Local estate agency Allen & Harris in Swindon is celebrating after picking up an award at the annual Estate Agency of the Year Awards, held in association with The Sunday Times and The Times. Allen & Harris’s parent company Sequence is part of the award winning Connells Group who picked up Gold in the National Estate Agency of the Year category. The winners were presented with their award by celebrated film and TV actor and Spandau Ballet bassist Martin Kemp, with renowned journalist, author and newsreader Penny Smith acting as compere.

The award judges’ report said that Connells Group is "respected in the industry.... and a great all-round company operating to a successful formula but always with one eye on innovation". The Group's commitment to its people was also highlighted with the judges commenting that "the board empowers their team.... offering a defined career path and rewards to retain the best people - they enjoy unrivalled retention." Excellence for customers was also congratulated with mystery shopping results deemed "excellent" and the "level of service offered great...aided by the contact centre and software". The panel was also "impressed with the number of new branches opening on the high street."

"We are very proud to have been awarded Gold and to be recognised as part of the number one estate agency group in the UK," says Alan Guilford Partner at Allen & Harris "This accolade confirms our position as market leader and is testament to the dedication and hard work of our staff who constantly strive to provide an outstanding customer service and who ensure our success."

Award winners were decided following a rigorous and thorough judging process by a panel of industry experts who assessed initial entry submissions before conducting an extensive review of the entrants, which included telephone interviews and mystery shopping exercises. The whole of the judging process was overseen by The Property Ombudsman, Katrina Sporle, as Chairperson of Judges, alongside David Mackie, President of the NAEA who acted as Arbiter. Now in its thirteenth year as a dedicated competition, these awards have become widely recognised as the most prestigious and difficult to win.

This award follows Connells Group's success at the Lettings Agency of the Year Awards, held in association with The Sunday Times and The Times in June, picking up Gold in the National Lettings Agency of the Year category.