Background
Fresh Property Group is one of the UK's leading operators of purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) and build-to-rent (BTR) developments, managing a property portfolio valued at approximately £1.9 billion across the United Kingdom.
Operating a diverse national estate requires exceptional standards of maintenance, statutory compliance, contractor management and operational consistency. To support this, Fresh Property Group needed experienced Facilities and Property professionals capable of leading multi-site operations while maintaining high service standards across an expanding portfolio.
Maxwell Stephens was initially invited to compete alongside several specialist recruitment firms to recruit a Southern Maintenance Manager. The success of that assignment marked the beginning of a long-term relationship, with Fresh Property Group subsequently appointing Maxwell Stephens as its exclusive recruitment partner for a series of senior Facilities Management and Health & Safety appointments.
The Challenge
Fresh Property Group required recruitment support for several strategically important leadership positions responsible for maintaining operational excellence across its national property portfolio.
Each appointment demanded candidates with strong technical expertise, commercial awareness and the leadership capability to manage geographically dispersed teams, complex contractor relationships and significant operational risk.
Over the course of our partnership, Maxwell Stephens successfully recruited several key positions, including:
Southern Maintenance Manager
This senior operational leadership role carried responsibility for the maintenance performance of Fresh Property Group's southern portfolio.
Key responsibilities included:
- Planned and reactive maintenance.
- Statutory compliance and testing.
- Fire safety management.
- Contractor and supplier performance.
- Defects management.
- Mobilisation of new developments.
- Operational reporting.
- Client and stakeholder engagement.
The successful candidate needed significant multi-site maintenance leadership experience together with strong technical credibility and excellent organisational skills.
Senior Contracts Manager
Working within the central operational team, the Senior Contracts Manager provided commercial oversight and governance across several critical national contracts.
Responsibilities included managing contracts relating to:
- Utilities.
- Student internet services.
- Security.
- Insurance.
- Waste management.
This appointment required an individual with extensive procurement expertise, contract negotiation experience and the confidence to challenge suppliers while delivering long-term value across the estate.
Health & Safety Manager
Fresh Property Group also required a senior Health & Safety professional to strengthen governance and embed a consistent compliance culture across the organisation.
The successful candidate was responsible for:
- Developing company-wide Health & Safety policies.
- Improving statutory compliance.
- Enhancing operational systems and processes.
- Advising senior leaders and operational teams.
- Delivering practical Health & Safety support across multiple locations.
Our Approach
Rather than relying on high-volume recruitment, Maxwell Stephens adopted a targeted executive search strategy focused on identifying professionals capable of delivering long-term value to the organisation.
Our recruitment process centred around four key principles:
Understanding the Business
We invested time developing a detailed understanding of Fresh Property Group's operational model, company culture and long-term objectives before commencing each search.
Targeted Executive Search
Using our specialist Facilities Management network, we identified experienced professionals with backgrounds in:
- Multi-site Facilities Management.
- Hard Services leadership.
- Compliance and statutory management.
- Contractor and supplier management.
- Property operations.
- Health & Safety leadership.
- Commercial contract management.
Rigorous Candidate Assessment
Every shortlisted candidate underwent structured interviews assessing:
- Technical competence.
- Leadership capability.
- Commercial awareness.
- Cultural alignment.
- Communication skills.
- Motivation and long-term career aspirations.
Rather than presenting large numbers of CVs, we focused on delivering concise, decision-ready shortlists consisting only of highly relevant candidates.
Ongoing Partnership
Our involvement extended beyond appointment, providing continued support throughout onboarding to ensure successful integration into the organisation.
The Outcome
The successful appointment of the Southern Maintenance Manager demonstrated the quality of our recruitment process and established a strong working relationship with Fresh Property Group.
Following this initial assignment, Fresh Property Group chose to work exclusively with Maxwell Stephens, entrusting us with multiple senior appointments across Facilities Management, Maintenance, Contracts and Health & Safety.
Across every assignment, we consistently delivered candidates who combined:
- Strong technical expertise.
- Commercial thinking.
- Multi-site operational leadership.
- Excellent stakeholder management.
- Cultural fit.
- Long-term leadership potential.
The result has been a trusted recruitment partnership built on quality, consistency and an in-depth understanding of the client's business, rather than transactional recruitment.
Building Long-Term Recruitment Partnerships
At Maxwell Stephens, we believe successful recruitment is measured by long-term outcomes—not the number of CVs submitted.
Our partnership with Fresh Property Group demonstrates the value of combining specialist Facilities Management expertise with a relationship-led executive search process that consistently delivers exceptional people for critical leadership positions.
Today, Fresh Property Group continues to view Maxwell Stephens as a trusted recruitment partner for senior Facilities Management and Workplace appointments across its national portfolio.
Client Testimonial
"After using a variety of recruitment agencies over the years, Maxwell Stephens has become our trusted partner for all Facilities Management recruitment, from senior leadership appointments through to operational support roles. They genuinely understand our business—not just the technical skills required, but the type of people who succeed within our organisation. Where other agencies promise the earth, Maxwell Stephens consistently deliver. Their approach is structured, consultative and refreshingly focused on quality rather than volume. I would have no hesitation recommending them."
Mark Cutlan
Property Director, Fresh Property Group