Meet The Norfolk Agents

Ross Nicholas BA(Hons)

Director

ross@thenorfolkagents.co.uk
07760381483

Ross has worked in estate agency in Norfolk since 2007, latterly as a branch manager covering Mid and North Norfolk for a leading independent agent. With a background in construction prior to this, his key areas of expertise include residential valuation and sales, land & new homes and marketing.

Ross explains, ”I believe the most important things to get right are to provide high quality and accurate marketing, supported by first class customer service. Having previously been a manager of one of the area’s leading independent agents dealing with high value properties, I understand and look forward to providing the exceptional personal customer service our clients deserve. The Norfolk Agents can also save you thousands by delivering all the key services a good high street agent can offer at prices more akin to online estate agents.”

Laura Robinson

Director

laura@thenorfolkagents.co.uk
07576399599

Laura started her career in the property industry in 2004, initially working for a firm of Solicitors as a secretary to a Conveyancer. With a passion for property, she soon moved into estate agency, most recently working for a reputable local independent estate agent managing a team of 5 people and covering the whole of Norfolk. In addition to sales, Laura is very experienced in lettings and property management, a service also offered by The Norfolk Agents.
Laura comments “I love the vibrancy of Norfolk and the diversity of the people who live, work and holiday here. Throughout my career, I have always strived to do my best for my Clients and at The Norfolk Agents that is a priority. We are committed to delivering the best customer service together with honest advice at a fair price. Whether you are buying a home or selling your house in Norfolk we would love to hear from you today.”

Shane Ballard

Director

shane@thenorfolkagents.co.uk
07940926840

Although proudly Norfolk born and bred, Shane started his estate agency career in 2005 with the award-winning Greene and Co in Maida Vale, London. During his career at Greene and Co Shane held a number of roles in both Lettings and Sales and was an integral part of the senior management team that expanded the business from four to nine locations across North West London. In 2015 Greene and Co were acquired by Countrywide and Shane was given the opportunity to further his career with a Retail Director role covering 85 offices across Mid – Market London, incorporating brands such as Bairstow Eves, Gascoigne Pees and his beloved Greene and Co.
Shane returned to Norfolk in 2017 and before joining The Norfolk Agents he continued as Regional Director for Countrywide looking after 15 offices across Norfolk.
Shane comments “ I came across The Norfolk Agents on my return to Norfolk and loved both the brand and business model. Through a mutual friend, I met with Ross and Laura and loved their passion for both the business and their clients. I was completely sold with both them and the business and desperately wanted to be part of it.
Since joining The Norfolk Agents, I have loved every minute and I am really excited about the business potential and our future expansion plans.”
Outside of The Norfolk Agents Shane loves spending time with his Family Shinade, Henry and Poppy Rose and is an avid Derby County Football Fan.

Daniel

Having started his career in estate agency at the age of 19 as a trainee sales negotiator in Wymondham, Daniel joined The Norfolk Agents in Spring 2019. Daniel prides himself on his professionalism and customer service. “I see that my job is to make house selling and buying as easy as possible for our clients“. Daniel is born & raised in Norfolk having lived in the market town of Fakenham, Dersingham, Sculthorpe & Spooner Row. Daniel loves his football and is a huge Norwich City fan, as well as playing at Wells Town FC.

Shaye

Shaye Joined The Norfolk Agents in the Autumn of 2022 to manage the West Norfolk Hub and is proving to be a great addition to the team. Shaye has a number of years of property experience which included working with one of the National search providers for the property industry and more recently working her way through various promotions all the way up to Branch Manager at a National Corporate Estate Agent.

She prides herself on her customer care and aspires to make the house buying and selling process as easy as possible for our clients. Shaye was born in London but raised in Norfolk and has lived in Kings Lynn since age 11. Her spare time is mostly taken up by renovating her first home on Reffley but she enjoys taking her dog Daisy for walks to wind down and of course spending time with friends and family.

