Eamon Fox, David Hidderley and Richard Thornton outside No 1 Whitehall Riverside

Member Article

Knight Frank shortlisted for major property marketing award

The Leeds office of global property consultancy Knight Frank has been shortlisted for a prestigious national property marketing award.

Knight Frank’s work on No I Whitehall Riverside in Leeds for NFU Mutual is one of three campaigns which has been named in Regional Offices category in the 2015 Property Marketing awards.

Now in their 23rd year, these awards are organised by the Worshipful Company of Chartered Surveyors and Estates Gazette, and highlight the most creative industry campaigns.

The head judge Kevin Duncan, a business adviser and best-selling author, said: “Stand-out entrants showed smart thinking and proof their campaigns worked.”

The winners will be announced at a glittering ceremony on the evening of June 25 at 30 Euston Square, London, hosted by broadcaster and business correspondent Steph McGovern.

Eamon Fox, partner and head of office agency at Knight Frank, commented: “This is a great honour for us and we are delighted to be recognised in this way. We were only appointed to market the No 1 Whitehall Riverside office development at the beginning of this year.

“Our appointment came hard on the heels of a £150,000 reception refurbishment by owners NFU Mutual, which was followed by high-profile lettings of 8,160 sq ft to Swedish bank Handelsbanken and 17,159 sq ft to the professional services provider FDM at the headline rent of £26 per sq ft.

Mr Fox added: “This was a very prestigious appointment for Knight Frank, marketing what is, arguably, the finest office building in the city. The fact that rents of £26 per sq ft - the highest in the Leeds - have been achieved underlines the sheer quality and pulling power of the building. It has an enviable combination of low running costs, high-calibre occupiers and superb office space.

“Recent lettings and lease extensions, including the ground floor café The Riverside, demonstrate that this splendid building continues to meet the highest expectations of its occupiers,” he added.

David Hidderley of NFU Mutual commented: “We are delighted that the Whitehall Leeds marketing campaign has been recognised in this prestigious shortlist. It was essential when launching the best floorplates to the Leeds market that the marketing could clearly demonstrate to occupiers the quality of the refurbishment, location and building environment. Achieving 10-year term lettings to FDM and Handlesbanken is a testament the quality of the building and the business strategy put in place.”.

Knight Frank’s marketing campaign was supported by Leeds-based design consultancy DS Emotion, PropView TV, niche public relations consultancy Robert Beaumont Associates of Boroughbridge, near York, which specialises in commercial property and joint agent Jones Lang LaSalle.

Other occupiers at No 1 Whitehall Riverside include: Grant Thornton, Arcadis, Straight, BNY Mellon, Michael Page International and Mackenzie Stuart.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Robert Beaumont .

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