EG Awards 2021 – Winners

UK Adviser Award winner: Hollis

Partnered by DWF

Hollis showed good results driven from its Proptech platform. The judges enjoyed its sustainability testimonials, and with a 4.5% increase on income, it was tough not to see it as a standout in this category.

Other finalists

• Gerald Eve
• Knight Frank
• Savills

Global Adviser Award winner: Knight Frank

Partnered by Real Estate Balance

Knight Frank provided a clear and strategic submission. Its impressive financial performance paired with its smart diversification got the nod from our panel, and its strong deal activity across multiple continents made it the clear winner in this category.

Other finalists

• Altus Group
• Savills

UK Company Award winner: Derwent London

Partnered by Savills

The judges thought this was an excellent submission. The entrant clearly showcased a breadth of qualities and how it has put the environment, its tenants and its teams at the top of its priority list.

Other finalists

• Grainger
• Great Portland Estates
• Legal & General Investment Management
• M7 Real Estate
• Patron Capital
• SEGRO

Global Company Award winner: Blackstone

Partnered by Knight Frank

Blackstone showed great performance across a diverse spread of sectors and locations. The judges were particularly impressed with its added push into the ESG arena. “This company is truly global – it’s a skilled behemoth,” said the panel.

Other finalists

• AXA IM Alts
• M7 Real Estate
• Oxford Properties

Legal Team Award winner: Hogan Lovells

Partnered by EG Radius

Hogan Lovells blew the panel over with its submission, showing transformative ESG deals and a breadth of offering. It provided a host of strong client testimonials and judges were impressed at its push for diversity and inclusion.

Other finalists

• Addleshaw Goddard
• Birketts
• Brabners
• CMS
• Davitt Jones Bould
• Goodwin Procter

BTR Specialist Award winner: Grainger

Partnered by Arthur

“This is a really well-run business with a very positive performance during Covid, especially with regard to wellbeing,” said one of the judges of Grainger. They were particularly impressed at the company’s clear focus on its residents during the pandemic.

Other finalists

• Hestia by Federated Hermes International
• Get Living
• Greystar
• Long Harbour

Industrial & Logistics Specialist Award winner: SEGRO

Partnered by Yardi

SEGRO is no stranger to the sheds game. It entry showed impressive deals and a strong financial performance during the period under review. The panel made special nod to its Covid response and increased social responsibility.

Other finalists

• AEW
• Chancerygate
• Mileway
• Oxford Properties & M7 Real Estate
• SEGRO
• Trebor Developments
• Wrenbridge Land

Alternatives Specialist Award winner: JLL Life Sciences

Partnered by Built-ID

Smart hires and spotting a trend early have meant that JLL Life Sciences has established itself as a clear leader in a field where strong growth on both the occupational and investment markets is predicted.

Other finalists

• Kexgill Group
• Knight Frank
• McCarthy Stone
• Octopus Real Estate

Best Workspace Award winner: General Projects

Partnered by HqO

General Projects places clients at its heart. Providing significant levels of support to tenants, with accountancy and grant support, this business focused on creating a community, and that has translated into consistent occupancy levels.

Other finalists

• Ashby Capital and U+I – The Future Works, Slough
• Max Barney – Containerville
• TOG (The Office Group) – Douglas House, London
• U+I – Plus X Brighton
• x+why – People’s Mission Hall, London

Rising Star Award winner: Stephanie O’Neill, partner, Wilks Head & Eve

Partnered by Octopus Real Estate

As well as studying and raising a young family, Stephanie is also mentoring graduates, and took over the lead of her team to support the business under difficult circumstances. “It’s so commendable of this person to go beyond their usual role, despite their own challenges, and help others too – I feel inspired!” the judges said.

Other finalists

• Sumedha Goenka, principal, Blackstone
• Gwyn Jones, chief executive, Castle Green Homes
• Martin Prince-Parrott RIBA FRSA, development manager, Cordia Blackswan
• Christopher Jones, partner, Cushman & Wakefield
• Jessica Ogden, operations director, JLL
• Ed Ellerington, founder and managing director, Packaged Living
• Grace Oyesoro, operations manager, Quintain Living
• Polly Simpson, director, Savills
• Sophie Jack, senior associate, Shoosmiths

Sustainability Award winner: FORE Partnership

Partnered by essensys

This was a standout entry for the judges. FORE Partnership drew a lot of attention to wellbeing and social impact. “This is where the industry should be going. It’s ambitious and if it keeps going, it will be very big!” claimed one judge.

Other finalists

• Aviva Investors
• Berkeley Group
• British Land
• Bruntwood Works
• Nuveen Real Estate
• Oxford Properties
• Savills
• x+why

Social Impact Award winner: The Land Collective

Partnered by Longevity Partners

The Land Collective gave a great demonstration of organisations coming together to address a particular need for upskilling, and really focused on the opportunities and positive perspective of getting young people involved in the industry. “Absolutely love this much-needed initiative – I’m a believer!” said one judge.

Other finalists

• Assura
• Battersea Power Station
• CBRE Global Investors
• Cheyne Capital
• JLL

Employer Award winner: Savills

Partnered by Equiem

Savills provided a submission that ticked pretty much all the boxes. From closing the gap on gender pay, to strong focus on mental health. “It is, in my view, one of the most progressive agencies out there, and I put a lot of that down to Richard Rees and his team,” said our judges.

