at the SDDE Group as People and Places Director.” says Ryan. 

He continues: "Now in my twentieth year in football I have had the great privilege to spend time understanding both people and place (which is the core function of any club) and I'm looking forward to bringing that knowledge into the group alongside the exciting project we are launching Redcar Athletic.”

Ryan’s unique attribute is his deep experience of both the playing and non-playing aspects of the game; and how those aspects have a real and sometimes life changing impact on the people, places and communities that surround it. Those qualities tie back to the core of what The SDDE Smith Group stands for, and that is in creating better places for people to live, better places for people to work, and better places for people to stay.  

James Baird joins the Group as Chief Technology Officer and Managing Director of ResiCentral.

Leading the technology arm of the Group, and driving to be continually 'working smarter' - an ethos founded on the principles of adopting efficient and effective working practices within the business and extending them outwards to help each and every client work more efficiently, too.

James' passion is customer service and he leads by example, instilling the strong service values that set The SDDE Smith Group apart from others in the industry throughout the team. Strong client relationships are the Group's hallmark, and James is committed to combining traditional customer service values with the latest technological innovations, so that every Group customer receives only the very best solutions and support. 

Reece Ingham - Group Financial Controller

Durham based Reece Ingham, joins the Group as Group Financial Controller. Equipped with a wealth of experience, Reece describes himself as a passionate, professional, and commercially-minded accountant. “I’m really excited to get started building the controls and processes of the business from that of a small family run group to that of a large corporation, fit to list on the stock exchange.”  

He adds: “There are a huge variety of people from different backgrounds and experiences across our group of companies, and I’m looking forward to rallying together and achieving our goals as a group-wide team.” Reece’s past successes have come from his ability to recognise opportunity, the type of opportunities that can elevate The SDDE Smith Group to achieving their lofty ambitions.

Steve Padgett – Chief Financial Officer

Steve Padgett, comes in as Chief Financial Officer, with the Group already an established and experienced business in the North East, the appointment of Steve as CFO leads their next phase of growth. Steve is an experienced and strategic leader with a proven track record of creating value and profitability for the owners of businesses seeking significant growth. The SDDE Smith Group are not shy in their ambitions to scale and to make an impact nationally and internationally, and Steve’s appointment truly aligns with that vision.

Dale Smith, CEO of The SDDE Smith Group, reminds us that these impressive plans all circle back to reinvesting in the North East.

“We are proud of where we are from and we’re passionate about the North East which is why we are keen to continue creating opportunities here. We have seen our colleague base grow rapidly in the last three years, with local people being given opportunities to develop and progress their careers, with colleagues starting at entry level and making their way to senior leadership roles within a matter of months not years. We want to keep creating those opportunities, but we also must bring in the best experience and talent from outside of the area too, because that enables us to keep learning, to keep improving, and to keep growing the business. I’m truly excited about the journey we’re on, and it’s a great time to be a North East business.”

Furthermore, this year The SDDE Smith Group is pledging 10% of profits to support good causes across the North East with the introduction of The SDDE Smith Foundation. Rest assured their ethos to push boundaries to create better places to live, work and stay comes first in every decision made.

At the close of 2022 The SDDE Smith Group had a lot to celebrate; a three-figure percentage growth, revenue growing from just under £6m in 2021 to £15m in 2022, and employment almost doubling from 159 people to 314 group employees. Furthermore, the Group have helped communities across the North of England through their volunteering and giving back efforts with over £135,000 donated to local causes. 

2022 Annual Round-Up

At the close of 2022 The SDDE Smith Group had a lot to celebrate; a three-figure percentage growth in revenue from just under £6m in 2021 to £15m in 2022, and employment almost doubling from 159 people to 314 group employees. Furthermore, we have helped communities across the North of England through volunteering and giving back efforts with over £135,000 donated to local causes. 

The group has enjoyed another year of growth across each of the businesses, led by our CEO, Dale Smith. Dale’s achievements were recognized at the Growing Business Awards, winning ‘Young Entrepreneur of the Year’. 

Dale reflects on the win: “To even be nominated for this award was fantastic, but to win the award against a number of fantastic young entrepreneurs delivering outstanding products and services is one of the best moments of my career so far. And to have my wife Rachel, and my Mum and Dad, Diane and Shaun with me there on the night made it even more special.” 

