Harry J Palmer Holdings Ltd

A Message from Lord Pickles and Lord Blunkett, followed by Harry J Palmer Holdings Ltd's best practice article

The ability to listen and learn from one another has always been vital in parliament, in business and in most aspects of daily life. But at this particular moment in time, as national and global events continue to reiterate, it is uncommonly crucial that we forge new channels of communication and reinforce existing ones. The following article from Harry J Palmer Holdings Ltd is an attempt to do just that. We would welcome your thoughts on this or any other Parliamentary Review article.

Rt Hon The Lord David Blunkett

Rt Hon The Lord Eric Pickles

www.harryjpalmer.co.uk

THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW

Highlighting best practice

THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW

Highlighting best practice

24 | HARRY J PALMER HOLDINGS LTD

Directors Colin and May Palmer

A Harry J Palmer property in

Iwerne Minster, north Dorset

May Palmer is managing director of Harry J Palmer, a

family-run housebuilder that operates in the Dorset

area. With more than 80 years’ experience delivering

projects to the community, the firm is described by May – who

is Harry’s granddaughter – as “the wise choice”. She tells

TheParliamentary Review

that the company focuses on building

high-quality, traditionally-styled homes and that it continues to

uphold the reputable family name by ensuring high standards

ofworkmanship.

Established in 1938, we are a third-generation housebuilder, operating primarily

within Dorset. Today, I work as managing director of the company, which was

started by my grandfather, Harry J Palmer. I am the third generation of my family

to do so, taking on the role from my dad, Colin. My career with the family firm

originally started when I was in my teens, when I cleaned new houses before the

owners moved in.

Over the years, we have taken on many projects in a range of sectors, but it’s

housebuilding which we always return to and which is the foundation of our

business model. With 2,500 homes under our belt, it’s unsurprisingly what we are

good at. I think this is down in no small part to the strong links we have developed

with local subcontractors and companies.

The family tradition

My move to the family company really came out of the blue after gaining a BSc

in Property Management and an MSc in Property Investment. Before my father

FACTS ABOUT

HARRY J PALMER

HOLDINGS LTD

»Directors: Colin and May

Palmer

»Established in 1938

»Based in Wimborne Minster,

Dorset

»Services: Housebuilder and

contractor

»No. of employees: 12

»Member of the Considerate

Constructors Scheme

»www.harryjpalmer.co.uk

Harry J Palmer

Holdings Ltd

BEST PRACTICE SPONSOR 2020

25HARRY J PALMER HOLDINGS LTD |

HOUSING

approached me with the idea in

2000, I worked in the commercial

property market in Bristol. I haven’t

lookedback.

Brought up in the environment of the

family business, I was keen to keep

the imprint of past generations within

the culture of the company. However,

I am also a realist and know we must

embrace new technologies, methods

and legislation.

Based in the Dorset market town

of Wimborne Minster, we recently

relocated from a traditional builders’

yard to a prominent Georgian office

property in the town’s square. Typically

for a builder, the move was prompted

by the securing of planning permission

for a mixed residential/commercial

scheme on the former office and

yard, which will be commenced in

the latter part of next year. The new

office location provides a high-profile

location for the business.

At heart, the company works on its

own successful developments for

direct sale to the market, but we also

tender for contracting work when the

opportunity arises, or the market might

dictate the move to be shrewd.

Whole team involvement

Throughout my 20 years with the

company, I have been surrounded by

a passionate and forward-thinking

team – a new family to the company.

Working in an open-plan atmosphere,

a world away from the individual

offices and closed doors of my

father’s and grandfather’s times, I

encourage a collective approach to the

company’sprogression.

By listening to staff and involving them

in the decisions and pathways of the

business, be it the commencement of

a project or a discussion over choice of

materials or plant, we are supported

to make better decisions, based on

the expertise my team have built up

over the years. My team, our wider

contractors and our clients really are

the company’s best assets.

Going above and beyond

We strive to provide a service to our

clients and home purchasers which is

beyond that of the local competition.

In simple terms, this is about providing

transparent communication and

information sharing. We work

closely with clients to ensure that Harry J Palmer (third

from left) proudly

demonstrating the use

of his citizens band radio

I have been

surrounded by

a passionate

and forward-

thinking team

“

THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW

Highlighting best practice

THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW

Highlighting best practice

26 | HARRY J PALMER HOLDINGS LTD

our service is constantly above

theirexpectations.

House purchasers are our ultimate

clients, and we will provide an

exhaustive information base

concerning their properties at the

initial handover. In reality, this is a

“Home User Guide” of information,

from how to run the boiler to what

colour and brand of paint has been

applied to thewalls.

