Who we are
Hammond Associates was established in 2009 following the downturn in the economy. The recession left many empty commercial spaces throughout the country. Coupled with this economic decline, Hammond Associates also noticed a fall in community investment and engagement.
Hammond Associates saw this as an opportunity to match empty commercial property with local art and community charities to create business saving for landlords.
Since 2009, we have utilised more than 8,000 commercial properties and today we manage in the region of 400 properties at any one time. The empty commercial property market has changed and we manage more retail outlets than 10 years ago.
Our charity association is changing the face of high streets, shopping centres and retail parks and our vision has seen pockets of regeneration across the UK. Look at our case studies and testimonials.
Meet the team
Paul Hammond
Managing Director
Paul’s background in construction, as a chartered builder and a degree in business administration, is complimentary to the Hammond Associates business model.
Whilst working on a large building project in Yorkshire he recognised a unique opportunity for charities requiring low, or no cost, accommodation and realised that commercial property owners faced large bills associated with their portfolios containing empty commercial premises.
In 2008, utilising his extensive business contacts, he founded Hammond Associates with an aim to make significant, and completely legal savings, for landlords – offering low-cost business space to charities.
Under his leadership, the group continues to expand promoting art and culture as a way of assisting town centre regeneration.
Jayne Smith
Operations Director
Jayne is a recognised business administrator and has held senior positions in marketing and advertising including directorships in several associated industries. Whilst working in the voluntary sector she experienced, first-hand, the problems associated with funding charitable projects.
Jayne joined the board of Hammond Associates in 2013 to manage the company financial administration section, and to assist with the overall management of this rapidly expanding business.
In 2016 became Operations Director heading up the recently formed finance, administration, and sales departments and fronting the formation of the Property Management division of the company which successfully launched in 2018.
Further in 2018, Jayne spearheaded the development of the Scottish market and in 2022 became Director of the newly formed Scottish Office, Hammond Associates (Scotland) Ltd.
Anna Allsop
Accounts
Anna is a qualified bookkeeper and qualified with the AAT to Accounting Technician level. Anna works closely with Jayne looking after all the day-to-day accounting activities for the company.
She has many years of experience working in both accounting practice and private business.
Debbie Wilkinson
Operations Manager
Debbie has over 25 years of marketing experience at a management level, which has involved marketing strategies, planning; budgeting; project management; people management; event management, and handling 3rd party supplier arrangements and administration.
Throughout her career, Debbie has used her wealth of skills and strengths to work within various industries and sectors. Among them, financial services and manufacturing, the public sector, and the property market, which brought her to the attention of Hammond Associates.
Debbie is our Operations Manager and oversees the day-to-day operations and marketing activity.
Phil Dosworth
Property Manager (York Office)
Phil is the newest member to join the team and will be working with our property managers, sourcing and securing suitable spaces for our charity occupiers.
He has many years of experience in administration and project management, having previously worked for North America Travel Service and STEM Learning.
In addition to being a practising artist, Phil also works as a coordinator for the arts charity Skippko, managing artists’ studio spaces, exhibition venues and pop-up spaces in York.
In 2021 he successfully transformed a 10,000 sq. ft. empty retail unit into a vibrant, professional gallery space for local artists and makers to exhibit and sell their work.
Steve Gibbins
Area Property Manager
Steve has been a well-known figure with the Commercial Property Market throughout the United Kingdom specialising in Development, Distribution and office markets particularly in the North of England in the corporate, private and public sectors.
Initially, he worked within the corporate market advising several substantial household names including retailers, distribution companies along with financial and institutional investors.
He founded Sherwin & Co in 2000, working with a number of his numerous business contacts Architects, Developers, Occupiers and investors to cultivate a quality advisory and consultancy business without the ties of corporate restrictions.
He became a consultant with Hammond Associates in late 2017 to help diversify and expand additional and existing contacts within which Hammonds can continue its role of expanding Art and culture whilst assisting regeneration.
Jade Shepherd
Administration & Website Manager
Jade joined Hammond Associates in 2021 as Administration & Website Manager with a strong background in online content creation and design. Jade is responsible for the creation and publication of all content on the Hammond Associates website including production of news items and case studies. Additionally, she is responsible for managing and reporting on website engagement.
Jade also creates commercial proposals, new client presentations, and all corporate design and artwork for the business.
Ann Rutherford
Charter Auditor
Ann Rutherford for Rutherford Projects will be auditing the charities and organisations who are taking part in the charter. The auditing process will be carried out via data gathering through online meetings and personal visits. Benchmarking will be carried out via online sessions between two or three organisations to ensure best practice is shared amongst organisations.
Ann Rutherford is a practicing artist and project manager. She is the former manager of the temporary studio and workspace programme at East Street Arts. This extensive programme covered 100 buildings of artistic activity across England and Wales. Prior to that Ann worked in Bradford, managing a temporary exhibition and event space, and then Handmade in Bradford – a selling space full of handmade crafts serving artists and makers of the region.
Ann was the director of Keighley Creative in 2019, before taking on the same role for Craven Arts. She is extending the reach of the organisation through temporary gallery and studio spaces, and is now working to open the Craven Arts House, a new art centre and studio facility for Skipton.
Ann is on the board of Settle Stories and Threshfield Quarry Regeneration Trust.