One Year In: Why Starting Kingswood Was the Right Decision

Starting a business is rarely about perfect timing. When I launched Kingswood, the backdrop was hardly ideal.

High interest rates. Tax changes that made entrepreneurship less attractive, not more. A government narrative that doesn’t exactly encourage people to take risks, invest, or build. And a market that felt, at best, slow-ish.

And yet, a year on, I can say without hesitation that starting Kingswood was absolutely the right decision.

Leaving a global corporate after nearly 14 years wasn’t easy. There was comfort in scale, structure, and certainty. But there was also a growing sense that I wanted to build something more personal: a business grounded in clear thinking, strong relationships, and advice that genuinely helps clients make better decisions.

What made the leap possible was people.

From the very beginning, the support from former colleagues, clients, and industry peers was extraordinary. Encouragement, referrals, honest conversations, and early trust all played a huge part in getting Kingswood off the ground. That support didn’t just help the business grow, it gave me confidence that there was room in the market for a different kind of advisor.

Twelve months on, Kingswood is no longer an idea. We’re a team of 12 (and growing). We’ve outgrown our office twice. We’ve delivered work across the UK and Europe, including our first pan-European instruction. We’ve been fortunate to advise on some exceptional projects for some of the largest investors and lenders in the market. And we were genuinely proud to be recognised as Property Week’s PBSA Consultant of the Year.

But growth isn’t the part I reflect on most.

What matters more is the day-to-day. The freedom to build a team around shared values. The ability to give clear, direct advice without layers of process. The energy that comes from being part of something you’re shaping in real time.

We’ve been deliberately selective about how Kingswood grows. This isn’t growth for growth’s sake, it’s about building the right team, with the right people, who buy into our shared values and consistently deliver the quality of work our clients expect. That approach takes time, but it matters.

Yes, the hours are long. Cash flow matters a lot. The external environment remains challenging, particularly for small and growing businesses. But despite all of that, I genuinely enjoy getting up in the morning and getting to work. That feeling hasn’t worn off, if anything, it’s grown stronger.

Kingswood exists because of trust: from clients, collaborators, and the people who’ve chosen to join the journey. One year in, the focus isn’t on looking back, it’s on building carefully, sustainably, and with intent.

And that, for me, makes the leap worthwhile.