National Adviser of the Year
2014 winner: JLL
A rebrand from Jones Lang LaSalle to JLL marked an astonishing year of growth for the firm, which by this time last year had been reinvigorated under new leadership, with Guy Grainger taking the UK helm of the global agent. Improvements to marketing technology helped the firm secure some trophy asset deals, coupled with a 24% year-on-year increase in revenue, leaving the judging panel in no doubt which firm was most deserving of the trophy.
Click here and enter this year because… Nothing enhances an email signature quite like a “winner” stamp.
Young Property Professional of the Year
2014 winner: Sophie Walker, JLL
When JLL acquired Upstream Sustainability Services in 2007, Sophie Walker joined with it. Her embedding of sustainability into the JLL offering through launching a JLL UK and EMEA sustainability training programme, co-creating a UK strategy – Building for Tomorrow – and her ability generally to merge astute commercial acumen with environmental and social consciousness, made her a winner in the judges’ eyes.
Click here and enter this year because… If the property industry was Twitter, then #hotyoungtalent would be trending right now. Market conditions are good.
Offices Company of the Year
2014 winner: Exemplar
Being recognised by its peers rounded off a perfect 10-year anniversary for Exemplar. The panel decided that its then 13-strong team had proved to be part of one of the most active privately owned development companies in the UK. Its crowning glory: Fitzroy Place, W1 – a 730,000 sq ft development with Aviva Investors and Kaupthing – was at the centre of one of the West End’s biggest deals when Estée Lauder signed a 145,000 sq ft prelet at a benchmark rent in excess of £80 per sq ft.
Click here and enter this year because… The sound of a thousand laudatory emails pinging in your inbox the next day will be music to your ears.
Industrial Adviser of the Year
2014 winner: JLL
Another nod for JLL. In this case, it was difficult for the judges to overlook a team involved in the biggest deals in every UK region except Wales, including key roles in both of the largest design-and-build schemes in the UK in the preceding 12 months: Sainsbury’s at DIRFT in Northamptonshire, and the Waitrose prelet for a 938,449 sq ft distribution centre at Magna Park, Milton Keynes.
Click here and enter this year because… Being spectacular in a sector of interesting challenges holds more currency.
Outstanding Contribution to Property Award
Sponsored by Deloitte Real Estate
Each year, the EG Awards celebrates a person, a team or a company whose part in shaping, influencing and driving our industry is remarkable.
Last year it was the turn of self-confessed “media tart” Liz Peace, who was hanging up her boots after 12 highly productive years as chief executive of the British Property Federation.
The industry joined us in applauding Peace, a compelling advocate for property who could corral business leaders and who saw off the ban on upwards rents.
Before her, in 2013, we raised a glass to Peter Wynne Rees, then the chief planning officer at City of London Corporation, whose stewardship of the Square Mile and its built environment over 30 years had been transformational.
And in 2012, the London Legacy Development Corporation snagged a win for securing the future, post-London 2012, of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
This illustrious collection of winners are the undisputed game-changers and shining examples of the people, and the entities, we want to celebrate through
this award.
Who will it be this year? The Outstanding Contribution to Property Award is made by the Estates Gazette editorial team, but if you know someone deserving, send your nominations to
Carly McGowan (carly.mcgowan@estatesgazette.com) before 1 September.
Sponsor comment: Deloitte backs the bold
Deloitte Real Estate is proud to be sponsoring the Outstanding Contribution to Property Award, one of the most prestigious and coveted awards in the industry.
The illustrious roll-call of previous winners, both individuals and organisations, amply demonstrates the outstanding qualities necessary to secure this accolade.
These qualities include the ability to deliver significant changes to the real estate industry, both in terms of impact on the built environment and in the way the industry functions.
As the UK market becomes increasingly competitive, tomorrow’s winners will be those that seize the moment to take a bold approach and deliver true innovation.