Every one of our homes is covered by

a warranty from NHBC, with whom

we have been working since their

inception in the 1930s as the National

House Builders Registration Council.

Harry J Palmer himself recognised

membership to be an important

voluntary venture into self-regulation

by the industry – a response to

poor building practices in the inter-

waryears.

After 81 years in business, we have

amassed quite a considerable bank of

land, which we continue to promote

for housing use. Beyond this, we are

always keen to take on contracting

work. Our position as a privately held,

financially sound housebuilder makes

us the ideal choice for partnering

with, and I am in constant contact

with local partners to identify sites to

bringforward.

At present, we are building 16 two

and three-bedroomed homes in

Henstridge, south Somerset, on behalf

of LiveWest Housing Association,

making a vital contribution to their

commitment to build 400 new homes

in rural areas across the South West

over the next two years.

We will be partnering with LiveWest

into next year also, with the

construction of ten new dwellings in

west Dorset. Further projects in the

pipeline include a development of 37

homes in Corfe Mullen, east Dorset.

Ensuring a stable future

With over 2,500 new builds under

our belt, I am enthusiastic for the

future. In a period of political and

market uncertainty, the company

remains under constant pressure to

retain its high level of build quality in

an environment where the national

housebuilders, with economies of

purchase power and labour resources,

are enjoying the fatter profits which

the industry is renowned for.

Retaining our high standards of build

and continuing to meet the targets

for building to zero-carbon standard

is the most obvious challenge that

we face at present, together with the

uncertainty over the procurement of

materials and their cost when Brexit

isconcluded.

Overall, the company is on a fantastic

footing. Our core business will always

be housebuilding; however, with our

skilled team in place, we will continue

to look at opportunities to work with

our partners in delivering housing to

meet general housing needs. With

the fourth generation of Palmers still

only in single digits, this continued

investment should help secure the

business for them.

In a period of

political and

market

uncertainty,

the company

remains under

constant

pressure to

retain its high

level of build

quality

“

The interior of a Harry J

Palmer-built property

www.harryjpalmer.co.uk

This article was sponsored by Harry J Palmer Holdings Ltd. The Parliamentary Review is wholly funded by the representatives who write for it. The publication in which this article originally appeared contained the following foreword from Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss.

Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss's Foreword For The Parliamentary Review

By Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss

Even by the standards of the day –this has been one of the most exciting and unpredictable years in British politics.

The leadership election we’ve just seen marks a huge moment in our country’s history. This government is taking a decisive new direction, embracing the opportunities of Brexit and preparing our country to flourish outside the EU.

As international trade secretary, I’ll be driving forward work on the free trade agreements that are going to be a priority for the government. Free trade isn’t just an abstract concept bandied around by technocrats. It is crucial for a strong economy and for the ability of families to make ends meet. Free trade benefits people in every part of our country, as British firms export to new markets and people doing the weekly shop have access to a wider choice of goods at lower prices.

The essence of free trade is in the title: freedom. It’s about giving people the power to exchange their goods without heavy government taxation or interference. Commerce and free exchange are the engine room of prosperity and social mobility. I’m determined to tackle the forces who want to hold that back.

One of my priorities is agreeing an exciting new free trade deal with the US, building on the great relationship between our two countries and the Prime Minister and US President. But I’ll also be talking to other partners including New Zealand, Australia and fast-growing Asian markets.

And with the EU too, we want a friendly and constructive relationship, as constitutional equals, and as friends and partners in facing the challenges that lie ahead – a relationship based on a deep free trade agreement. Our country produces some of the world’s most successful exports, and the opportunity to bring these to the rest of the world should make us all excited about the future. It is this excitement, optimism and ambition which I believe will come to define this government.

For too long now, we have been told Britain isn’t big or important enough to survive outside the EU – that we have to accept a deal that reflects our reduced circumstances. I say that’s rubbish. With the right policies in place, we can be the most competitive, free-thinking, prosperous nation on Earth exporting to the world and leading in new developments like AI. To do that, we’ll give the brilliant next generation of entrepreneurs the tools they need to succeed. Since 2015, there has been a staggering 85 per cent rise in the number of businesses set up by 18 to 24 year olds – twice the level set up by the same age group in France and Germany. We’ll help them flourish by championing enterprise, cutting taxes and making regulation flexible and responsive to their needs.

As we do that, we’ll level up and unite all parts of the UK with great transport links, fibre broadband in every home and proper school funding, so everyone shares in our country’s success.

2019 has been the year of brewing economic and political revolution. 2020 will be the year when a revitalised Conservative government turbo charges the economy, boosts prospects for people across the country, and catapults Britain back to the forefront of the world stage.

Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss
Secretary of State for International Development