Rapleys continues growth with senior hire

Published by REACT News, BENews and CoStar on 06 March 2023

• William Gittus joins from The Jockey Club, bringing multi-disciplinary client-side insight
• Appointment part of ongoing growth plan with three recent acquisitions
• Rapleys has a strong track record in the leisure and sports industry

Bristol, UK, 27 February 2023 – Rapleys has continued its growth across its four key divisions with the appointment of William Gittus as a partner in the business.

William Gittus joins Rapleys from The Jockey Club where he spent 17 years both as MD of Jockey Club Estates Ltd and latterly as Group Property Director. In his role, William oversaw the regeneration of the racehorse training grounds at Lambourn, Berkshire, the construction of the award-winning Princess Royal Stand at Cheltenham Racecourse which opened in 2015, the replacement of the roof on the Duchess Stand at Epsom Downs Racecourse and a refurbishment programme of the historic Jockey Club Rooms in Newmarket, including the installation of a biomass central heating system.

Rapleys already has a strong track record in the sports and leisure industry, having worked with clients in this industry sector for decades. William’s addition offers a unique client-side perspective together with an increased platform to offer strategic estate advice relative to a range of assets, including rural portfolios. His remit will include the promotion of Rapleys’ national network of offices and the work of the four divisions – planning, building consultancy, commercial and residential.

Robert Clarke, Senior Partner, Rapleys, said:

“I have known William for many years and I am delighted that he is now a partner in our business. He brings a wealth of property experience at a senior level to the partnership. I shall look forward to working with him as we continually look to extend the reach, and profile, of the Rapleys business with its positive impact on our people, and client base, at the forefront.”

William Gittus commented: 

“Having worked closely with many of the team at Rapleys for over a decade, I am thrilled to join such a dynamic, and growing, people and client-focussed business. I look forward to adding value to the firm’s diverse client base and to the business as a whole.”

William’s appointment comes shortly after several strategic growth announcements highlighting the confidence and ambitions of the partnership in a challenging economic environment. In August, Rapleys acquired a team of seven expert planners in Bristol with the acquisition of CSJ, in November it launched its refreshed service offer and brand to market; in December the partnership acquired Aston Rose and in January, development consulting organisation s106 Affordable Housing.

Clarke continues: “As a partnership we are not bound by bureaucracy or investors which means we can move quickly to make the right best-in-class hires (at all levels) and acquisitions that propel the business forwards while also adapting to market change and client requirements with decisions taken by seasoned property experts who are self-invested in the business.”

In addition to its four divisions, Rapleys offers services across 12 core industries – Automotive & Roadside, Care & Retirement, Charities Not for Profit, Education, Health & Animal Welfare, Industrial & Logistics, Life Sciences, Local Authority, Offices, Residential, Retail & Leisure, and Transport & Infrastructure – and seven regional offices in Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Huntingdon and Manchester and London.