Martin Hadland
Founder & Managing Director
Martin has over 30 years’ experience working for and advising universities, property brokers and advisors. He regularly advises leading universities, investors and operators on all aspects of student accommodation strategy and problem solving.
Martin’s unique blend of senior experience across Universities, consultancy and the commercial private sector enables him to comprehensively understand all facets of the design, development, financing and operation of student accommodation assets, especially University partnerships and off-balance sheet public procurement projects and strategy advice. Together with Richard, Martin has developed and won new business with the leading developers, universities, operators, investors and innovators in the UK student accommodation market. Martin has delivered DBFO projects from feasibility to financial close. Current university clients extend across all parts of the university league table and private sector clients from the largest in the sector to small developers. Martin has led the growth in the University Advisory staff to our current team of 7.
Martin and Richard currently provide MSA and asset management services to clients across various projects and have over 2,000 beds under management. Martin and Rich have also undertaken purchaser due diligence exercises on two 4,000+ bed PBSA portfolios.
JOURNEY
Prior to founding SFG, Martin worked as Commercial Director for Campus Living Villages (CLV) UK, responsible for the commercial and asset management functions overseeing all University partnership bids and transactions. During his time at CLV, Martin oversaw the addition of 2,800 beds to the portfolio and a pipeline of over 4,000 beds.
Prior to this, Martin spent 6 years at real estate firm Jones Lang LaSalle, working with universities carrying out strategic reviews of estate portfolios, supporting disposals and reviewing procurement options for new accommodation. Martin was lead consultant on completed student accommodation projects delivering over 10,000 beds at a total capital cost of over £500m.
Martin also spent 15 years as a Director of Estates in the higher education sector working at City University, Brunel University and Middlesex University. Whilst at City University, Martin led the project to sell long term leasehold interests in the halls of residence. At Middlesex University, Martin led the financing, design and construction of 6 new halls of residence totally 1,500 beds.
Martin currently serves on the Estates Committee of the Royal College of Music, is a Trustee of Queen Alexandra House, has chaired the LD Events student accommodation conference for the last three years and is a regular conference speaker.