Have you entered the EG Awards 2021 yet? Don’t miss your chance to celebrate, in person (government rules permitting) after one the most challenging years for businesses and individuals we have ever seen.
The past year has been a year in which we have all learnt more about ourselves and our industry than ever before. We have adapted, we’ve become resilient, we’ve flexed, we’ve accelerated, and we have collaborated. We’ve done so much to be proud of in 2020. It is only right that we celebrate that. It is only right that EG celebrate you, for that.
So, do not miss this chance to enter what EG promises to be the very best event of your 2021 calendar.
We are looking for the UK’s best adviser and the very best real estate company in the UK. WE want entries from those advisers that are outstanding on a global level and the real estate businesses that are dominating around the globe.
We are looking for asset specialists – those of you who have been making waves in alternatives sector, the businesses that have been hitting the headlines in the booming BTR market, the firm’s that are delivering spaces that we want to leave our home offices and kitchen tables to get back to and those in the industrial and logistics sector that have been so vital in enabling the country to keep operating throughout the past 12 months.
And while we know that transactional business has been hard in 2020, deals never really stop getting done, do they? Every deal completed during this pandemic deserves celebrating, so why not put yours forward? We’re looking for the best London deal and the best regional deal. Could it be yours?
One thing that has moved up the agenda over the past year is how businesses operate and the importance of ESG in the real estate sector. At EG we’ve seen how many businesses in the sector have put their people first over the past year, doing all that they can to support those put in difficult positions by the pandemic. We’ve also been impressed at the action so many real estate businesses have made to do their bit in helping solve the climate change challenge. All this work should be rewarded. Please don’t be shy about telling us why you deserve recognition. You might just inspire even more action and we know how much more there is for us to do.
We’ve introduced three new awards this year too, which we’d love to see flooded with entries. The City of the Year award seeks to celebrate the UK’s cities and the work they are doing to create liveable, successful places, while our public/private partnership award is looking to celebrate collaborations that have made a real difference during the year under review.
A new personal favourite of mine is the renewal award. Like the Superhero award we handed out last year for those individuals and companies that did something extra special for their communities in the face of Covid, this is a special one-time only award that seeks to showcase those business that had to pivot, reinvent or reimagine their businesses as a result of the change in environment brought about for the pandemic. The winner will be a company that renewed itself, that turned what looked like a business that might not make it through the crisis, into something fresh.
Time is fast running out to enter the EG Awards and we here at EG want to make sure you don’t miss your opportunity to shine.
Get your entries in now for a chance to be part of what we promise will be the best celebration of real estate’s achievements this year.
There are 20 categories at this year’s award – all listed below. To enter for any of them visit https://www.eg.co.uk/eg-events/eg-awards-2021/eg-awards-categories/
UK Adviser Award
This category is for all UK real estate advisory businesses that have at least eight administrative offices around the UK and an annual turnover in excess of £40m. Judges will be looking for businesses that can prove they have been market leaders during the period under review and have adapted to the challenges brought about by the pandemic to ensure that their business has remained successful. Entries should clearly demonstrate strong financial performance, show key indicators of success and provide information on transformational deals or instructions during the review period. At least two client testimonials, with a client e-mail contact for verification for each, is essential to be considered for this category.
Global Adviser Award
This category is open to all real estate advisers that have fee-earning subsidiaries on at least three continents. Judges will be looking for businesses that can prove they have been market leaders during the period under review across numerous geographies and have adapted to the challenges brought about by the pandemic to ensure that their business has remained successful globally. This year in particular, judges will be looking for evidence of how your business has learned lessons from each of its geographies to better understand, and therefore react to, the global coronavirus pandemic. Entries should clearly demonstrate strong financial performance, show key indicators of success and provide information on transformational deals or instructions from numerous geographies during the review period. At least two client testimonials, with a client email contact for verification for each, is essential to be considered for this category.
UK Company Award
This category is open all UK businesses operating in the real estate sphere. It is not sector-specific and invites entries from all businesses that are not considered advisory or legal (we encourage those firms to enter UK Adviser and/or Legal Team). To be eligible for this category, entrants must be UK registered and have an annual turnover in excess of £40m. Judges will be looking for companies that can prove they have been market leaders throughout the period under review and have adapted to the challenges brought about by the pandemic to ensure their business has remained successful. Entries should clearly demonstrate robust financial performance and show clear indicators of success.
Global Company Award
This category is open to businesses operating in the real estate sphere that have a footprint in the UK and beyond. It is not sector specific and invites entries from all businesses that are not considered advisory or legal (we encourage those firms to enter Global Adviser and/or Legal Team). Judges will be looking for companies that can prove they have been market leaders across numerous geographies throughout the period under review and have adapted to the challenges brought about by the pandemic to ensure that their business has remained successful. Entries should clearly demonstrate robust financial performance and show clear indicators of success.
