Click here to view the 2021 Interim Statement – https://investors.pfk.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/2021-Interim-Statement.pdf

Payment of an interim dividend for the year ending 31 December 2021 was paid at a rate of £0.25p on those ordinary shares registered with shareholders at 9 August 2021, on the 10 September 2021. Any shareholders who have not received their expected payment, either by bank transfer or cheque, or their dividend confirmation paperwork, should contact the Company to resolve the issue.

2021 AGM Minutes Final

Shareholder Letter

In the previous year, given the huge uncertainties surrounding the impact of COVID-19, and in common with very many businesses, the board felt it was prudent not to recommend the payment of a dividend. A year on, having successfully navigated 2020, and with growing confidence on an end to the worst of the pandemic, we now consider that it is appropriate to recommence dividend payments. Accordingly, we have paid an interim dividend of £0.25p per share to make up for the payment missed last year and this has been paid in the tax year 2020/21, on the 31 March 2021.

Further information on future distributions will be available in the Report and Financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2020 when they are released to shareholders.

John Wilson, who has made a huge contribution to PFK since his appointment four years ago, resigned as a Director of the Company on 19 February 2021.

John commented:

“It is with a heavy heart I leave PFK but I feel it is the right time to do so. I think the Company is in a good position with a strong board which now includes more very capable executive directors than previously. I believe that the Company is in very safe hands and well placed to face the post Covid world.

I’d like to thank all my colleagues and especially the excellent staff who have made me so welcome.”

The Board wish to thank John for his hard work and contribution to the Company throughout his time as a non-executive Director and wish him all the very best for the future.

PFK, the multi-disciplinary professional practice and property business has announced pre-tax profit of £60k in its interim results for the 6 months ended 30^th June 2020.

The housing market started the year positively but, of course, the group’s performance was impacted significantly by the truly unprecedented implications of the Covid-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, PFK traded profitably during the first half of the year and is in a strong financial and operational position to deal with any more adverse pandemic effects. The benefits of PFK’s multi-disciplinary practice have also been apparent as Land Agency and Planning were able to operate “normally” with no staff or small numbers of staff furloughed and both traded very well.

The national lockdown on 23^rd March saw PFK’s group Estate Agency network close temporarily for 2 months and the housing market come to a standstill overnight. With virtually no transactional business during lockdown, house sales (exchanges) for the half year were significantly below the comparative period in 2019.

There were also a number of board changes as previous Managing Director, Stephen Lancaster, resigned in March and previous Head of Planning, Rachel Lightfoot left in July 2020. Andrew Green was appointed as Managing Director and PFK’s Heads of Finance and Estate Agency also strengthened the board, respectively Joseph Webb and Lynne Lancaster. Chair, John Rowlands, stepped into an executive role for a time and other non-executive directors all stepped in extensively to help the business through this period.

During lockdown PFK furloughed the majority of estate agency workers under Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and immediately transitioned its remaining workforce to full remote working. Whilst already operating digitally, the new methods of working (including virtual viewings, more videos of properties etc) utilise technology to an even greater extent. PFK also rapidly began planning for recovery to ensure a swift and safe return to operations as soon as the housing market restarted ensuring stringent health and safety protocols were in place and all branches and corporate office made Covid-19 secure.

Managing Director, Andrew Green said:

“The majority of our management team have been with us for many years with exposure to all types of markets in the past, but this unexpected public health crisis is incomparable to anything else. However, swift and decisive action and the implementation of cost saving measures has meant that we have so far navigated effectively through the crisis and I think are well positioned for the future.”

Head of Estate Agency, Lynne Lancaster adds:

“We prioritise people at all times be it our colleagues, customers, suppliers ensuring their health, safety and wellbeing minimising impact on them and delivering continuity of service. We are incredibly proud of how our people have dealt with this changing and fast paced situation demonstrating their resilience, professionalism and fortitude in the face of adversity and the quality of our response.”

After lockdown ended, PFK saw a very significant recovery in the housing market and this has continued through the summer. Compared with the same period last year recent trading in July shows new applicant registrations are up with significant interest from out of area buyers. Home owners continue to show desire to re-enter the market with market appraisal activity increasing and new instructions the highest the market has seen in recent years. The Chancellor’s stamp duty land tax holiday has also provided further impetus to the market.

PFK has also reviewed the operating model and has decided to close the physical offices in Whitehaven and Kirkby Stephen which are now digitally serviced from centres in Cockermouth (covering all of West Cumbria) and Penrith (covering Penrith and the Eden Valley) respectively.

In line with national trends footfall into our high street premises has reduced significantly in recent years with customers preferring to access our services digitally. With this in mind PFK are also taking the opportunity to relocate the City centre Carlisle estate agency branch into the Rosehill offices later this year, where access on the edge of the City and near the motorway is easier and there is plentiful car parking for customers.

Land Agency and Planning departments have also traded well during this period with staff operating remotely. David Stout, Head of Land Agency adds:

“We were quickly able to adapt our ways of working to deal with the pandemic and so able continue to look after our clients’ affairs and properties without interruption. It has been a difficult, but also very busy, period for the rural economy which has generally speaking managed to adapt to operate relatively normally.”

Unfortunately, PFK’s Auction Saleroom had undoubtedly suffered as a result of the pandemic in terms of how it operates. In order to concentrate on our core property professional businesses, we have decided to close this non-property business with the result being that the Saleroom has completed its final auction of our customers’ antiques. Sadly, this has led to a number of staff having to be made redundant and we’d like to thank departing colleagues for their input. They will be missed.

Andrew concludes:

“Going into the second half of the year residential property market conditions are much better than we could have hoped for. Additionally, our Land Agency, Surveying and Planning teams are all doing well and, whilst we are mindful of the economic and other risks which the pandemic holds, we are also financially sound, and we think well placed to meet the challenges and take the opportunities which lie ahead. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all our fantastic staff who have seen us through this unprecedented period.”

Rachel is leaving PFK to pursue other opportunities. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Rachel for her contribution to PFK and to wish her well in her future career.

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