Hayley

Hayley is Norfolk born and bred, although her career in property started in 2006 when she moved to London. Hayley has worked in lettings, project management and more recently back in Norfolk for a well known independent agency on the Property Management team. Hayley comments “I love getting to know our clients and helping the team to deliver the best service possible. I am very proud that The Norfolk Agents are able to do this whilst also saving our clients money.” In her spare time, Hayley loves exploring the county with her young family.

Shinade

Shinade joined the business in 2020 to continue to grow our digital marketing presence. In 2020 we have seen a 75% increase in our social media followers and customer interaction which included a competition that reached just under 50,000 customers. Shinade has held various roles within the property sector including spells with Benham and Reeves in Hyde Park, London and also with the award winning Marsh and Parsons at their head office in Hammersmith, London.

Shinade was born and bred in London and moved to Norfolk in 2017 with her husband Shane (The Norfolk Agents Director) and children Henry and Poppy Rose. Shinade comments “with a husband as a director who constantly talks ‘shop’ it felt as though I was already employed before I joined! I have fallen in love with Norfolk and The Norfolk Agents is a great brand with so many beautiful properties that really help support our social media content ”

Mara

After graduating from University with a Law degree Mara returned to Norfolk and spent the first 8 years working as an employed adviser with large corporate estate agents. Having learned a lot in the corporate world and with a large existing client bank, Mara took the decision to start her own business and was delighted to be asked by some leading estate agents to look after their clients’ mortgage needs which she has now been doing for 12 years.
As well as having her mortgage and protection qualifications, Mara also studied and passed her Diploma in Financial Planning and now deals with clients who are buying or re-mortgaging all over the country. Mara specialises in the holiday let market and those looking for holiday homes as these types of mortgages are often more difficult to place. Mara says “I can still remember what it was like to know nothing about mortgages and often use that knowledge to help me explain the process to both first time buyers and existing homeowners. I use a manner that is easy to comprehend and as straightforward as possible in order to ensure everything is completely clear at a time when some of the most important decisions about the future are being made.”
In her spare time, Mara loves to dance and enjoys both modern jive and salsa. Mara is also an avid Formula 1 fan and has been on several track days including super-cars, rally-cross and rallying, often leaving the competition for dust!

Lucy

Lucy joined The Norfolk Agents in Autumn 2021 on an apprenticeship scheme via Norfolk County Council. Lucy is learning all aspects of estate agency and is already both delivering a great service to our customers and fitting into the company culture. Lucy is born and bred  in Norfolk and has previously held a number of customer service roles since leaving Wisbech Grammar School  including working at The Dabbling Duck in Great Massingham and the family business at Stebbings car sales in Kings Lynn.

Out-side of work Lucy loves spending time with the family and is a competitive Hockey player for Pelicans in Kings Lynn.

Kate

Kate has lived and worked in Norfolk for all of her life and has 20 years of experience working within the property sector.
Kate is NVQ level 2 and 3 qualified in Customer Service and Business administration and in 2017 gained her CeMAP level 3 Qualification in Mortgage Advice and Practice through the London Institute of Banking and Finance.
Kate comments “I particularly enjoy helping first-time buyers gain a foot on the property ladder. I know how stressful moving can be, having relocated a few times over the years doing up properties and re-mortgaging so being able to guide clients right through from the start to completion is very rewarding!”
In her spare time, Kate enjoys spending time with her family and friends.

Emily

Emily or Em first met The Norfolk Agents whilst viewing properties for a holiday home for her parents. During her time in Norfolk Emily has fallen in love with the county and has recently re-located to Norfolk from Bedfordshire and is in the process of building a house in Hunstanton.

Emily comes from an Agriculture and Horticultural background which she also studied at Harper Adams University. Her parents own a successful Garden centre in Bedfordshire where Emily worked in the family business and gained a fantastic education in how to deal with customers. However, Emily has always had a great interest in property and decided estate agency was the career path that she wanted to pursue and started her property career with a small boutique estate agency in Bedfordshire. Emily loves property, meeting new people and making their experience one to remember.

