The Association for Rental Living (ARL) has recognised three individuals for their significant contributions to the Build to Rent (BTR) sector, through the ARL People Awards 2024. Designed to celebrate excellence, quality, and best practice in BTR, the awards reflect one of the ARL’s key roles in representing the sector.
This year, the ARL People Awards focused on three categories, with winners announced at the ARL Annual BTR Conference, which took place in central London on 7th November 2024.
The first honour – the Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by Knight Frank – was presented in recognition of the winner’s long-standing contribution to the BTR sector. Nominees included Lesley Roberts of Monogram Living, Iain Murray at Bidwells and Russell Pedley from Assael Architects. All three represent the core values of the BTR sector and have consistently delivered outstanding contributions to its growth, as well as raising awareness and improving perceptions of the sector.
It was Lesley Roberts who scooped the win. Known and respected across the BTR sector and beyond, Lesley is an innovator, mentor and outstanding industry commentator. Over the past six years, she has given unstinting service and commitment to the UKAA throughout its creation and evolution, and its subsequent transformation to the ARL, serving as President and Chair. Her work has laid the foundations for ARL’s growth, both in scale of activity and influence on behalf of the BTR sector.
The Rising Star Award, sponsored by FleetMilne, looked at individuals at an earlier stage in their careers, who show great promise and outstanding development in the BTR sector. Again, representing the sector’s core values was crucial, as was demonstrating drive and initiative in improving the quality of BTR delivery. The talented shortlist included Chrisanne Hart at Vertus, Chloe Sachikonye from Yardi and Chloe Factor at LGIM.
Winner Chloe Factor has made the move from consultancy to her asset management role at LGIM brilliantly. She has adeptly overseen a large portfolio of assets at a time when inflation and disruption in the delivery supply chain have presented significant challenges, serving as an excellent example to a growing sector.
The final accolade – the Industry Shaper Award, sponsored by Related Argent – was in recognition of an individual who has been hugely influential in creating change that has impacted the entire BTR sector. Alex Gooch of Inventory Hive, Ben Hall from LOFT and Robin Blacklock at Downbrae Real Estate were all nominated for creating significant change and altering external stakeholders’ perception of the sector, with LOFT’s Ben Hall taking the win.
Having been inspired by the quality of student accommodation while studying in the US in the early 2000s, Ben set out to elevate the standard of student living in the UK. Today, his interior design business, LOFT, has furnished tens of thousands of BTR and residential homes across the country. Ben’s focus is on helping the sector maximise value by providing interior design and furniture solutions that benefit people and the planet. He has worked closely with the sector to influence and create change for over two decades, with LOFT recently celebrating its 21st birthday.
“The ARL People Awards highlight the breadth of talent supporting the growth and evolution of the BTR sector. 2024 saw a particularly outstanding lineup of nominees. Hearty congratulations to all those who were nominated and, of course, to the three exceptional and deserving winners.”
Brendan Geraghty, CEO, ARL
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