Name: Russell Bolton
Job title: Founder and director at Russell Bolton Consulting
What I do: I am founder and director of Russell Bolton Consulting, a project management, cost consultancy, property and construction advisory firm based in Manchester. I launched the business in 2021 alongside co-director, David Litherland. It has since grown to a team of 15 senior professionals working with the likes of ITV, Chester Zoo, Cityheart, Blackpool Council and Swissport.
Why I got into the property industry: I always held an interest in the built environment and knew that I wanted to work in the property industry. I don’t hail from a property family, my brothers are both electrical engineers. My first choice would have been professional football, and I did play for Manchester United youth, but my career went in a different direction!
How I did it: I joined a private consultancy practice as a trainee while studying for my RICS chartership at Salford University.
My first big break: Being promoted to partner at global property consultancy Gleeds, which took my career to the next level.
The biggest challenge I’ve encountered to date: Undoubtedly the 2008 financial crisis – it was a very difficult time for everyone within the property industry, but I succeeded in ensuring the team I was responsible for all remained employed at a time when workloads were diminishing significantly.
My greatest achievement/proudest moment to date: My greatest achievement has to be taking a small, little-known regional office of 18 staff into a high-profile, profitable regional office of 120 people in four years during my time at Rider Levitt Bucknall. My proudest moment is of course launching RBC with David back in 2021 – I am very proud of what we have achieved to date and the fantastic team we have built.
The biggest misconception people have about the property industry: That people know what they’re doing! Unfortunately, there are a lot of people working within the industry with limited knowledge and good quality resource is often scarce. More time and money must be invested in skills and training, both at the earliest stages of someone’s career and in continued development as the industry evolves.
My biggest bugbear about the industry/one thing I would change: I’d like the industry to be more honest. And there are too many “yes” people; we need to be more honest and steer clear of lies and untruths, even if that means having a difficult conversation now and again, whether it’s with a client or a colleague.
Who I’d invite, living or dead, to a dinner party: Margaret Thatcher, she was an inspirational leader who really did make Britain great again.
My advice for someone just starting out: Be true to yourself and be honest. Work hard and learn, listen to experienced people and then do things the way that you believe they should be done.
