Property awards open for entry

The Yorkshire Residential Property Awards are back and this year’s event looks all set to be bigger and better than ever.

The awards put the region’s property talent in the spotlight while raising much-needed funds for Variety, the Children’s Charity. The 2017 awards dinner will be staged at Bowcliffe Hall in Bramham on Thursday, October 12. It combines positive PR and a pat on the back for Yorkshire’s residential sector, along with vital fund-raising and a great night out. Tables are selling fast although there are still some sponsorship packages available.

TV presenter Gethin Jones is the celebrity host for the evening and is helping to herald the call for award entries. The categories include recognition for everyone from developers, designers and estate agents to planning and land experts. All the funds raised from the evening will go to help disabled, disadvantaged and deserving children in Yorkshire. P

Duncan Syers, Chairman of the Yorkshire committee for Variety, says: “A lot of effort goes into the event and we have benefited from some very generous individuals and organisations and are are grateful for that.

“The Yorkshire Residential Property Awards is the sister event to the ever popular Yorkshire Property Awards, which celebrates the commercial sector. All of the money raised stays in our region and we actively feedback how these donations make a difference so that supporters can see how their generosity counts.”

Some of Variety’s funds are used to pay for Sunshine coaches, which are used by schools and organisations for children with special needs. They are also used to support one-off appeals for help and to buy wheelchairs.

Duncan Syers says: “A lot of people don’t realise that the NHS funds just one hand-push wheelchair. For many disabled children that is not good enough. Most of the chairs we buy cost between £3,000 to £5,000 but we have paid £15,000 to £20,000 to buy specialist chairs for those with the most complex needs. The effect that these wheelchairs have is remarkable. They help stop children being isolated and give them some independence. They are life changing.”

He adds: “The great thing about the Yorkshire Residential Property Awards is that they celebrate the industry and allow people to network. But it’s not just about congratulating each other, it’s about giving something back.”

Law firm Bond Dickinson is lead sponsor of the event. Paula Dillon, of Bond Dickinson, says “ We are absolutely delighted to support the Yorkshire Residential Property Awards once again. I have been an active supporter of Variety for many years and the last few years involvement with the event has been rewarding Bond Dickinson. This cause reflects our corporate values of committing resource as well as funds at a local level.

“Since resurrecting the event in 2015 we have had tremendous support from the industry, which has led to a move from the Queens Hotel in Leeds to the stunning Bowcliffe Hall in Bramham. This gives us more capacity to increase the number of tables and boost support for this worthy cause. It has been so rewarding to see how these funds benefit young children and we encourage the Yorkshire Residential community to get involved.”

*The Yorkshire Residential Property Awards 2017 are organised by Variety and are sponsored by Bond Dickinson; Yorkshire Post; Kier Living; Walker Morris; Carter Jonas; DS Emotion; Hampshire Trust Bank; Edward Architecture and Quod with support from French PR. There are more sponsorship opportunities available. The award categories are: Best Planning Practice; Best Innovation Project; House Builder of the Year; Best Large Development; Best Small Development; Best Estate Agency; Best Regeneration Project for Housing; Best Design Project; Best Land Agency; Property Personality of the Year and a new category for 2017, One to Watch - a young person who shows great potential and who has a passion for the market and an entrepreneurial spirit. Visit yorkshire residential property awards.co.uk. The deadline for entries is September 4.