About Us | Gentian

Gentian started its first infrastructure project in June 1998 building a new main entrance and road way for the University Hospital of Wales. Since then Gentian has contracted with over 25 NHS hospitals all over the UK including some of the largest hospitals in the UK such as Addenbrooke’s and Walsgrave Hospital in Coventry. We have built clinical space, car parks, new main entrances and pharmacies all funded by Gentian without any financial contribution from the public sector and often with a substantial financial return to the Trust either as an upfront capital contribution or an ongoing payment. Gentian has retained all of its developments and continues to provide all management services in house.
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Gentian expanded into real estate development spanning retail, offices, warehouses and farmland and continues to develop on a selective basis where there is a strong commercial rationale. Gentian has a real estate development team located in Winchester who focus specifically on the South of the UK.

More recently Gentian has invested in businesses either setting up new ventures, investing in start ups or acquiring mature businesses outright.

Our Offices

London Office

2 Stephen Street, London, W1T 1AN

Winchester Office

Trafalgar House South, Trafalgar Street, Winchester, SO23 9DH

01962 460150

The Team

Andrew Bell

Business Development Director - Infrastructure

Andrew has a unique blend of over 30 years’ development and operational experience within the healthcare sector and an outstanding track record of building and managing multi-site businesses within NHS Hospitals. Prior to joining Gentian in 2010, Andrew held senior roles within privately owned and corporate organisations including a major high street retailer. Within Gentian Andrew is responsible for the acquisition of new business and plays a key role in the ongoing management and development of the existing portfolio.

07584 702 426

andrew@gentian.co.uk

Alison Earl

Office Manager / PA

Alison joined Gentian in 2018 as Office Manager and PA to Nick Ekins.

A graduate of the University of Exeter, Alison spent 10 years working for B&Q and Kingfisher in public relations and internal communications roles. She moved to the property sector in 2014 working for PegasusLife for a number of years before joining Gentian.

Alison is responsible for the day to day operation of the Winchester office and provides PA and administrative support to Nick Ekins and the wider Gentian team.

01962 460 150

alison.earl@gentian.co.uk

Nick Ekins

MRICS

Managing Director - Real Estate

Nick, a graduate of Sheffield Hallam University, is one of the founding members of the highly successful Gentian Partnerships. This company is now the market leader in developing retail facilities within hospitals, through a combination of public and private partnerships. He has worked for international retailers and leading real estate advisors in London prior to establishing Gentian Partnerships.

Joe Fellows

ACCA

Divisional Finance Director

Joe is a graduate of the University of Gloucestershire and joined Gentian as Divisional Finance Director in August 2020.

Joe is responsible for all financial aspects of the major projects managed from the Winchester office from raising finance to producing company financial statements.

01962 460 150

joe.fellows@gentian.co.uk

Stefan Fitzsimmons

BA (Hons) ACA

Managing Director - Infrastructure

Stefan Fitzsimmons is a co-founder of Gentian a specialist developer of clinical and retail space in NHS hospitals. The business has expanded into commercial property development and private equity investments. His latest project is the regeneration of an old Cotswold farm into a mixed use development of residential, holiday lets and leisure facilities. He previously worked at Societe Generale Investment Bank and Ernst and Young and is a qualified chartered accountant.

Deb Flight

Project Manager

Deb returned to the UK in 2017 following 12 years living and working in France where she owned a luxury catered chalet and interior styling business.

Deb has been working for Gentian for the last five years, she currently project manages several of Gentian's sites in Winchester and also processes all invoices for the Winchester team.

01962 460 150

deb.flight@gentian.co.uk

Nick Hanson

MRICS

Development Director

Nick has worked in the property sector for in excess of 15 years. He has worked within the property department of a number of multinational companies including the Booker Cash & Carry Group, Hays plc and Boots plc. He has extensive experience in property development, management, acquisitions and disposals.

Within Gentian Nick's primary function is overseeing the project management of the company's development programme.

07717 546 546

nick.hanson@gentian.co.uk

Alex Hirst

MRICS

Property Director

Alex is a graduate of the University of the West of England and a qualified Chartered Surveyor. He joined Gentian following a period at national property consultancy Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH). Prior to this Alex worked as a Senior Acquisition Consultant for Lidl and in the agency team at Goadsby.

Alex has dealt with a wide range of projects throughout his career, with a more recent focus on the delivery of road side and out of town retail schemes.

Within Gentian Alex heads up the acquisition of road side retail opportunities and providing retail centres for new housing schemes across the South Coast as well as work on our existing portfolio.

07725 631 989

alex.hirst@gentian.co.uk

Tim Langley

MRICS

Project Director

Tim, a graduate of Oxford Brookes University, has worked in the UK property industry for many years at director level.

He has been closely involved with the development, funding and acquisition of large retail and mixed use schemes throughout the UK.

In 2002 he co-founded Andbury Properties, a private property company which successfully developed a number of retail, mixed use and residential schemes, as well as a substantial retail investment portfolio. Many of the residential developments undertaken were within conservation areas and often involved listed buildings.

In 2016 he sold his investment in the company to join Gentian.

07778 471 687

tim.langley@gentian.co.uk

Aiden Murray

MRTPI

Planning Director

Aiden is a graduate of the University of Manchester and a Chartered Town Planner. He joined Gentian after working for global property consultancy JLL for a number of years. Before JLL Aiden worked at Plymouth City Council within the Strategic Planning & Infrastructure team.

Aiden has worked on a variety of schemes throughout his career largely advising clients on urban regeneration and brownfield land developments including mixed use commercial and residential opportunities.

Aiden adds an in-house planning function to the Gentian team whilst overseeing the strategic delivery of projects through the planning process.

01962 460 150

aiden.murray@gentian.co.uk

Paul Phillips

MRICS

Head of Estates

A Chartered Surveyor of over 12 years, Paul joined Gentian from niche high street retail consultancy Nash Bond, where he was Associate Director in the Lease Advisory team.

In his role as Head of Estates, Paul uses his decade of experience in Landlord & Tenant matters to provide strategic advice on the management of, and future development opportunities within, Gentian’s extensive NHS-based portfolio.

Paul works closely with NHS Trusts to deliver on their property, infrastructure and sustainability requirements within hospital sites countrywide.

07887 457 701

paul@gentian.co.uk

Penny Smith

Property Manager

Penny is a graduate of Reading University and subsequently qualified as a Chartered Surveyor. She joined Gentian in 2017 following three years as a commercial agent at Goadsby in Winchester.

Her property career started in private practice followed by seven years at Prudential Property Investment Managers Ltd. She was an associate director on the Central London team.

01962 460 150

penny.smith@gentian.co.uk