He continues: “I could not do what I do without our unbelievable teams and leaders across the business, and so this award is by no means an individual one - it goes to all of our 300+ colleagues, and shows the dedication we all have to really making an impact, and delivering our purpose of pushing boundaries to create better places to live, work and stay. This is just the start for The SDDE Smith Group.”

Echoing Dale’s comments, the Group’s success is a result of the incredible work put in across each of the companies, let's look into each of individual businesses successes across 2022:

2022 has been an exceptional year for Host & Stay, winning Best Property Management Provider at the National Landlord Investment Show Awards, Best Leisure Property Management Company at the Shortyz Awards and Best Property Manager Northern England at the STAA Awards.

Host & Stay now boasts over 700 properties on the portfolio, year on year growth that has come from the committed work of the entire Host & Stay team. From Guest Relations, to Maintenance and Housekeeping, Host & Stay provides a best in class service to owners and guests across the North of England, and that area is set to grow.

Host & Stay’s continued success inspired Rachel Sherwood (Leicestershire) and Joel Higgins (Manchester) to become franchisees of the Host & Stay brand last year. Rachel Sherwood explains why she and her partner took the leap to become franchisees: “We have always believed in the merit of providing high quality housing so adopting the Host & Stay ethos of premium high-end properties is a good fit. What we really loved about the Host & Stay brand is the end-to-end service they provide for property owners and guests alike.”

Finally, and most notably, Host & Stay became shirt sponsors for both Middlesbrough Football Club and Sheffield Wednesday Football Club. Sponsoring a Championship club, Middlesbrough FC, brought brand recognition and promotion, however continued work has been completed with the MFC Foundation to give back to local communities. Host & Stay will be leading an Initiative with local schools which sees students in low income areas rewarded with Middlesbrough FC tickets for high attendance; keeping kids in schools where they can best prepare for their future. 

Dale Smith recognises the consistent hard work of the business: “The Host & Stay brand continued its organic growth across 2022, seeing the portfolio grow from 500 properties to just over 700, meaning the 1000 property mark is now well within our sights for 2023. We continued to grow our full management service, with our housekeeping team completing over 30,000 changeovers in the year, whilst maintaining a ‘cleanliness rating’ of 9.17. A fantastic achievement. We also welcomed two new franchise locations in the later part of the year, and we’re well positioned to expand the Host & Stay Partner scheme to more than ten locations as we head through 2023.”

2022 has been a year for accreditations and accomplishments across the board for WOODSmith Construction Group. Growth has been rapid, but it’s no fluke, it’s a perfectly measured balance of hard work, determination, and ambition. 

Unchanged from 2021, WOODSmith Construction Group continues to be committed to the health and safety of their people and maintaining excellent standards. These unwavering commitments and the hard work of the team saw them achieve their ISO9001 accreditation and the Elite level of CHAS accreditation in 2022. In addition, this year they passed the RISQS Audit, with WOODSmith meeting the health, safety, operational and competence standards necessary to work in the rail environment. 

Commercially, this year saw WOODSmith Construction achieve contract wins with Anglo American, British Steel and most recently with Story Contracting Limited on Middlesbrough Train Station. Work was also completed on the Styled Suite at Middlesbrough Football Club where WOODSmith were responsible for the renovation of the hospitality lounge. Huge clients for a construction company still in its infancy in terms of age. 

In the residential sector, WOODSmith Construction have been going from strength to strength; this year they've had their highest number of projects and their highest revenue yet. It's not just the number of projects that have increased, but also the size, completing multi-unit and large-scale renovations. Furthermore, the residential team itself continues to grow, with two new colleagues joining the team in November. 

WOODSmith’s ambition to become the North East's number one construction business was a step closer after driving revenue to £6m across 2022, up from £1.19m in 2021.

Gary Wood, Managing Director of WOODSmith Construction Group, comments: “We have achieved so much again this year as a team, and we continue to go from strength to strength. I’m excited at what the year ahead holds for us.”

Dale Smith has nothing but high praise for the business: “WOODSmith Construction Group continues to defy all reasonable expectations of such a young business.”

This year Grey-Smith Legal completed the acquisition of Cochranes Law Firm, adding offices in Stockton and Billingham, along with increasing their workforce from 11 to 27 colleagues. 

It was an impressive year for award wins; Jo Grey, Legal Director was Highly Commended in the Conveyancer of the Year category at the 2022 LEAP Modern Law Conveyancing Awards. Grey-Smith Legal were also crowned winners at the Global Business Awards taking home the Most Efficient Residential & Commercial Conveyancing Company North East England. In addition, they won at the Lawyer Monthly Legal Awards in the category of Property Law.  

