Over 550 property professionals raise £400,000 at Norwood's Property Lunch.
More than 550 Property Industry professionals attended Norwood’s ninth annual Property Lunch on Friday 6 June at the Intercontinental, Park Lane, helping to raise £400,000. The Lunch, one of the highlights of the industry calendar, was sponsored by AXA, Bank of Ireland and Derwent London, with Property Week once again the Media Partner. As well as supporting Norwood, the leading UK Jewish charity supporting people with learning disabilities or social difficulties, the audience came to hear Giles Barrie of Property Week in conversation with Michael Eric Slade, Chief Executive of Helical Bar PLC, Nicholas Candy, Chief Executive Officer, Candy and Candy, and Nick Robinson, Managing Director of Real Estate, Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS).
This year’s Lunch featured the inaugural Norwood Property Awards, presented by Giles Barrie, of Property Week. Gerald Ronson, of Heron International, received a Lifetime Achievement award, sponsored by Earlcrown Ltd. He said: “I am honoured to be the first recipient of this award in recognition of my achievements in the industry and it is not something that I take lightly. This award may imply that I am nearing the end of my career, but I’m not planning to go anywhere for a while – there are plenty more deals to be done! Nick Leslau, of Prestbury Holdings Ltd, was named Personality of the Year, sponsored by Knight Frank. Philanthropist of the Year went to Leo Noe, who was not able to attend the ceremony, and Deal of the Year went to John Burns, MD of Derwent London, who presided over the £1 billion plus merger between Derwent Valley Holdings Plc and London Merchant Securities Plc.
Guests were shown a moving appeal film about Norwood’s Employment Service, which seeks out job opportunities for adults with a learning disability and prepares them to enter a work environment. The film focused on two Norwood service users who have successfully found jobs, and demonstrated the huge difference this has made to their lives. Naomi, one of the Norwood service users featured in the film, made the fundraising appeal, to enable several more service users to be supported into the workplace. She was joined by David Goldstone, Director of Osprey Clarke, who is a volunteer consultant supporting Norwood’s Employment Service.
Norma Brier, Norwood Chief Executive, said: “Norwood greatly appreciates the longstanding support it has received from members of the property industry. The Norwood Property Lunch always brings together a diverse group who feel a shared sense of social responsibility and commitment to our work supporting people living with disability and coping with social difficulties.”
Michael Goldstein, Co-Chair of Norwood’s Property Committee, said: “It has been another fantastic event and we are delighted with the amount raised, which will help Norwood to support vulnerable children and families in our community. I would like to thank our guest speakers Michael Slade, Nicholas Candy and Nick Robinson, our sponsors Axa, Bank of Ireland and Derwent London as well as Property Week our media partner.”
For further information, photos and interviews, please contact Michael Siva, Public Relations Officer at Norwood, on 020 8420 6900 or email michael.siva@norwood.org.uk
