Michael B Paul FRICS

Michael was educated at The Edinburgh Academy before studying at the Royal Agricultural University. After qualifying as a Land Agent and Valuer, he began his professional career with Bell Ingram, one of Scotland's leading firms of Chartered Surveyors.

Working from the firm's Perth and Glasgow offices, Michael specialised in the sale, purchase and valuation of farms and estates. During this period he became an equity partner and helped develop the firm's leisure surveying department.

By 1980 Michael had begun advising on the sale and valuation of leisure businesses including hotels, pubs and holiday parks. His first caravan park sale was completed in 1981, marking the beginning of his long association with the holiday park sector.

In 1986 Michael established Paul & Company Chartered Surveyors, focusing on leisure property and business sales. Over time the practice increasingly specialised in holiday caravan parks.

As the business developed, Michael identified opportunities to provide additional services to park operators. In 1997 he founded Paul Leisure Management, offering professional management services for holiday and residential caravan parks. The company managed parks on behalf of financial institutions and private owners, including Royal Bank of Scotland and several established park operators.

Recognising the difficulties many operators faced in recruiting experienced staff, Michael also established Paul Leisure Recruitment in 2000, providing specialist recruitment services to the leisure and holiday park sector.

By the mid-2000s the combined businesses had grown into a substantial operation employing a team of specialist staff and providing advisory, management and recruitment services to the industry.

In December 2006 Michael sold Paul & Company Chartered Surveyors, Paul Leisure Management and Paul Leisure Recruitment to Colliers International, one of the world's leading real estate advisory firms.

Following the acquisition Michael joined Colliers as a Director, operating from the firm's Bristol and London offices and continuing to lead the holiday park advisory work within the business. After two years as a board director he continued working with Colliers as a consultant before returning to independent advisory work within the sector.

In addition to his professional advisory work, Michael has held a number of senior roles within the holiday park industry.

Following his time with Colliers, Michael continued to work independently within the industry, advising park owners, investors and operators on a range of commercial and operational matters.

His work today focuses on supporting clients involved in the acquisition, sale and strategic development of holiday parks, as well as providing specialist advice in areas such as business rates and sector-specific financial matters.

With more than five decades of involvement in the industry, Michael remains one of the most experienced advisers operating in the UK holiday park sector.