It was strictly down to business in an Essex conference suite on October 12 as judges put their heads together and assessed the skill and diligence of the shortlisted candidates for the Property Investors Awards 2017.
The awards, now in their third year, celebrate excellence in the field of property investment, with this year’s winners set to be announced at a glittering ceremony at the Royal National Hotel in Russell Square, London, on the evening of Saturday, December 2.
On Thursday experts in a range of fields including property development, investments, law, banking and brokering gathered in Brentwood to debate which of the nominations were most deserving of the titles on offer.
Accolades up for grabs at this year’s ceremony include Property Development of the Year, New Property Investor of the Year, and Serviced Accommodation of the Year.
Amid much hotly-contested debate, punctuated with laughter and even the odd Danish pastry, the relative pros and cons of each candidate were assessed.
Asked what qualities they were hoping to find among those nominated, first-time judge Matt Hutchinson, Director for SpareRoom.co.uk, explained: “We’re looking for people who create value for the community they operate in, as well as themselves.”
Judging colleague Daryl Norkett, Regional Development Manager at Shawbrook Bank, added: “We need to see demonstrable project successes, supported by the numbers behind the deal, and a rationale for the business strategy employed.”
All our judges agreed that prospects for property investors over the next 12 months were shrouded in uncertainty, and times were likely to be challenging for first-time investors and seasoned property aficionados alike.
Judge Sarah Davidson, of This is Money at MailOnline, predicted: “Those who choose to become full-time professionals will be the most successful, as the market is getting tougher.”
But there’s no doubt that winning a category in the 2017 Property Investors Awards will be a significant feather in the cap for any investor or property professional.
More than 500 attendees are expected to attend the awards ceremony on December 2 when the winners will be revealed, at what’s certain to be a fun-packed evening for nominees and guests alike. Finalists will be announced by October 30. Find out more at propertyinvestorsawards.co.uk.
