Property consultancy Alder King has appointed Ian Smith as a consultant in its Bristol-based business rates team.
Ian, pictured, joins the firm after 40 years with the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) in the South and South West and brings unrivalled knowledge and expertise, particularly in the valuation of specialist property types for business rates purposes, including large warehouses, factories and buildings in equestrian use. 
His experience and in-depth knowledge of the VOA brings additional depth to Alder King’s business rates team whose core focus is on office, retail and industrial properties but also has specialist expertise in the telecoms, education, leisure, health and fitness and trade counter sectors.
Business rates team partner Simon Price said: “Ian is a first-class operator and we’re delighted to welcome him to Alder King.
“He joins at a time when business rates and their impact on the bottom line are uppermost in the minds of many businesses as a result of the recent revaluation which comes into effect on April 1. There will inevitably be winners and losers with this, but any business which thinks its valuation isn’t correct should consider investigating an appeal.”
Alder King’s business rates team advises on and manages all aspects of business rates across the UK. It has saved clients more than £7.5m a year on their occupied portfolios and £3.8m on empty property rates.
