A LEADING land agent is celebrating a landmark anniversary.

It is now 25 years since Tom Warde-Aldam joined the company which was to evolve into Bywell-based estate management agency, Land Factor.

Over that period, he has become an acknowledged authority on estate management.

Land Factor now manages a larger number and a greater acreage of private estates in the North-East than any other agent.

Having studied at the Royal Agricultural College, Tom trained with a national firm and then joined Lowther Scott-Harden at Bywell in 1990, acting in a consultancy role on a variety of Northumberland estates.

In 2004, with two partners, the business evolved into Land Factor, which now employs a 30-strong team, advising clients of all sizes on a wide variety of estate management issues.

“Our industry is constantly evolving,” said Tom, a father of three, from Healey. “But our focus is, as it has always been, the provision of high quality, independent, professional advice.

“We do not seek to be a ‘one stop shop’ providing a wide range of services, but, rather, to be the hub for property advice to clients, instructing other specialists as appropriate to ensure that they always have access to the best available advice.”

In parallel to Land Factor, Tom is also involved in a dairy farm partnership, a livery yard and a new wedding venue, each of which gives him a direct involvement in topical issues.

“The diversity of estate management has always held a strong appeal for me.

“Our clients are very diverse and one of the real joys of the job is meeting them and identifying the best way in which we can support them.”