Legal Team Award
This category is open to real estate legal teams working on planning, transactions, investment, financing, development and construction, as well as in environment and regeneration. In particular, judges will be looking for firms that can demonstrate outstanding advice on major transformative deals; those that have responded proactively to the implications of the Covid-19 pandemic, leading the way in providing a valuable service to landlords and tenants dealing with the consequences, including lease renegotiations and insolvencies; and those that can demonstrate a commitment to championing core values such as diversity, inclusivity and sustainability in their working practices. At least two client testimonials, with a client e-mail contact for verification for each, is essential to be considered for this category.
BTR Specialist Award
This award is open to developers, investors, operators and managers of purpose-built rented residential assets that have been active during the awards year. Investors that are executing on long-terms strategies to deliver homes to the market, operators that are delivering schemes that meet the needs of current and future generations and innovators that are providing new solutions that seek to solve not only housing issues, but societal and environmental issues are all invited to enter this category. Entrants should be able to prove that they have been a market leader during the year under review and have adapted to the challenges or seized upon the opportunities brought about by the pandemic to ensure that their business or business unit has remained successful – or outperformed. Entries should clearly demonstrate strong financial performance, show key indicators of success and provide information on transformational deals or instructions during the review period. Judges will be looking for clear evidence of the success of investment and operational strategies with tangible outcomes highlighted in submissions.
Industrial & Logistics Specialist Award
This award is open to advisers, operators, investors and developers that have been active in the industrial and logistics sector during the awards year. Judges will be particularly focused on operational excellence, clear evidence of strong financials or market share and innovation within the business operation. Entrants to this category should be able to prove they have been a market leader during the year under review and have adapted to the challenges or seized upon the opportunities brought about by the pandemic to ensure that their business or business unit has remained successful – or outperformed. Entries should clearly demonstrate strong financial performance, show key indicators of success and provide information on transformational deals or instructions during the review period. A strong story as to why and how your business has succeeded during the year under review, with evidence of key achievements and execution of strategy, will help judges selected the very best in the industrial and logistics sector for this award.
Alternatives Specialist Award
This award is open to advisers (businesses and teams) and property companies operating in the alternatives sector. EG will be looking for entries from those active in the hotel, healthcare, student, retirement and data centre sectors. Entrants to this category should be able to prove that they have been a market leader during the year under review and have adapted to the challenges or seized upon the opportunities brought about by the pandemic to ensure that their business or business unit has remained successful – or outperformed. Entries should clearly demonstrate strong financial performance, show key indicators of success and provide information on transformational deals or instructions during the review period.
Best Workspace Award
This award is open to advisers, occupiers, architects, designers and landlords that can provide solid evidence that they have enabled the creation of the most functional and productive workplace in the UK.
In a year where workplaces have shifted from the office to the home, judges will be keen to see evidence of how office space has been adapted to meet the needs of a largely absent workforce. Examples of how owners or operators have enabled workers to continue to operate as if they were in the office should be highlighted in any submission as should examples where owners, developers or advisers that can show activity during what has inevitably been a quiet year for workplaces. Entrants to this category should be able to prove that they have been a market leader during the year under review and have adapted to the challenges or seized upon the opportunities brought about by the pandemic to ensure that their business or business unit has remained successful – or outperformed. Entries should clearly demonstrate strong financial performance, show key indicators of success and provide information on transformational deals or instructions during the review period.
Rising Star Award
The award is open to anyone working in the sector under the age of 35 (as of 31 December 2021). They can be traditionally trained or come from a non-property background, as long as they are making an impact on the industry right now. This award is open to everyone. Whether you are a digital disruptor, the outstanding up-and-coming dealmaker in your team, an entrepreneur or the next big thing in the agency world, we want you to enter this award and join our growing alumni of real estate’s future leaders. Anyone shortlisted for this award will automatically become one of our 2021 Rising Stars and will be featured in EG Magazine alongside some of their brightest peers.
This category is also open for nominations. Nominations should include a submission no longer than 500 words or a link to a two-minute video as to why you are nominating this individual for EG’s 2021 Rising Stars, with key examples of the impact they are already having on the industry.
Sustainability Award
This award is open to all companies active in the built environment, including agents, developers, investors and architects. Judges will be looking for clear, quantitative examples of improvements being taken by your business, through your business practices and, if relevant, across your portfolio, to improve sustainability. This should include measures being taken to reduce carbon emissions, energy use, waste, etc. Clear examples of how key milestones in your journey to net zero have been met should form part of your submission. Judges will be looking for measures implemented and their impact, not just future plans.
Social Impact Award
This award is open to all companies active in the built environment, including agents, developers, investors, lawyers, architects, local authorities and industry bodies. Judges will be looking for evidence of businesses using their position and status to deliver a positive impact on society. This should include examples of working with communities to tackle societal issues such as modern slavery and homelessness, creating opportunities for growth and learning within local communities and establishing initiatives that recognise, measure and value the importance of people and communities. Achieving social impact could come through partnership, investment, pro-bono work or employee-led initiatives. Entrants should make sure to provide evidence that initiatives will achieve a lasting impact and judges will be looking for examples of initiatives with the potential for wider application and a wider social impact. Pioneering ideas and approaches that can be replicated and scaled to increase social impact will be particularly powerful in judges’ deliberations.