Finally, Grey-Smith Legal’s hard work and customer focus can be validated by their 5* Reviews on the Solicitor Review Panel. This is a tremendous achievement for the firm and is absolute testament to Grey-Smith Legal’s tenacity, dedication, professionalism, and high level of customer service.  

Dale Smith comments: “What a year for Grey-Smith Legal and still only in its second full year of operation. Revenue has grown by over 300% year on year. The Grey-Smith Legal brand continues to build its five star reputation, providing exceptional client service, ranking 1st in Redcar & Cleveland, 7th in Teesside and 256th nationally according to Review Solicitors.” 

2022 was the year Styled Interior Design took on their biggest commercial projects to date. September saw ‘The Styled Suite’ at Middlesbrough Football Club come to life; the Styled team successfully created a bright, accommodating and modern space to enjoy events, birthdays, and top class football hospitality at The Riverside Stadium. They rounded off the year completing two impressive office renovations, one in Leeds and the other in Stokesley. 

In addition, Styled have taken on their highest number of residential projects this year, many resulting in high quality holiday homes that now feature on the Host & Stay platform. 

Finally, the entire Styled team were involved in raising over £1100 for Teesside Hospice; with Bethany, Katie, Tasmine and Jasmine completing the 38 mile walk from Saltburn to Scarborough to raise the funds. It was no easy feat! The SDDE Smith Group are proud of the team for using their volunteering day, amongst their busy work schedules, to give back to their local community. 

Katie Molnar, Senior Interior Designer, for Styled reflects on the year: “2022 has been another crazy year! We have more than doubled our team, completed our first commercial projects as a company and to top it off we already have some amazing projects in the pipeline for 2023.” 

She continues: “The team has gone from strength to strength and we can’t wait to see where we are this time next year.”

Dale Smith adds: “2022 was a year that elevated Styled Interior Designs status within the industry, raising awareness across the property investments sectors and completing its most notable project to date, the redesign and transformation of Middlesbrough Football Clubs Riverside Restaurant into the Styled Suite. The Styled team will be looking to expand on its reputation growth across 2023 and pull in a number of new commercial projects whilst continuing to deliver best in class accommodation projects across the short let sector.”

Manhatten Property had an exciting start to 2022; in January the site was picked for the new Manhatten Property office and following  a quick turn around, works were completed to renovate the office and the doors were opened to the public for the first time. 

For an estate agent in its first year, ranking number 1 on Rightmove for property detail views would be impressive. Manhatten, did that twice! From July to August, they ranked number 1, getting more attention than any other agent. Then to round off the year they achieved it again in December!

In 2022 Manhatten Property sold 19 properties with a value of £3.1 million. 

Dale Smith is unsurprisingly impressed: “The first year of operation for Manhatten Property as an estate agency and letting brand, and the business has seen respectable growth in what has been a highly contested sector in recent years.”

Dale continues: “With the housing market now starting to change direction, I think Manhatten Property is well positioned to leverage its SDDE Smith Group backing and provide a suite of services, and a level of expertise that is unrivaled by other agents.”

Dale Smith reflects on a year of progression for Costays: “2022 has seen continued brand development for CoStays as we try to establish the brand as a main player in the SA blocks, BTR and PBSA markets. As we head into 2023, the CoStays brand is well positioned to take advantage of a changing ride in the property investment market, and also looks set to now break into PBSA management. CoStays is definitely one to watch for 2023.”

As we move into 2023, The SDDE Smith Group has a number of exciting projects in the pipeline, business rebrands, partnerships with leading businesses in the local area, and the launch of our new ESG Strategy, along with the launch of The SDDE Smith Foundation which will see the group pledging 10% of profits to support people, places and the environment. 

Dale Smith commented: “The future belongs to those who are sustainable and inclusive, we are all encompassing, working with intent to address and tackle material issues. Our purpose starts with our people. We are moving towards a more sustainable future, together”

After another impressive year, and while it's hard to say what the future holds, one thing is certain: The SDDE Smith group will continue to grow and push boundaries to create better places to live, work and stay.

To keep up to date with The SDDE Smith Group and their brands visit www.sddesmithgroup.com or follow their social media. If you want to get involved or work with The SDDE Smith Group email: alex.forster@sddesmithgroup.com. 

WOODSmith Construction Group win North Yorkshire StartUp of the Year 2023

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