In her spare time Emily enjoys spending time with family and friends, participating in Young farmers events and buying new furniture and interiors for the house!

Emily BA (Hons)

Emily joined The Norfolk Agents in the Summer of 2023 after graduating from University with a BA Hons Degree in Criminology and Sociology. She has been working for quite a few years in customer service as well as helping out a local student accommodation company in her final year of university. Growing up in the Cotswolds, her family investments in property and renovation projects sparked the interest in estate agency and Emily soon found this line of work to be her true calling! Emily is quickly learning everything about selling and letting properties, with an eagerness to deliver the best possible service to our customers. In her free time, Emily enjoys spending time with family and friends alongside horse riding and caring for her various types of animals.

Michelle

Michelle began working in Estate Agency “many” years ago when she joined Geoffrey Collings & Co and remained with them until March 2024 when the three partners retired and the business was acquired by The Norfolk Agents.

Having dealt with all aspects of administration work within the office, together with sales enquiries and progression of sales, her role remains much the same.

Michelle comments “I feel that both the Geoffrey Collings & Co and The Norfolk Agents teams have merged extremely well, I am so pleased to be able to continue to deliver the same level of helpful and friendly service to customers both old and new.”

Peter

With a strong background in estate agency across many regions, Peter brings extensive local knowledge and industry experience to his role as Hub Manager of the Fakenham office. Having begun his career in Suffolk at a market leading office, he went on to manage a busy branch on the North Norfolk coast for a leading corporate agency, where he developed a reputation for excellent client service and property knowledge.

Now firmly rooted in Norfolk, Peter is passionate about helping clients navigate the local property market with confidence and clarity. Outside of work, he enjoys playing cricket and experimenting in the kitchen with new recipes.

Julie

Julie began her property career with Geoffrey Collings and has successfully run the Residential Lettings Department for many years. Over the years Julie has successfully let and managed thousands of properties for Geoffrey Collings and now for The Norfolk Agents. There is not a property management challenge that she has not faced or been able to successfully resolve. Julie offers brilliant service to both tenants and landlords and we are lucky to have her as part of our team.

Outside of work Julie enjoys meeting up with friends and family for long coastal walks.

Ollie

Ollie joined the company in March 2024 when our Kings Lynn office was opened having previously been Branch Manager at a national corporate agent for 6 years having progressed from sales negotiator. Ollie is our Hub Manager in Kings Lynn and can help you with every step of your property journey from valuation to getting the keys for your new home.

Ollie lives locally and in his spare time enjoys football, cricket and in April 2024 completed the London Marathon. 

Will

Will joined The Norfolk Agents in 2024, bringing with him four years of experience from his previous employment at Geoffrey Collings & Co. He was born and raised in Norfolk and spent most of his life here, although he relocated to Sheffield for four years while studying for his Master’s in Engineering. Initially responsible for conducting accompanied viewings, Will has now transitioned to a role in property marketing. When he’s not at work, Will enjoys spending time on the golf course and following sports such as football and F1.

Tom

Tom joined the Norfolk Agents team in November 2024 as a trainee and although no property experience he has a wealth of customer facing experience. Tom’s passion for people and his eye for detail have made him a valuable asset to the team.

Excited to embark on a new career path, Tom is eager to utilize his skills and knowledge to help clients find their dream homes. With a positive attitude and a strong work ethic, he has already made a significant impact at Norfolk Agents.

In his spare time, Tom enjoys keeping fit at the gym and spending time with friends and family.

Sarah

Norfolk has been Sarah’s home for over 30 years, giving her an excellent understanding of the local area.  This, combined with her experience working in both corporate and high-end estate agencies, working her way through various promotions she can provide a wealth of experience within sales and all aspects within the industry. 

