Hosted by PLP Architecture on the 8th October, YLG members joined GM Real Estate founding partner Tony Gibbon for an engaging discussion; tracing his career from his East London origins through to shaping some of the most prominent commercial properties in the Capital.

Tony recalled his early career with Prudential at the cusp of a transitional period for London, through his time at Bates Richards and Co, Lambert Smith Hampton, co-founding BH2 in 1994 and more recently co-founding GM Real Estate in 2010.

He spoke of the huge influence of financial deregulation on the commercial market. This heralded the demand for large trading floor-plates, leading the way for new developments in the City and acting as a catalyst for the development of Canary Wharf.

Tony was  able to forge a key role in introducing several North American financial institutions to London.

Looking out through the windows of PLP’s meeting room, Tony told the story of many of the surrounding office buildings, explaining the key players and particular circumstances behind each development.

From the varied professions around the table – Legal, Architectural, Investment, Marketing and Leasing – an insightful debate emerged around the status of London and the challenges facing young professionals forging careers in the development industry:

What are the opportunities for young entrepreneurs? Is the City developing appropriately to sustain its position as the world financial capital? Is London still an attractive place to live and work?

The cost of living in London was a key issue of the debate, as were the expectations of younger generations on career development. Tony stressed the importance of making a contribution, as well as having realistic expectations of the time required to progress in the industry.

The group discussed the opportunities created by studying the cyclical nature of economies, and how best to prepare for the opportune moment to commit. Tony emphasised that hard work and developing a strong network was key – he ably demonstrated this by seeming to know many of the ULI attendees senior colleagues personally!

Thank you to Tony for this fascinating, insightful glimpse into his career, and for his honest advice to the YLG attendees, and thanks once again to PLP Architecture for hosting another successful YLG Lunch and Learn.

Words by Craig Miller