About the award:
Launched in 2019, this award is open to all AREF Fund Members.
Criteria:
The Outstanding Fund Achievement Award, exclusively open to AREF Funds, sets a high standard of excellence within the industry. Entrants are required to submit a compelling entry, in no more than 1000 words about why their Fund is Outstanding.
The following criteria will be used for scoring purposes, therefore we recommend your submission includes information on as many of these as possible:
- Emphasis on NZC (Net Zero Carbon) while adopting a pragmatic and integrated approach to associated risks: Demonstrating a deep understanding of the significance of NZC considerations and how this impacts a fund’s investment strategy, with a consideration on long-term valuations. Addressing material risks in an integrated manner to the fund, such as retrofitting, development, and nature risks, with a balanced and proactive risk management strategy.
- ‘Just transition’ considerations: Highlighting the evolving importance of social impact factors and the fund's commitment to making positive contributions in this area, such as through apprenticeships.
- Treatment of investors: Illustrating a commitment to transparency, fairness, and responsiveness in dealings with investors, fostering trust and long-term partnerships. How has the fund embraced transformational distribution ethically and securely and how do you present performance metrics relative to benchmarks and industry standards.
- Engagement within the industry: Demonstrating active involvement and collaboration within the AREF community and broader industry to foster knowledge sharing and best practices.
Winner 2024:
Winner: Thriving Investments - The Mid Market Rent (New Avenue Living) Fund
William Kyle of Thriving Investments collecting the award
Judging Panel Comments: For yet another year, the Judging Committee for the AREF Outstanding Fund Achievement Award were placed in a fantastic position in reviewing responses from the fund community. In our opinion Thriving Investments stood out for a number of reasons, with the most interesting point being the nature of how they embraced the 'Just Transition' in a practical way with excellent case studies of leveraging apprenticeships that enable local people to upskill and in also building first class green homes, providing long term benefits to those communities. We recommend that this approach be shared within the investor community to demonstrate how progress can be made and integrated into investment decision making from the start. Particularly important for the real estate sector to ensure a long term future in the investments market through adopting Just Transition principles.
Those shortlisted included:
- Aviva Investors - The Lime Property Fund
- Royal London Asset Management - The Royal London UK Real Estate Fund (RLUKREF)
- Swiss Life Asset Managers - The Property Income Trust for Charities
How to apply:
The deadline for 2024 has now passed.
Deadline:
The deadline for 2024 has now passed.
The winning entry:
The winner will be announced at The AREF Annual Dinner in September (link to event). The fund manager of the winning submission will also be invited to take part in a 15 minute recorded interview with one of the judges. This interview will be distributed to AREF members, including our investor members, via various platforms including the AREF website, in the AREF Newsletter, on AREF's social media platforms and via email. The winner will receive a winners logo to use in the marketing of their Fund.
The judging panel:
This award is being judged by a panel of AREF committee members:
- Jonathan Hale, Knight Frank - Chair
- Naomi Green, Schroders
- Dugal Hunt, CBRE
- Oliver Light, Accenture
- Robert Boag, Independent Consultant
Terms & conditions:
- Open to AREF Fund Members only (see list of fund members here).
- Papers can be submitted in any format (PDF/Word/Web).
- Up to three pieces of supporting material can be submitted to accompany your submission.
- Submissions should be under 1000 words.
- Submissions will be treated confidentially.
- The deadline for the submission to be sent to us is (this has now finished for this year)
Previous winners:
2023: Patrizia Hanover Property Unit Trust
2022: Patrizia Hanover Property Unit Trust
2021: Patrizia Hanover Property Unit Trust
2020: UBS Triton Property Fund LP
2019: UBS Triton Property Fund LP
Enquiries:
For any enquiries relating to any of the awards, please contact Clare at [email protected].