PMA marks 40 years with soirée
The Property Managers Association is marking its 40th anniversary this year with a soirée for members and guests.
Simon Williets, president of the retail group, said: “Reaching this anniversary is a tribute to the huge number of retail property specialists who have supported the PMA over the decades.”
The event will be held in the West End with more than 400 people from more than 100 retail companies expected.
www.propertymanagersassociation.com.
Meadowhall’s heartfelt gesture
British Land’s Yorkshire retail spot Meadowhall was furnished with 12 giant heart sculptures last week.
The hearts, made by arts and education company Wild in Art, were decorated by professional artists to reflect the local community and mark the 25th anniversary of the precinct. Each sculpture represents a community group or organisation connected with the centre.
At the end of October some of the sculptures will be auctioned for charity.
All in a day’s work for C&W
A 14-strong peloton from Cushman & Wakefield’s valuation & advisory team took a 24-hour cycling challenge right down to the wire, fulfilling the challenge to the minute.
The mammoth 160-mile ride on 19 August took them from the agent’s Portman Square, W1, office to Paris. After some confusion on the streets of the French capital, the team arrived at the firm’s Paris office exactly 24 hours after leaving – and in high spirits.
The team raised £6,300 for the London-based XLP charity, which runs programmes from double-decker buses for disadvantaged youth.
Top up the team’s fundraising efforts here.
Going regal helps Bilfinger GVA to princely sum
Bilfinger GVA’s offices across the UK were awash with staff in the colour purple earlier this month. But it wasn’t a mass wardrobe malfunction.
They were raising money for the charity Together for Short Lives, and, with match funding from the company, managed to raise £11,700.
Cake sales, a silent auction and best photo competition were part of the fun.
Rugby legend starts it off in Edinburgh
Scottish rugby legend Gavin Hastings gave the starters orders at a 5km charity run organised by Aberdeen Asset Management.
The 250 runners were property professionals from towns and cities all over the UK, some donning fancy dress as they made tracks for Holyrood Park, in Edinburgh, last week.
The event marked the launch of rugby charity Wooden Spoon, which helps disadvantaged and disabled in the UK.
Above, organisers Laura Hughes and Elaine McCann flank former Scottish rugby player Gavin Hastings as he starts the run.
Volunteers create veteran-friendly street in Manchester
Vacant property service provider VPS has helped transform an entire street in Manchester into a community for army veterans.
The company was one of more than 150 firms and tradespeople involved in the makeover project undertaken by the BBC programme DIY SOS.
As well as specially adapted homes there will be a walk-in support centre, where charity Walking With The Wounded will offer therapy, counselling, training and employment opportunities.
Manchester city council, Haig Housing and Adactus Housing are also helping with the project in Newton Heath.
The programme will be screened in October.
Thinking globally
Estates Gazette will host its third Global Real Estate Debate at Expo Real in Munich on 7 October. The debate, held in association with Bilfinger GVA, will ask the question: “How can Europe stay ahead of the US and Asia?” A top-flight panel, including BlackRock’s Thomas Mueller, Simon Marrison of LaSalle Investment Management and Neil Dovey of Bilfinger GVA, will bring key European markets into focus.
There will also be a focus on the UK and its regions in a seminar on 6 October, in conjunction with the British Property Federation and Bilfinger GVA. Manchester city council’s Sir Howard Bernstein, BPF president Chris Taylor, Mark Rawstron of Bilfinger GVA and Paul Marsh from the Regeneration Investment Organisation will argue the UK’s investment credentials to a European audience.
Cricket and banter not out in Lincoln
For a ninth year, cricket and banter proved a winning combination as surveyors, solicitors, accountants and builders pitched up to the Banks Long & Co/ Lindum Group Cricket tournament, held at the Lindum Sports Association, Lincoln.
Players swapped cricket whites for brightly coloured polo shirts and fuelled themselves at the barbecue and bar to make it through the knockout stages.
In the final, Gregory’s Gannets, captained by Lindum Construction managing director Simon Gregory, beat Butch’s Barnacles, led by Banks Long & Co director James Butcher. The “champagne moment” went to Chris Callaghan from Kingswater Lindum for a one-handed catch on the boundary.
Calendar of events
Allsop Festival of Cycling
When: 15 September, 7.30am-5.15pm
Where: Brands Hatch Circuit, Fawkham, Kent
What: Property’s cycling fans take over the legendary race circuit for a variety of events, including Brompton and City bike races, endurance, team and individual challenges. You can even hire your own pit lane garage. £300 for a team of four, with proceeds to LandAid. www.allsop.co.uk/allsop-festival-of-cycling
Commercial real estate tech symposium
When: 16 September
Where: Central London
What: This symposium gives industry professionals and innovators a forum to discuss property tech. Supported by EG, speakers include Mary Criebardis of PiLabs. Tickets £80. www.cretechintersect.com/Europe
The London Towerathlon
When: 18 September
Where: Broadgate Tower, 201 Bishopsgate, EC2
What: Pull together your team of three to face a static cycle, a stair climb and an abseil down the iconic City tower for LandAid. The challenge is being organised in conjunction with the Worshipful Company of Chartered Surveyors.
www.landaid.org/towerathlon. Updates: #LDNTowerathlon.
Property Prokart Challenge
When: 24-25 September
Where: Daytona, Milton Keynes
What: The adrenaline-fuelled go-karting challenge comprises a practice day before the eight-hour team endurance race the next day, and a networking dinner in between.
Construction Rocks
When: 24 September
Where: Scala, 275 Pentonville Road, N1
What: Prepare to be blown away by the sheer level of musical talent. All proceeds to LandAid. constructionrocks.com
Edinburgh Question Time
When: 1 October, 5.30pm-9.30pm
Where: 42 St Andrew Square
What: Places will fill fast for this debate, held in the neo-classical former HQ of the Royal Bank of Scotland. Panellists include Scottish Property Federation vice chairman Chris Stewart. Free. www.estatesgazette.com/questiontime
The Great Property Pub Quiz
When: 15 October, 7pm
Where: The Phoenix, 37 Cavendish Square, W1G
What: Play out your industry rivalries in the pub and stun colleagues with your encyclopaedic knowledge of a variety of subjects. Teams are of six and proceeds go to LandAid. Register your team via matthew.allen@cluttons.com
Just Rifles annual dinner dance
When: 29 October, 6.30pm-1am
Where: the Brewery, 52 Chiswell Street, EC1
What: An evening that supports injured servicemen and women from the war in Afghanistan, along with their families. £1,950 for a table of 10. See www.justrifles.co.uk/dinner-dance-2015 for more information
