Countrywide Plc
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[edit] The Company
Countrywide Plc group has four divisions; Estate Agency, Financial Services, Surveying & Valuation and Conveyancing. The subsidiaries are regionally based throughout the UK, most of which have been established for decades. To emphasise its regional identity, estate agencies have retained their local names and you will probably recognise brands such as Bairstow Eves, Bridgfords, Dixons, Taylors, Beresford Adams and Mann Countrywide.The group has over 11,000 employees and over 1100 offices in the UK as well as branches in Spain through H2O Homes Overseas Countrywide, the groups’ overseas brand.
[edit] Operations
Following the IPO of Rightmove in March 2006, Countrywide has a 21.5% interest in www.rightmove.co.uk the leading property base Internet site. It was founded in 2000 by Countrywide and subsequently developed as a joint venture with Halifax plc, Connell Estate Agents and Royal & SunAlliance. Countrywide plc has a 25% interest in TMG Holdings, which is presently offering an electronic housing transaction search facility and is ready to advantage of Home Information Pack legislation. Estate Agency The Estate Agency division consists of 52 autonomous subsidiaries comprising a total of 1,062 offices, selling houses across the country, exploiting well known brands such as Bairstow Eves, Mann & Co, Taylors, John D Wood & Co, Freeman Forman, Fulfords, Abbotts, Slater Hogg & Howison, Gascoigne Pees, Geering & Colyer and Faron Sutaria. It also includes Countrywide Residential Lettings, Countrywide Property Management and PKL which collectively provide a broad range of property and management services to commercial and residential customers.
Type: Public company Headquarters: United Kingdom Key people: Christopher Sporborg (Chairman) Harry Hill (Chief Executive) Michael Nower (Finance Director) Industry: Real estate & Financial Services Website: [1]
