The sky’s the limit

As he says, The Shard is by no means the only tall building in the city that offers skyline views (although it is the tallest building in the UK and can offer an uninterrupted 360-degree view for 40 miles on a clear day). It may not have the sky garden or restaurants of the Fenchurch Street building, Plantation House (otherwise known as the Walkie Talkie), or the novelty factor of the London Eye, but, even so, it draws in 500,000-600,000 visitors a year at a price of £32 for a standard adult ticket.

Competitive market

The View from the Shard opened in February 2013 and in its first 12 months generated a profit of around £5m. Since then, business has been more challenging but in the 2024 financial year the attraction reported a pre-tax profit of £1.6m from revenues of £15.2m, returning it to profit for the first time since 2019.

The annual report noted improved visitor numbers, tight cost control and a rent restructuring agreement as contributing to the improved figures, but added that ‘macroeconomic, geopolitical and inflation continue to suppress consumer confidence and disposable incomes’.

Graham is constantly aware of the intense competition and the need to remain relevant in a fickle tourist market. ‘A lot of other tall buildings have their own distinctive selling point. You have to find what makes you unique and add value through it.’

‘Exciting projects’

One of his current priorities as financial controller is to oversee new projects that are under way to expand the gallery’s offering. He is unable to give away details but promises ‘exciting projects’ that ‘move us away from the tourism market towards a more immersive experience and making it a bit more interactive’.

‘It’s been quite a challenge on the cashflow front,’ he adds. The company is Qatari-owned, ‘so there is no shortage of funds, but it is a matter of convincing the owners that such an investment is worthwhile’.

Graham describes his career as one of exciting and interesting roles within creative industries for SMEs. ‘I’ve thrived in SMEs where I have been able to take control of the finance function,’ he says. ‘It helps that I’ve worked at all levels in finance, from the most basic entry level up to head of finance. That has stood me in good stead.’

Sound choice

Graham left school at 16 and ended up via the now-defunct Youth Training Scheme in the accounts department of a local, family-owned glazing firm. He moved to London eight years later, part qualified, and landed on his feet with a role at Trevor Horn’s Sarm Studios in Notting Hill, famous as the place where Band Aid’s Do They Know it’s Christmas? single was recorded in 1984 and used by, among others, Madonna, Girls Aloud and Iron Maiden. For a young accountant who had already set up his own independent record label, called Gringo Records, with friends (which is still running today), it was the best possible start.

‘It was a big group of companies that included music publishing, the studios, record labels and a foreign subsidiary, so the variety was great. And in my first week I was chasing Puff Daddy’s record label for money,’ he says. ‘It was the perfect role for me because it married up my professional and personal life. It was a perfect match.’

Once qualified, Graham moved into the hospitality sector and worked for the Michelin-starred St. JOHN Restaurant, known for its ‘nose-to-tail’ approach, including offal dishes. Later, he had a taste of retail when he joined Kingdom of Sweets, a family business with ‘great entrepreneurial energy’ that sold US confectionery through its distinctively branded outlets. He saw the company through the pandemic before landing a ‘dream job’ as head of finance at the London Review of Books (LRB) – which proved to be a challenging experience.

‘Similar to music, it was a changing industry and LRB is still a physical, printed magazine. So, I found myself managing a business that was making losses every year and relying on family funding. My focus was to make sure that the losses didn’t grow out of control – maintaining costs, making sure subscription numbers didn’t drop, and looking after the bookshop and café.’

Graham has finally landed at the Shard. ‘I’m very lucky in that I’ve worked for at least four very recognisable companies during my career, and now I go to work every day at a place that is known and recognised worldwide.’

The fact that he can see his beloved Millwall FC’s ground The Den from his office and, on an overcast day, sits above the clouds, are an added bonus that few other employers could offer.

He says it is ‘an exciting time to be here’ as the company explores a new strategy, and credits his ACCA qualification with opening the right doors during his career. ‘It has served me really well,’ he says. ‘It changed my life and gave me a great career.

‘I’ve been lucky. I’ve been at the right place at the right time, and it’s really paid off for me.’