Henley founder Ian Rickwood recently sat down with Estates Gazette to reflect on the firm’s evolution over the past two decades, the lessons learned through changing market cycles and his perspective on the opportunities ahead in both the UK and US.
“When it’s an entrepreneurial business, part of what we’ve needed to do is adapt and pivot at different times.”
That willingness to evolve has remained central to Henley’s approach. Since its beginnings in residential development, the business has expanded across sectors, strategies and geographies, continually applying the experience gained through one market cycle to the next.
As Ian explains:
“It keeps the mind sharp because you’ve got to learn new things as you pivot, and you take what you have learnt and apply new learning to it.”
The interview explores how that entrepreneurial mindset has shaped Henley’s growth, from navigating the global financial crisis to identifying new areas in which the firm’s investment, operational and real estate expertise can create value.
It also looks at the contrast between operating in the UK and the US. While Ian highlights the growing importance of public-private partnerships in helping to deliver development in the UK, he points to the depth of the US capital markets and the country’s distinctly entrepreneurial culture.
“There’s just that real hustle to it.”
That same thinking is reflected in Henley’s continued expansion into new platforms, including AquaSonic Car Wash in Florida. While the sector may differ from traditional real estate investment, the approach remains familiar: identify where an established model can be improved, bring together property, operations and technology, and build with long-term growth in mind.
Across both markets, Henley remains focused on building resilient businesses, working with strong partners and maintaining the flexibility to respond as conditions evolve.
Read Ian Rickwood’s full interview in Estates Gazette here.
