Norwood celebrated emerging young talent within the property industry as it hosted the inaugural YN Property Awards Dinner, which raised £57,000. More than 320 young property professionals attended last Thursday’s fundraiser at the Hilton London Metropole, which was generously sponsored by Derwent London.
The YN Property event is now in its fifth year but this the first time it has incorporated the YN Property Awards, as follows:
• Shamik Narotam, of Morgan Stanley, for Young Deal of the Year. This award was sponsored by Investec Specialist Private Bank.
• Shaun Simons, Ricky Blair, Michael Raibin and Richard Silver, of Hatton Real Estate, for Young Agency of the Year. This award was sponsored by Knight Frank.
• Ryan Springer, of Franc-Warwick, for Young Property Professional of the Year. This award was sponsored by BNP Paribas.
Speaking afterwards, Ryan Springer said: “It is an honour to win this award as there are many good young professionals in the property industry. Since I started working in the industry some 12 years ago, I have always worked hard to operate in a professional manor, and it is a great feeling to be recognised for this by my fellow professionals.”
Shaun Simons, of Hatton Real Estate, added: “To have won this award within our first year is a huge honour. We have worked incredibly hard since our launch last July and to receive recognition in this way is really amazing. We would like to thank Norwood and the judging committee.”
The dinner provided a great opportunity for YN supporters to network while raising vital funds for Norwood’s life-changing work with people with learning disabilities, and children and families in need. The event also featured a panel discussion during which industry experts Stephen Conway, of Galliard Homes, Ezra Nahome, of Lambert Smith Hampton, and Gary Dobson, of Investec, shared their views with moderator Giles Barrie, Editor of Property Week.
The panel discussed a wide range of topics, including the state of the property industry, the enduring impact of the banking crisis, the peculiarity of the London market, and their career highs and lows. Stephen Conway revealed that his personal career low was his arrest in 1964 for ‘stagging’, the practice of buying numerous shares using false identities to sell quickly for a profit.
The Galliard Homes boss, who had bought British Telecom shares via aliases including Mickey Mouse, said: “In the end they fined me £22,000 but allowed me to keep the profits, which was 10 times that amount, and I’ve never been arrested since.”
Meanwhile, Ezra Nahome, sharing advice to the young audience, said firms like his are on the look out for employees with a skills set that may extend beyond the property industry who show a real passion and flair for communication. He also joked: “Don’t wear an earring when you come to a job interview.
Daniel Sandford, YN Fundraiser, said: “The success of Thursday’s event and the staggering generosity of our guests shows that YN Property is going from strength to strength. I would like to thank our sponsor Derwent London, the Hilton London Metropole, our award sponsors, and our guest speakers Stephen Conway, Ezra Nahome, Gary Dobson, and Giles Barrie, for providing such a thought-provoking discussion.
“I would also like to thank the YN Property Committee for helping to make the event such a great success, and all our guests for their overwhelming support, which will help Norwood to continue to provide life-changing services on which so many people with learning disabilities, and children and families in need, rely.”
