GFW marks milestone year with six hires

Newcastle-headquartered property consultancy GFW (formerly George F. White), which has multiple offices across the North East, Yorkshire and Southern Scotland, is celebrating a pivotal year of opportunity, evolution and team expansion, highlighted by six key new hires alongside client and partnership growth.

Among the new recruits was partner Simon Heydecke, who joined from Greggs PLC, bringing more than 15 years of expertise in commercial property and strategic asset management, alongside associate surveyor and RICS registered valuer Dan Matthews, whose expertise further strengthens GFW’s valuation services.

Simon said: “Joining GFW has been really exciting from the start. 

“Everyone on the team brings incredible expertise and a collaborative spirit, which is helping us create real opportunities, not just for our clients, but for each other as well. 

“We’ve got big plans for the rest of this year and into 2026, with plenty of exciting projects and opportunities on the horizon.”

Since unveiling its new brand identity in 2024, GFW has strengthened its expertise and invested in training and development across farm business management, strategic land promotion, property management and planning. 

Over the past 12 months, the firm has supported rural clients through changes to grants, subsidies and tax legislation, expanded its commercial client portfolio and delivered nationally significant developments, including garden village and large-scale energy and data schemes.

Richard Garland, managing partner, added: “When we rebranded as GFW last year, our aim was to refresh our brand to reflect who we are today, keeping a nod to our heritage but showcasing the breadth of expertise we offer and our forward-looking approach. 

“A year on, we’re proud to say we’ve achieved exactly that.

“This has been a year of opportunity and resilience. 

“We’ve widened our team, strengthened our services, and built on trusted relationships that are opening doors to projects of regional and national significance. 

“The economic backdrop may be challenging, but our depth of expertise means we are well placed to help clients navigate uncertainty and unlock growth.” 

Richard added: “The next 12 months will be a fascinating period politically and economically. 

“We have deliberately invested in the areas of our team where we see opportunity in the market and as a result, we are uniquely placed to help clients deliver complex and multi-disciplinary projects of increasing regional and national significance. 

“We’re excited to play our part in the region’s ambitious growth story.”

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