Insider NW Property Awards 2014

On Thursday 15th May 2014, the movers and shakers of the North West property industry once again descended on Manchester Central for this years prestigious Insider NW Property Awards. Taking a break from his duties on TALKSport Radio, broadcaster and presenter Colin Murray had the honour of handing out the hotly contested awards that included Office Agent of the Year, Developer of the Year, Property Deal of the Year and the highly acclaimed and competitive North West Property Personality of the Year.

From the moment the doors opened at Manchester Central there seemed to be a heightened sense of anticipation about how the evening would unfold; even more so than at the previous years’ highly successful event. Foundation Recruitment were once again in attendance to celebrate what has been a fantastic 12 months for the North West property market. It was reassuring to see some familiar faces back in the fold; faces that perhaps have stayed away from such events in recent times. Positivity is returning to the market and networking is once again rife. Deals are being discussed and meetings scheduled which is fantastic to see.

After serving a well received 3 course menu to over 1,000 guests, the catering staff at Manchester Central could take a back seat as Colin Murray got the awards ceremony under way. One of the most notable awards of the evening was the Office Agent of the Year accolade. With a real scramble for office space unfolding in a recovering market, this year’s recipient was sure to be a worthy winner. It was therefore extremely pleasing to see OBi Property take the crown. In a story that mirrors our very own at Foundation Recruitment, OBi was set up in the midst of the recession (2010) and has gone from strength to strength. A quick look into some of their deals in the last 12 months tells you all you need to know about the strides OBi has taken since its inception.

The Developer of the Year award is surely set to become fiercely competitive over the next few years as speculative development once again returns to the North West skyline. This years crown went to Capital and Centric; another real success story borne out of the recession.

One of the less surprising winners of the evening was Airport City (Joint Venture involving Manchester Airports Group and Beijing Construction) who took the Property Deal of the Year accolade. Airport City is a landmark development for the UK; one of the most significant for many a year. At Foundation Recruitment we fully expect further nominations for this exciting partnership over the coming years.

As is tradition at the Insider NW Property Awards, the best is always saved until last. Matt Crompton of Muse Developments was crowned Property Personality of the Year. This is the only award not chosen by the judging panel but by 75 respected figures from the North West property sector. Even during the bad times, Muse Developments has continued to be busy and its diverse portfolio of work is telling. The leadership from Matt Crompton has been vital and he got twice as many votes as his nearest rival. Sponsored by Irwin Mitchell, the win capped an outstanding night for Muse, who also took home the Commercial Development of the Year prize for its work on Talbot Gateway in Blackpool.

The conclusion of the awards ceremony allowed the opportunity for guests to network and discuss the evening’s events. For many, the party continued long into the early hours of Friday with Manchester’s many bars and clubs playing host to some of the North West’s key property figures. If you were attending the awards and would like to speak to one of our specialist consultants about the services we provide at Foundation Recruitment, please call our Manchester office today for a confidential discussion.