A 170-year heritage of forward thinking
Experience counts. As does understanding our clients’ needs and their evolving demands. Our innovative and effective solutions are based on deep sector knowledge, acquired over many decades, with a focus which never shifts from delivering services which our clients value.
Christie Group today is the result of over 170 years of innovative and progressive thinking, where the focus has always remained on providing professional services in our chosen sectors.
From the formation of the business agency Christie, Owen and Davies in 1935, the addition of what are now known as Christie Finance and Christie Insurance in the late 1970’s, the acquisition of Venners in 1984, Pinders in 1986, Orridge in 2002 and finally the rebranding of Vennersys in 2008, Christie Group has been deliberately designed and constructed to offer business owners and operators an expanding ‘one-stop shop’ of professional services which support them in achieving their own ambitions. With Orridge’s and Venners’ own roots dating back to 1846 and 1896 respectively, it is a rich history of which we are proud.
That story has seen each of the above companies expand their services along the way, evolving into a group which currently offers over 80 services across the life cycle of business ownership and operation in the Care, Hospitality and Retail sectors.
The sectors we specialise in have remained dynamic and will continue to do so. Our expertise in new sectors has been expanded, most notably in recent years through our presence in areas such as Medical and Childcare and Education.
Key to the evolution of the group and its companies has been our people. From the strategic vision and dreams of those who saw the opportunities to build a unique portfolio of businesses, to the endeavour and commitment of the teams who have contributed each day to delivering services of a standard which our clients repeatedly value so highly, it has been a team effort from day one and will remain so.
Christie Group has grown to become truly international since Christie & Co first expanded into Europe in 1998 with the opening of its Paris office. Our businesses now operate in the UK and Europe and our teams are drawn from across the globe, as we recognise the huge benefits that that come to us and our clients with a rich diversity of thinking and experience.
Much has changed, but some maxims have stood the test of time. Innovation, specialist knowledge and client service are recurrent themes in the Christie Group story.
In 1846, Queen Victoria’s pharmacist, Benjamin Orridge, launches the UK’s first specialist stock taking and valuation business, focusing on druggists and chemists. The company quickly gained momentum. Orridge was a big data pioneer – one of the first to recognise the value for business of accurate inventories. Having grown into one of the UK’s largest independent retail stocktakers with a pan-European presence, Orridge continues to remain prevalent in the Pharmacy sector and is growing its Supply Chain services as consumer trends re-shape the retail sector.
Edwin Venner came from a brewing family. He had seen first-hand how easy it was to pilfer stock. He set up E.J. Venner’s in 1896 to provide specialist stock control to the brewing, wine and spirits, and licensed trades. From those beginnings, Venners has grown to establish itself as the UK’s largest independent stocktaker to the licensed trade, and the depth of its knowledge of the hospitality sector is increasingly valuable to clients seeking compliance and consultancy services.
In 1935 another pillar of the future Christie Group comes into being. George Christie, James Owen and Nick Davies establish a business agency at offices in London’s Baker Street. The three set about building a vibrant network for commercial property sales which, over 80 years, has now grown into an international agency and advisory business with 28 offices in the UK and Europe serving private and corporate clients.
Bank lending to smaller businesses was in its infancy in the 1960s. Lending decisions were based on property valuations, when what mattered most was the value of the business as a going concern. In 1969 David Pinder sets up a business to fill this gap. Pinder reports quickly gained a reputation for cogent, informative reporting enabling the company to establish a national network of business appraisers. The business grew strongly through the 70s and early 80s and, with the partners considering it timely to sell but being keen to ensure it remained independent of any lenders, it became part of Christie Group in July 1986. Pinders’ valued and trusted expertise has seen its services expand to now include consultancy, dispute resolution, building surveying and project management.
Reliance Consumer Credit – which quickly became known as RCC - was formed in 1977 at a time when many businesses often found it difficult to obtain loans from the main banks, turning instead to finance house. RCC offered a range of financial services from loans to insurance with the simple idea to provide buyers with everything needed in terms of finance including the mortgage to buy the business and the life assurance needed as security. Benefitting from the strength of the Christie & Co brand it was the natural evolution for RCC to become Christie Financial Services, comprising as it does today Christie Finance and Christie Insurance.
Having provided integrated ticket software to visitor attractions for over 25 years, Vennersys – rebranded in 2008 - is testament to Christie Group’s tradition of innovative investment with the creation of its cloud-based EPOS and online ticketing solution, Venpos Cloud. Containing the experience of client requirements built up across three decades, Venpos Cloud embodies many of the core values of Christie Group’s history – innovation combined with a deep knowledge of our clients’ needs.