Sun, energy and drive at inaugural Property Wire Awards

The sun was shining, the view from the top floor of M for Montcalm in the heart of London’s Tech City was brilliant and the buzz in the room was amazing for the inaugural Property Wire Awards 2017.

It was an energetic afternoon with 19 awards given out and TV presenter and coach Sian Jones providing her own version of sunshine as she compered the event. Indeed, such was the energy in the room that she had to ask for quiet so that she could actually announce the winners.

I had the pleasure of introducing the awards ceremony and I decided it was important to point out that the UK property market is in a good place across all sectors despite doom and gloom ahead of the referendum vote and the unknown of the Brexit negotiations that will now take up the next two years.

For those unable to attend the awards here is what I had to say: ‘Property Wire is a premier global property news services that publishes the key stories of the day. It is not sensational, you won’t get tabloid style headlines but what our readers do get is quality information that our editorial team believes you need to know.

‘There is also our weekly newsletter sent out to subscribers which gives you the information you might not find elsewhere, pointing to the most important issues of the day, company news looking at who is doing what and a finance update.

‘Overall the property industry in the UK is at an exciting and sustainable juncture, having emerged from the economic downturn with prices and activity consistently moving upwards. It has weathered the Brexit vote and at the start of 2017 is in a good place to cope with the next two years in which the country will negotiate its way out of the European Union.

‘I am sure we all remember the doom and gloom that was spread by no other that former Chancellor George Osborne almost a year ago when he predicted that Brexit would take a heavy toll on the market. Prices would fall by at least 10% and by up to 18%, he said, international buyers would dry up, he suggested. Well, all I can say is George you got Brexit wrong and the slowdown in the market in central London, for example, is not due to Brexit but higher levels of stamp duty imposed by you!

‘We believe that Property Wire can help you to see beyond the Osborne style of forecasting, and our team will continue to publish what you need to know whatever sector of the industry you are involved in from lending to lettings, from insurance to investment or from estate agency to education.’

I really enjoyed meeting everyone who came along and being able to build working relationships going forward. I would like to say that all the nominees were rightfully there and give congratulations to the winners.

The Property Wire Awards show that the industry is full of drive and zest going forward and here at Property Wire we are looking forward to providing the information you need to know. We are already planning the next awards and our schedule of round table debates. Please tell everyone you know about us in the property sectors so that they too can benefit and take part in future events.

Here is a list of all the winners:

Best buy to let mortgage provider:
Together

Best specialist finance provider:
Kuflink

Best mortgage broker:
Hugh Wade-Jones, Enness Private Clients

Best landlord services provider:
Goldsmith Williams

Best trade association:
National Landlord Association

Best bridging finance lender:
Market Financial Solutions

Best landlord insurance provider:
Simple Landlords Insurance

Developer of the year:
The Collective

Best student property investment provider:
One Touch Property

Best residential investment provider:
Aspen Woolf

Development of the year:
Brandon House, Crest Nicholson

Best lettings agent:
Living in London

Best online agency:
Rent my Home

Proptech company of the year:
Gazeal

Crowdfunding platform of the year:
The House Crowd

Best property investment advisor:
Nova Financial

Best property education provider:
Progressive Property

Best property research provider:
Fielding Financial

Buy to let newcomer of the year:
Irvine Robertson, Southernwood Investments Limited

We look forward to seeing more of you at the 2018 Property Wire Awards!

Ray Clancy

Editor, Property Wire