4 Savills Plc: are you in the know?
Savills’ name is synonymous with property, but do you really know what the company does or how big it is?
What?
Savills is global property management business, earning fees for selling, letting, valuing, managing and advising on property.
Evolving from its origin as a land agency practice, its Rural, Energy and Projects Division remains one of the largest in the UK.
Following Savills’ 2026 acquisition of Eastdil Secured (a US Real Estate Investment Bank), now Eastdil Secured Savills, the combined group becomes the second-largest global advisor on prime commercial property deals above $100m (according to Savills).
Its assets under management are about €26.1bn, across 15 offices.
Savills is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a member of the FTSE 250.
Savills group revenue for the year to December 2025, was £2,551m. Reported profit before tax was £101.0m against £88.3m. Revenue growth, on a constant currency basis, was 8%.
Where?
Savills’ London HQ is at 33 Margaret Street, W1. Savills provides real estate services across the UK, Continental Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa, North America and the Middle East. It also employs around 40,181 people.
When?
Savills was founded as a land agency practice in 1855.
In 1987 Savills was incorporated as a limited company and was listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1988.
Who?
Savills was established in London by Victorian, Alfred Savill. His three sons continued and developed the business which now employs around 40,181 people worldwide. The current chairperson is Stacey Cartwright and CEO is Simon Shaw.
The How and Why in more detail
UK Estate Management
Although it is now a global capital-markets business, Savills’ roots lie in UK rural estate management and advice. Its earnings come from transaction commissions, consultancy, property management and fund management fees.
For 40 years, Savills has helped clients secure finance for farms, estates and rural development projects. It offers owners of country houses or rural estates a full advisory service including sales, valuation and long-term management.
The rural asset management team manages property for private, public, charitable and institutional rural owners.
The Savills expanded its UK land agency practice considerably in 2015 when it bought the historic rural agency Smiths Gore, moving its 532 staff across 31 UK offices and 14 estate offices into Savills’ rural and country residential businesses.
Savills also owns Prime Purchase, a property search agency that advises buyers on acquisitions and rentals. Its listings currently show 226 estates for sale across the UK.
UK and Foreign Expansion 1990s to present in Chronological Order
Savills’ mergers and acquisitions:
- 1997 merged with First Pacific Davies in Asia.
- 1998 acquired majority stakes in Weatherall, Green & Smith (the German, French and Spanish arms);
- 2014 acquired Studley (NY) bringing the commercial tenant representation brokerage into Savills.[6] In June 2015;
- 2016 acquired Smiths Gore, provider of rural and residential property services in the UK;
- 2016 acquired a minority stake in Yopa property (UK-based online hybrid estate agency) through its proprietary investment subsidiary Grosvenor Hill Ventures;
- 2016 acquired UK Midlands-based commercial property consultancy, Phoenix Beard;
- 2017 acquired Italian commercial management and leasing business Larry Smith, Italia;
- 2017 Spanish and Portuguese real estate advisers Aguirre Newman SA;
- 2025 Expo City Dubai appointed Savills to manage leasing and commercial assets for the districts;
- 2026 $1.11billion acquisition of US Eastdil Secured.
Conclusion
Growth in 2025–26 came from commercial deals and Asia Pacific, while UK residential remained the weak spot. Savills’ savvy expansions have made it a significant global player as well as the go-to for expertise-strapped rural UK landowners. Savills website promises ‘we can help find you the perfect home anywhere in the world’, so from managing an estate like the CDE (Christie Estates in sleepy North Devon, pictured) to buying a luxury property or offices in far-away Africa or Australasia, Savills has it glossily covered.