Oxford firm launches management platform to target gap

Bidwells Investment Management (BIM), an FCA-regulated investment management platform aiming to serve unmet needs in the UK property investment sector, was officially launched by real estate adviser Bidwells this week.

BIM will focus on clients seeking active and accountable management that falls between traditional advisory models and larger, standardised platforms.

Robert Leadbetter, partner at Bidwells and head of investment management at BIM, said: “BIM has been launched in response to a clear shift in how real estate investment needs to be managed.

“The way people use real estate is evolving – fast.

“Understanding this change is essential to delivering return outperformance.

“We believe professional investors seeking sector-specialist advice are underserved in this market.

“BIM was founded to address the gap, providing expert, tailored and regulated investment advice to professional clients.”

BIM launched with £1.2 billion in assets and 19.7 million square feet of space under management.

The firm’s first transactions include advising Trinity College Cambridge on the acquisition of 2-8 Eastcheap, a mixed-use asset in the City of London, in a joint venture with Greycoat.

BIM supported Trinity on investment strategy and the structuring and delivery of the deal, including formation of the joint venture.

The platform also advised on the sale of Trinity College Cambridge’s lease of the O2 Centre in London.

Bidwells originally acquired the centre for Trinity in 2009 and repositioned it as a long-term income investment through lease restructuring.

BIM supported the strategic review ahead of the disposal, leading up to the sale in August 2025.

Mr Leadbetter said: “Bidwells has managed endowment capital for almost two centuries, and BIM allows us to bring that experience, investment management discipline and the ability to deliver across assets and portfolios to a much wider range of clients.”

Bidwells has a long history of managing investment assets for endowment capital, particularly for Cambridge colleges.

The company now aims to extend its expertise through BIM to serve private wealth and family offices, UK and international investors, institutions seeking specialist UK exposure, and landowners looking to professionalise their asset and portfolio management.

BIM draws on Bidwells’ strengths in development, asset management, capital markets, planning, and specialist market insight.

The FCA-authorised structure allows BIM to provide regulated services including structuring joint ventures, creating corporate vehicles, and advising on indirect real estate investments.

BIM operates as an appointed representative of Langham Hall Fund Management LLP, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.