Employer Award
This award is open to all employers active in the built environment, from advisory practices to developers and investors, asset and fund managers and relevant public sector bodies. It seeks to celebrate businesses that both get the basics right and go the extra mile for their staff. Judges will be looking for evidence of strong leadership, innovation and commitment to employee development. They will want to see evidence that employers are building a business for the future by focusing on their staff and demonstrating a commitment to championing core values such as diversity, inclusivity and sustainability in their working practices.
Specifically, they will want to see evidence of leadership, innovation and commitment in the following areas:
- Staff retention and development
- Employee engagement with corporate values and strategic goals
- Wellbeing
- Corporate social responsibility
- Creating a diverse workplace
Future of Real Estate Award
This award celebrates the individuals, the companies and the products that are doing more than ensuring their own success. The category is for those that are creating a solid future for the success of the real estate sector. Judges will be looking for clear evidence of business or individuals that are utilising new technologies, new methods or new ways of thinking or approaching business to deliver a real estate proposition for the future. A solid business plan with outlined indicators of success will enable judges to properly and effectively identify the future winners in the business of real estate. From developments in tech to the shifting nature of the built environment, from the race to embrace modern methods of construction to new ways to persuade the public how the industry can be a force for positive change, there is no shortage of potential candidates for this award. Nominations for this category are also welcome.
Public/Private Partnership Award
A new award for 2021 to celebrate partnerships between the public and private sector that are delivering solutions through real estate. Partnerships should have been established during the year under review or have achieved a significant milestone during the review period. Judges will want to see evidence of success of the partnership, including financials. Innovative partnerships that are providing solutions to societal and environmental issues should also be highlighted. All submissions should be made by both partners.
City of the Year Award
A new award for 2021 that seeks to celebrate the UK’s cities and the work they are doing to create liveable, successful places. EG invites submissions for cities from any significant built environment players in those cities, from local authorities and city leadership. Judges will be looking for clear evidence of successful implementation of measures to create liveable and successful cities. Submissions should include examples of how cities have come together with the built environment to create places for a sustainable future. Key examples of solutions that have enabled your city to not just survive but thrive, creating homes to allow all people to live safely and happily, an economy that allows businesses to grow and develop and spaces that allow the planet to thrive, should be included in your submission. Showcasing work that is creating cities that are protected from environmental and societal crises, highlighting strong leadership and key actions that have enabled cities to grow, attract investment and deliver on the need for equality will help judges select EG’s City of the Year. Shortlisted cities will be featured in a special Leading Cities interview in EG.
The Renewal Award
This is EG’s special award for 2021. An award that seeks to celebrate those businesses that had to pivot, reinvent or reimagine their businesses in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Entrants should be able to show where, how and why they have had to pivot their business or parts of their portfolio to continue to deliver success. Judges will be looking for clear evidence of how changes have renewed and refreshed your business, secured income or new investment or enabled the business to continue to develop. EG is looking to celebrate those businesses that have fought hard during the pandemic to come back strong. We are looking for businesses that follow the Rocky Balboa philosophy that it “ain’t how hard you hit; it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward”. Entries will be considered from all businesses operating in the real estate sector from advisory to investment, development and the public sector.
Outstanding Individual Award
This award is open for nominations as well as submissions and seeks to celebrate an individual in the built environment who has had an outstanding impact on the sector. EG will be looking for an individual who has created amazing places, been involved in some of the most transformative deals or created real change across the industry. This could be a lifetime of work or an individual who has burst on to the scene but has already made a huge impact. All nominations or submissions for this award should include a 500-word testimonial highlighting the key achievements of this individual and what their impact on the industry has been.
London Deal Award
The property industry continues to thrive on deals: eye-catching transactions that deliver results. This award celebrates the best of those deals. It is open to investors, lenders, developers, advisers and occupiers. Corporate deals, including mergers and acquisitions among advisers and tech businesses are eligible. All deals should have been completed during the awards year. Judges will be looking for evidence of innovation and high returns, perhaps even of opening up a sector or a region for future growth. Deals should involve assets based in the UK, though global transactions undertaken by UK-based parties will also be considered. Corporate, investment and occupier deals from any property sector are eligible.
Regional Deal Award
The property industry continues to thrive on deals: eye-catching transactions that deliver results. This award celebrates the best of those deals. It is open to investors, lenders, developers, advisers and occupiers. Corporate deals, including mergers and acquisitions among advisers and tech businesses are eligible. All deals should have been completed during the awards year. Judges will be looking for evidence of innovation and high returns, perhaps even of opening up a sector or a region for future growth. Deals should involve assets based in the UK, though global transactions undertaken by UK-based parties will also be considered. Corporate, investment and occupier deals from any property sector are eligible.
EG Tech Award
The EG Tech Award is not open for submissions – businesses wanting the opportunity to win this coveted award should enter EG’s Tech Awards. All winners from the EG Tech Awards are automatically shortlisted for this award.
To send feedback, e-mail samantha.mcclary@eg.co.uk or tweet @samanthamcclary or @EGPropertyNews
