Spotlight On: Grant Lonsdale

Grant Lonsdale is Senior Director, Market Analytics at CoStar Group. CoStar has been located in Glasgow for nearly 20 years. In this Spotlght On feature we're excited to share with you Grant's experience of living and working in the city. 

How long have you worked for CoStar?

14.5 years

What brought you to Glasgow?

I was in the city and feel very fortunate to be able to work and raise a family here.

Please tell us about your organisatio?

CoStar has had a presence in Glasgow city centre for nearly two decades. Our current office at 2 West Regent Street is a stone’s throw from our first office in the city on West Nile Street. 

We believe it is important to have experienced professionals based in the UK’s major cities to understand what makes local property markets and economies tick. This enables us to provide the best data and service to our customers, which range from local authorities and independent surveying firms to UK funds and global asset management companies. 

We have recently grown our headcount in Glasgow following the acquisition of the residential property portal On The Market. CoStar researchers now cover the student housing and build-to-rent sectors, which have been accounting for an increasing share of investment and development activity in recent years, particularly in cities like Glasgow. 

The most satisfying aspect of my job is providing insights to assist our many agent, developer and investor clients in making decisions that contribute to the success of their businesses and, by extension, cities like Glasgow. 

What do you love about Glasgow?

CoStar’s first research centre was based in Glasgow. From our office on West Nile Street, we grew our loyal and valued customer base, not just in Glasgow but across Scotland, the UK and abroad. 

Three of the best things about working in Glasgow are:

1. The people – not just the property and wider business community, but the folks that keep the city’s essential services running, often with smiles on their faces come rain or shine!
2. The buildings – while this is perhaps a predictable answer given my line of work, the Glasgow Style of architecture is truly something to be appreciated. While walking around the city, I love to look up rather than down to discover interesting – and probably underappreciated – building features.
3. Access to green spaces - Glasgow Green and Kelvingrove Park on the fringes of the city centre are perfect for a lunchtime walk or to take a break and get the creative juices flowing! The city’s proximity to countryside and coast is another big plus!

What are your experiences with Invest Glasgow?

I’ve had the pleasure of working with Invest Glasgow for many years and encourage potential inward investors to contact the team to discover what the city has to offer. The Invest Glasgow website and the council’s city centre performance dashboard are also excellent resources for businesses.

You can read more from Grant with his take on Bothwell Street: Glasgow’s new superhero headquarters.

Want to know more about CoStar? Follow them or Grant Lonsdale on LinkedIn for more insights.