If the team at Elevate PR were to be asked what our favourite season is, we would all certainly answer “awards season”. Despite a tough year, we thoroughly enjoyed celebrating the annual Property Press Awards this week. These particular awards are a staple of the property media calendar and form a roll call of the “great and good” of the Homes pages in the UK press.

For the first time in its history, the Property Press Awards were held online. However, it was no less uplifting and positive – thanks to its host Phil Spencer and Editor of Property for Media, Henry Hemming. Across all 15 awards categories, we were pleased to see many of our closest allies - and many whom we consider to be colleagues and compadres - credited for their knowledge, insight, creativity and powerful prose.

In a year when the property world has felt like a rollercoaster ride, we have enjoyed working side by side with some of the finest journalists, on what would have been considered unimaginable stories this time last year. From the surge in pent-up demand after Lockdown 1 in some of the UK’s golden postcodes, the fresh opportunities for first time buyers being gifted a hefty discount on stamp duty and the dreams of escapism to a rural retreat, we work hand-in-glove with many of the award winners to give their readers informed and and illuminating news from our clients. Added to this, there’s been the almost-daily changing fortunes of the economy reacting to a highly volatile news agenda. So it stands to reason that taking a moment to reflect on the year and the efforts made by our industry’s best talent, is a worthwhile endeavour.

For Elevate PR personally, we were especially pleased to sponsor the prestigious category of Property Freelance Journalist of the Year. The worthy winner was Ruth Bloomfield whom the team at Elevate PR regularly collaborates with for a number of publications such as the Telegraph, Luxury London, the Evening Standard Homes & Property, The London Magazine and the Financial Times.

The biggest individual winner on the night was Hugh Graham who scooped three awards this year. Hugh took the top spot for Property Journalist of the Year 2020, as well as International Property Journalist of the Year and Lifestyle and Interiors Journalist of the Year. We work regularly with Hugh who is known for his topical features. Whether writing about Belgravia in London, off the back of a new TV drama or the falling cost of renting in Manhattan, Hugh is always keen to get expert opinion, supported by compelling and often exclusive data. It continued to be a strong night for the News International editorial team, with Melissa York winning both Property Staff Journalist of the Year and Property Columnist of the Year. At the start of 2020, The Times and Sunday Times editorial team merged into one team, but they have clearly found their groove, reflected by the five awards their team won collectively. The team at News International continue to set a high bar, often only using exclusive stories and images, making it ones of the most respected UK national media titles.

We were equally delighted to see Melissa Lawford of the Telegraph win Newcomer of the Year. The Elevate PR team particularly enjoy working with Melissa due to her straightforward style, great grasp of a news hook and her creative flair. She’s always on the hunt for a great case study and new data.

Other accolades of note was the category of Property Supplement of the Year, won by Evening Standard Homes & Property. It’s editor Prudence Ivey said: “2020 has been a gruesome year but this award is a real bright spot. It’s a wonderful recognition of the work of a brilliant team, helmed by my inspirational predecessor Janice Morley.” And Regional Journalist of the Year went to Lizzie Murphy of the Yorkshire Post, who in her role as Business Editor, demonstrates the ongoing closer merging of editorial content between the Homes pages and the personal finance sections of the media.

Despite missing the opportunity to get dressed up and share a glass of fizz with friends, it was no less rewarding to appreciate the fast-paced world that the property media inhabits, as a bellwether for so many aspects of our lives.