Other finalists

• British Land
• Knight Frank
• Locale
• Patron Capital
• VTS

Future of Real Estate Award winner: Built-ID

Partnered by Aldermore

This innovative business showed a wealth of ideas and initiative in its submission. “I am hoping that this is part of the future of property development and placemaking,” said one of our judges. “The focus on building better, more sustainable places is refreshing and a lesson for the industry in how to leverage the wider community,” claimed another.

Other finalists

• Blenheim Estate Homes
• Smart Spaces
• IMMO Capital
• House by Urban Splash
• VU.CITY
• WiredScore

Public/Private Partnership Award winner: Blenheim Estate Homes and West Oxfordshire District Council

Partnered by MRI Software

At a time when the affordable housing issue is at crisis point; this is a much-welcomed project and focus. “This is brilliant innovation by an historic landowner to address major social problems,” claimed the panel.

Other finalists

• Bruntwood Works and Trafford Council
• The English Cities Fund – a joint venture between Homes England, Legal & General and Muse Developments
• U+I, Manchester City Council, Transport for Greater Manchester and LCR
• Wrenbridge Land Ltd, Harlow District Council & Vinci Developments Ltd

City of the Year Award winner: Glasgow (Glasgow City Council and Invest Glasgow)

Partnered by Shoosmiths

Glasgow impressed the judges with its experimentation and risk-taking. “This city has much to shout about and it is clear that there is a vast amount of investment there,” said one of the judges.

Other finalists

• Belfast (Belfast City Council)
• Cardiff (Cardiff Council and Invest in Cardiff)
• Newcastle (Invest Newcastle)
• Liverpool (Marketing Liverpool)
• Sheffield (Sheffield City Council & the Sheffield Property Association)

The Renewal Award winner: Shaftesbury

Partnered by WireScore

Shaftesbury was hit hard by the pandemic, with its very business brought to a halt during lockdown. But it has worked hard to keep bringing people back and supporting its community.

Other finalists

• Arthur
• Grayling
• Kexgill Group
• The Lorenz Consultancy
• Savills
• Sheffield City Council and the Sheffield Property Association

London Deal Award winner: AXA IM Alts – Dolphin Square, SW1

Partnered by Hollis

This deal was a fantastic display of integration of tech, sustainability and real application of net carbon. “The social part of it is amazing,” said our judges. “This is an enormous deal with a high-profile transaction during a difficult year.”

Other finalists

• Aviva Investors – Aviva Investors £100m investment in Bermondsey Yard, SE1
• Henderson Park – £255m sale of Athene Place, EC4
• Hines – £380m sale of The Cabot in Canary Wharf to Link REIT
• Muse Developments and Get Living – £252m forward funding deal at Lewisham Gateway
• Realstar – £600m Project Harmony acquisition
• Rothschild & Co and CapCo – Acquisition of a 26.3% stake in Shaftesbury for £436m
• Tritax Big Box (TBBR) & Bericote Properties – 2.3m sq ft Powerhouse development in Dartford, pre-let to Amazon on a 20-year term

Regional Deal Award winner: Blackstone – acquisition of Bourne Leisure

Partnered by DIT

This winning deal impressed the panel for innovation in its sector. Blackstone provided solid data around employees, guest numbers and sites, and the judges were happy to see continued belief in the future of the region.

Other finalists

• Colliers – Relocation of Deloitte to WeWork, Hanover Building, Manchester
• Grainger – £200m of regional investment in Birmingham, Bristol and Nottingham
• Greystar – £291m acquisition of five PBSA assets in Bristol, Coventry, Glasgow and London
• heylo’s Home Reach & Vistry’s partnership to deliver 1,000 shared-ownership homes across England
• Muse Developments – £130m forward-funding deal with Pension Insurance Corporation for its New Victoria scheme, Manchester
• Wrenbridge Land & Fiera Real Estate – Sale of Hawkers Yard, Ruislip
• Wrenbridge Land & LaSalle Investment Management – Leasing of the 125,000 sq ft Arc in North Aylesford, Kent

Outstanding Individual Award winner: Geeta Nanda, chief executive of Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing association and vice-chair for the G15

Partnered by BAME in Property

Geeta has become a role model. A champion for diversity and inclusion, bringing about actual change and visible results. She is an outstanding individual not just because of the work she does in her day job, but the work she is doing to make real estate a more welcoming place for all.

EG Tech Award winner: Lee Butz, District Technologies

Presented by EG Tech

Lee has long been an advocate for a world where tech and real estate come together in a real and meaningful way but, by the same token, a world in which we are careful we don’t all become robots. Lee is a role model, leading by example in an industry where there hasn’t always been people to look up to for those wanting to find, discover and embrace their true, authentic selves.

Other finalists

• AXA IM Alts
• Blend Network
• Built-ID
• Converge
• Desana
• Brad Greiwe & Brendan Wallace, Fifth Wall
• HomeLINK
• Sharon Jenkins, CMS
• Node
• OakNorth Bank
• OpenSpace
• Simmons & Simmons
• Smart Spaces
• UnderTheDoormat
• VU.CITY