A spectacular awards ceremony celebrating Hertfordshire's property sector has raised a phenomenal £89,000 for local NHS hospitals. The event, organised by East and North Hertfordshire Hospitals' Charity, was held at the Tewinbury Hotel for its second year.
A Night of Glamour and Giving
The glittering fundraising gala, sponsored by land agency Walter Cooper, was hosted by talkSPORT presenter Shebahn Aherne. It attracted over 300 guests from the county's property industry, alongside special guest Dr Sally Burton, the Deputy Lieutenant of Hertfordshire.
The money raised will fund projects beyond standard NHS provisions, offering enhanced support for patients, their families, and staff at the four hospitals within the East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust. These are Lister Hospital, Hertford County Hospital, New QEII Hospital, and Mount Vernon Cancer Centre.
Celebrating Property Excellence
A panel of expert judges, led by television presenter and architect Damion Burrows RIBA ARB, carefully selected the award winners. The categories celebrated the best in the property development field, including:
- Small, Medium, and Large Developers of the Year
- Consultancy of the Year
- Strategic Land Promoter of the Year
- Development Site of the Year
England Rugby World Cup Winner Rosie Galligan presented the Property Person of the Year Award to Mark Johnson, who accepted it on behalf of the winner, James Craig.
A Lifetime of Achievement Honoured
The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to Andy Hill of The Hill Group. Deputy Lieutenant Dr Sally Burton presented the award, recognising Hill's outstanding contribution to both the public and private housebuilding sectors.
Simon Cox, Managing Director of Walter Cooper, paid tribute to Hill, stating, "Andy has an outstanding reputation in the housebuilding sector and is a pioneer in developing public and private sector partnerships." He highlighted Hill's OBE in the 2023 King's Honours for his work in affordable housing and his role as a major employer in Hertfordshire.
The event also featured a moving speech from Lizzie Franklin-Jones, a divisional director of nursing at the Trust. She shared her personal experience of giving birth to her son at 28 weeks at Lister Hospital, which inspired her to work with the charity to improve patient care.
Shauna Gooding, philanthropy and event manager at the charity, said, "It was such an amazing evening... We celebrated the best of the Hertfordshire property industry and also raised an incredible amount to support our wonderful NHS."
The full list of winners:
- Small Developer of the Year – Laxton Properties
- Medium Developer of the Year – Oakford Homes
- Large Developer of the Year – Barratt Redrow
- Consultancy of the Year – Prime Plots
- Strategic Land Promoter of the Year – Griggs Homes
- Development Site of the Year – Old Rectory Farm, Laxton Properties
- Property Person of the Year – James Craig
- Lifetime Achievement Award – Andy Hill