‘I am passionate about finding people their dream home and giving great customer service. I am excited about my new journey with the Norfolk Agents, I have always loved the Norfolk Agents brand and business model, I thinks it’s great we can save money for our customers whilst still receiving the customer care they deserve.’

Outside of work Sarah Enjoys travelling in her camper van with her dogs Beau & Roux and of course spending time with family & friends. 

Jeff

Where do you start with a property legend like Jeff Hazel? Jeff was one of the fantastic Directors at Geoffrey Collings and we are thrilled that Jeff is staying on in the business in a consultancy role. To have the ability to call on Jeff for all of his experience is invaluable and we are thrilled he remains part of the team,

Outside of being a property legend Jeff loves his cricket and can often be seen at Lords cheering on England with a glass of Port (or two, or three).

Justine

Justine joined our team in summer 2024 as a sales negotiator in the Dersingham office. Over the last few years Justine has been working in Mental Health for the NHS. Previous to working in the mental health sector she experienced working for both a cooperate and independent estate agents in the Kings Lynn area. Shane first met Justine in 2016 when he was visiting from London and looking for a property to re-locate. Justine was working for an independent estate agent and made such a great impression that 8 years later she joins the team!

During her free time Justine enjoys going to the gym and spending time with her family and friends.

Kerrie

We have recently welcomed Kerrie to the team at The Norfolk agents in April 2025 to join our ever-growing lettings department. Kerrie has 6 years previous experience as a lettings manager for a corporate agency. Kerrie has always lived in Norfolk and as our lettings manager brings to us a wealth of knowledge and local expertise.

Outside of work Kerrie loves enjoying time with her young family, which includes days out and also travelling for her sons competitive racing.

Annabel

Annabel joined the team in Spring 2025 after completing her first years in estate agency with a national corporate agency. Prior to being an estate agent Annabel completed her A-levels at Fakenham Sixth Form, alongside this she gained her customer service skills from participating in local events and working in hospitality. Annabel has fallen in love with her role at The Norfolk Agents and strives to give each and every one of her customers the best experience through the process weather that be buying or selling their home.

Outside of work Annabel enjoys being a part of her local amateur dramatics theatre group, whom regularly present incredible productions, and playing hockey with her team at Dereham Hockey Club.

James

James is a familiar face to many, having first worked with the team on Saturdays back in 2022. Now in a full-time role since April 2024, he’s enjoying being back doing what he loves—helping people move. Born and raised locally, James knows the area well and brings a calm, friendly approach to every sale. Whether it’s someone buying their first home or a family making their next big move, he’s always ready to listen, support, and offer honest advice.

Alongside his work in property, James is also studying for a BA (Hons) in Criminology. He’s passionate about understanding people, solving problems, and doing things the right way—values that guide how he works with every client.

Sammi

Sammi joined The Norfolk Agents in June 2025 after completing her A-Levels at Springwood High School. To expand her knowledge of estate agency, Sammi is currently completing a

Level 3 certificate for Sales & Lettings Agents. Outside of work, she enjoys walking the dogs and regularly competing her horses at local showjumping competitions.

Louise

Louise has worked in the Housing Sector for about fourteen years and has experience in social housing, build to rent, block and estate management, commercial rentals, new build developments, student housing, rental accounts and property management.

Louise is studying for further qualifications and is currently MARLA & AIRPM qualified. In her free time Louise enjoys singing, learning the piano and snowboarding.

Jess

Jess joined the team in January 2026 after completing her first year in estate agency with a corporate company, prior to being an estate agent she trained and practised in veterinary nursing. Jess has enjoyed her time with The Norfolk Agents so far and strives to help all of our customers’ needs whether that is buying or selling a property.

Jess is a helpful and kind figure in the company and her main goal is to make the buying/selling process as stress free as possible. Outside of work Jess enjoys spending time with friends and family and her beloved cat Dexter.