International Week of Happiness At Work

Website Editor • Sep 26, 2021

What makes our Ellandi team happy at work?


To celebrate this week we managed to catch up with some of its team and share what makes them happy working at Ellandi.


"Firstly, it would be our purpose. We have a clear vision and purpose on what we want to achieve as a company to deliver the best results for our clients, whether it is to turnaround a struggling asset or to repurpose it. We achieve this through our distinct 4 core values that run at the heart of the business. Secondly, it would be Ellandi’s capability to succeed, evidenced by the solid results we have achieved recently. E.g. Both our revenue and earnings have been growing consistently despite the impacts of the pandemic, and on-going challenges facing the retail markets. Thirdly, it would be our people. Everyone at Ellandi is very approachable, and I have learnt a lot from them. We have a flat culture, which means I have the opportunity to work with colleagues from different parts of the business, which I really enjoy."

Thai Dang

“The culture: we share pretty much everything – from ideas and recognition to problems. I feel more comfortable here than in any other previous business sharing ideas and knowing that everyone’s views are taken seriously. Recognition isn’t reserved for the senior team or client facing team members, it’s shared equally. I also love that when I face something challenging, colleagues are genuinely interested in helping. Whenever I’ve run something I’m struggling with by someone, regardless of the team, I’ve always got a completely different perspective as a result.”

Joanne Locke

“There is a genuine feeling that the company has my best interests at heart. We see this as employees through the amount of training we have, the amount of workshops around mindfulness, the huge resource and training in mental awareness. It feels that this is genuinely for our benefit and not just a box-ticking exercise.

We have an experienced team of asset managers, who are all easy to get along with. Sharing ideas and discussing projects amongst each-other is exciting and informative. We’re always trying to learn from each other.

There is a natural, fun culture about the business. Everyone is welcomed with open arms and the atmosphere is relaxed and informal.

Through the new framework, where we have more direct responsibility to our clients, we have been empowered to get on with what we need to do, with support from the whole business. It feels great to be given responsibility to deliver for the client.

There is a clear direction of travel for the business, with opportunity for everyone to grow their career. Support from the senior management team for individuals to achieve their goals is evident daily.” 

Tim Cornford

“We have an empowered and entrepreneurial ethos at Ellandi. This direct responsibility and support from senior management and members of the team is invaluable in shaping your career and encourages you to pursue new ideas. We listen to each other, share celebrations, and analyse where we could advance and do more. We are constantly improving as individuals and have an incredibly experienced and dynamic team.


There is a genuine belief that our people are our best asset and this is backed up by the investment into resourcing professional training and also personally, in care for our health and wellbeing, through various programmes and regular check-ins and feedback. Everyone in the team cares about what they do and how they do it, they are friendly and approachable, and we have an informal, fun and sociable culture.”

Christina Beggan

13 May, 2024
We’re excited about Delivering Retail Plus. We are asset and development managers who invest in and create urban places with purpose. We are 16 years young, B Corp certified, and proudly independent since day one. We currently manage 18 retail-led assets across the UK, from Bradford to Chatham, from Leicester to Milton Keynes and Blackpool to Yate. We work with owners, global investors, local authorities, and lenders. For communities, retailers, hospitality and leisure operators, and healthcare providers. We transform spaces into places: places that attract and serve everyone in their communities. Places that create a sustainable impact for the businesses we partner with and the local lives we enrich. We call this Retail Plus: aligning social and financial agendas to improve the performance of both. If you’d like to know more please get in touch with one of our team. A few of us will be speaking at UKReiif next week!
Food and Beverage Reimagined

F&B Centrepiece at Midsummer Place

07 May, 2024
We've taken a unique approach to reinvigorating space at Midsummer Place, our destination shopping centre in Milton Keynes. Using the light filled area within the centre, we installed eight food and beverage pods offering a range of world cuisines for shoppers and visitors to enjoy. This open air feel with wooden picnic benches gives the impression of being outside and has been a real success in adding back a vibrancy to the shopping centre, not only encouraging dwell time but creating a real connection with local businesses and visitors alike. 'We wanted to create dwell time in the Boulevard, rather than it just being a space shoppers passed through' says Tom Ellams, Senior Asset Manager, talking to Retail Destination on the challenges and vision for Midsummer Place.
Lane7 and Frasers Group's Sport Direct are latest additions to Midsummer Place in Milton Keynes

Ellandi secures a major double deal for Midsummer Place

21 Mar, 2024
Frasers Group's Sports Direct and Lane7 will be the latest new additions to the line at Midsummer Place in Milton Keynes, set to open in 2024 / early 2025. Sports Direc t is a leading retailer of sports and fitness with stores across the UK and internationally. This 50,000 sq ft store will offer the world’s biggest sports and lifestyle brands across footwear, clothing, and equipment, and the store will also feature more brands from Frasers Group’s ecosystem including USC, Evans Cycles, and GAME. Lane7 Ltd will occupy circa 40,000 sq ft which will see the company’s 18th opening in the UK. Both brands will be in the former Next Beauty & Home unit across three floors and join other well-loved brands and retailers that have historically made Midsummer Place the ‘fashionable quarter’ and a first choice for customers looking for the latest trends and aspirational shopping. Lane7 will occupy the basement floor. Simon Anderson, Asset Management Director at Ellandi, said, “Securing both Frasers Group’s Sports Direct, and Lane 7 for Midsummer Place demonstrates both confidence in the market as well as highlighting the opportunity at Midsummer Place. These brands will complement the recent re-development of The Boulevard F&B quarter. We are transforming the centre, and in addition to the physical changes we are curating a very attractive tenant mix. This brings us one step closer to realising our vision to create a high-end, quality destination.” The strategic collaboration marks a significant milestone for Midsummer Place, reinforcing its commitment to creating a destination that is innovative with a diverse offer in the heart of Milton Keynes city centre. These major signings follow the recently completed development of the popular Boulevard which has seen eight independent luxury cabins open to create a food court that provides cuisines from around the world coupled with recognised F&B occupiers Leon, Starbucks, and Pret A Manger. A Frasers Group spokesperson commented: “We are pleased to be opening a new, elevated retail destination in Milton Keynes’ Midsummer Place. The Sports Direct store will give customers access to the world’s best sports and lifestyle brands, as well as bring other brands from the Group’s ecosystem, including USC, Evans Cycles, and GAME, to the location.” Gavin Hughes, Managing Director at Lane7 added, “This will be our biggest Lane7 to date and we can’t wait to come to Midsummer Place, bringing our unique brand of entertainment and hospitality to Milton Keynes.” Midsummer Place opened in 2000 and currently includes retailers, BOSS, Zara, Michael Kors, Tommy Hilfiger, Victoria’s Secret, Hollister, Superdry, New Look, Tesla, LEGO®, and Apple, among others. Further information, including timings, are expected to be announced in the coming months.
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