
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 operations of student accommodation assets, especially University partnerships and off-balance sheet public procurement projects and delivered strategy advice. Together with Richard, Martin has developed
and won new business with private clients and developers, Engie, Equitix, Optivo, Mezzino, uliving, UPP, Student Crowd, the London School of Economics, Queen Mary University of London, University of St Andrews, Durham University, University of Exeter, University of Bristol and Bournemouth University.
Martin and Richard currently provide MSA and asset management services to clients across various projects and have over 2,000 beds under management.
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 5 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 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.
“During a selection process to find a DBFO partner, Martin Hadland helped us enormously on the FM, technical and service level agreements elements of the process. He has a thorough understanding of how Universities and student accommodation work from his previous experience as a director of estates. He has excellent commercial awareness of how all the complex elements of a PPP project interact. I have no hesitation in recommending Martin.”
- Ian Spencer
London School of Economics
Martin's Project Involvement