20 September 2021: Land and property specialists Strutt & Parker has announced three senior hires – David Slack, Hannah Bloxham and Craig Edgar – within its rural business.

With over 30 years’ experience in land and property, most recently as estate director for the Althorp Estate, David Slack joins Strutt & Parker as a senior director based in Harrogate, Yorkshire, where he will provide land management advice and farm agency services to clients across the region. He is a well-respected figure in rural consultancy, with extensive experience in estate management and strategic planning and development for trusts, charities and private landowners. He also previously ran the Yattendon Estate in Berkshire – a diverse and dynamic business with a large agricultural, commercial and residential portfolio.

David says: “I am joining Strutt & Parker at a pivotal time for the rural sector. A mosaic of factors is driving change in the countryside – so the focus of rural businesses needs to be on adapting, to secure their financial and environmental sustainability. Having worked for some of the biggest names in the property world, as a land agent and farm agent, and more recently as a resident agent/chief executive at two of the UK’s premier private landed estates, I feel well placed to assist clients steer a profitable and fulfilling path into the future.

“It is also a welcome opportunity to work in the North of England, predominantly across North Yorkshire. This is a region that is very well known to me and one that I am particularly passionate about, especially its upland landscapes and the family farms that populate them.”

Hannah Bloxham joins as a director following five years with Dalcour Maclaren, where she worked in the property management team providing strategic advice on estates and risk control guidance for clients, managing a large team nationwide. Her 20-year track record of working with farming and rural communities, in public and private sector land management, qualifies her perfectly for the role.

At Strutt & Parker, she will lead the rural team in Cirencester where her focus will be on developing client relationships and establishing opportunities to add value to a wide variety of assets – across the Cotswolds and beyond. She has particular interest in the economic management of the environment, combining traditional approaches with innovative methods to unlock new opportunities.

Hannah says: “Farms and rural businesses are the backbone of the rural environment and economy of this area. As we move forward in these challenging times for agricultural businesses, there are many opportunities for alternative uses of land, such as solar farms, natural capital or biodiversity offsetting. Joining a team with such a fine pedigree as Strutt & Parker is a fantastic opportunity. I am relishing the challenge of finding innovative ways of helping clients maximise the value of their assets.”

Craig Edgar has joined as health and safety manager, based in the Chester office, with responsibility for supporting staff and clients in all aspects of health and safety. He brings more than 20 years’ experience working in this field, across a range of business sectors, being a Chartered Member of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (CMIOSH), a Registered Safety Practitioner (RSP), a Fellow of the Institute of Risk and Safety Management (FIIRSM), a member of the Occupational Health and Safety Consultants Register (OSHCR) and the International Commission on Occupational Health, Scientific Committee on Accident Prevention (ICOH - SCAP).

Craig says: “My role is to provide guidance and support on health and safety risk management to ensure appropriate systems and procedures are in place. After 20+ years working in the sector, the most important thing I have learned is people and communication are vital. The culture and behaviours of both the business and the people that work in it are what keeps everyone safe and healthy.”

Karl McConville, Strutt & Parker Deputy Head of Rural, comments: “David, Hannah and Craig have a wealth of knowledge and experience which will generate tremendous value for our clients. At a time when the rural sector is facing significant change, these appointments will further strengthen what is an already brilliant rural consultancy team. We know that landowners are looking for insightful and innovative advisors to help them explore their options and put plans into action and we continue to invest in hiring the right people to deliver the best service possible to clients.”