Vail Williams crowned Property Agency of the Year at South Coast Property Awards

Vail Williams has been named Property Agency of the Year at the South Coast Property Awards 2025 (12 June).

The black-tie gala evening at the Hilton Utilita Bowl, near Southampton, brought together professionals in the regional property industry – agents, developers, planners, consultants, property lawyers and housebuilders.

With 12 offices across the UK, including key locations on the South Coast at Southampton, Portsmouth, and Bournemouth, the industry accolade underlines Vail Williams’ position as a leading national property consultancy.

Russell Miller, Vail Williams’ Regional Managing Partner, said:

“To win the Property Agency of the Year award stands testament to the great work that the team does here on the South Coast for clients, day in, day out.

“Vail Williams not only transacts properties, the firm shapes the future of the commercial and residential property landscape while delivering exceptional client service, community impact, sustainable growth and innovation.”

Other property agencies shortlisted in the Property Agency of the Year category were PS&B, Henshaw Fox, Munro & Fox, Merriebank Lettings and Fox & Sons Estate Agents.

Judges at the 15-category awards, held by Insider Media/The Business Magazine, with construction company Amiri as headline sponsor, named Vail Williams the winner following a detailed submission of the firm’s achievements in the qualifying period from January to December 2024.

Of the office deals that happened on the South Coast last year, 82% of those in Portsmouth and Southampton were transacted by Vail Williams (offices), and for industrial deals this was 70%.

Since opening in Bournemouth in 2022, the firm has established a 50% market share in the Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch (BCP) conurbation across both offices and industrial sectors.

Last year the total value of letting deals acted on by Vail Williams on the South Coast exceeded £8.81m across more than 500,000 sq ft of office, industrial and retail space, spanning 92 deals.

They included:

• 52 industrial lettings spanning over 309,550 sq ft of premises with a total rent per annum of over £3.2m
• 35 office lettings spanning 241,000 sq ft of premises with a total rent per annum of over £5.3m
• 5 retail lettings spanning 10,738 sq ft worth over £206,000 per annum in rent, and a further 44,000 sq ft of retail assignments / lease re-gears / lease renewals.

The firm secured several leisure-based lettings for gyms and restaurants, spanning 48,000 sq ft of space let across four deals.

Vail Williams was responsible for the biggest deals in Bournemouth, Winchester, Portsmouth, Southampton and at Solent Business Park, Whiteley, in 2024.

Judges also read how the firm’ work from a residential, planning and development perspective has grown significantly, with involvement in several important developments across the South Coast.

They included:

• Securing planning permission for a £20m state-of-the-art EV bus depot at the former New Centre site in Portsmouth for FirstGroup.
• Completing a £30m residential disposal of an 800-house development at Horndean.
• Securing planning permission for 84 dwellings on land at the former St. Mary’s School, Southampton.
• Securing planning permission for the redevelopment of Cosham Fire Station, for a modern, purpose-built facility in Hampshire.

Judges were also impressed by Vail Williams’ role in the local economy and community through its support of local charities including the Canal & River Trust and Marine Conservation Society.

Supported by the business’ ½ day volunteering initiative, 54 volunteers gave up their time to charities in the region last year including work at Milford-on-Sea, New Forest.

Vail Williams raised £11,500 across six charities, including £3,275 for Sophie’s Legacy through bake sales, the coveted Tour de VW cycling challenge and the Challenge Adventure Charities cycle ride in France.

The firm also delivered pizzas to local hospitals and packed and delivered boxes of useful supplies for parents of children in hospitals across the South Coast.

Vail Williams also contributes positively to the commercial real estate industry on the South Coast through events, including spearheading of the bi-monthly Solent Property Professionals Networking breakfasts.

The firm also launched the BCP Professional Referrers Breakfasts, attracting 120-plus attendees from the professional services community, and is a founding member of the BCP Young Professionals networking events, and put forth multiple speakers at the

Vail Williams undertakes a lot of grassroots work at schools and colleges on the South Coast to promote property as a career – particularly to women and girls.

The firm also undertakes campaigns to support National Apprenticeship Week, Learning at Work Week, International Women’s Day and Volunteers Week.

When it comes to innovation, over the last 12 months Vail Williams has developed a Tenant Portal and Digital Property Management service to help clients manage their portfolios more efficiently.

The service is designed to bring property management into the 21st century, through digitally enabled services that bring property peace of mind to clients. The service is used by brands including National Express and will be launched to market imminently.

To improve service delivery, WhatsApp has been added to Vail Williams’ website, to enable clients and contacts to get in touch with key agents quickly and efficiently.

Wellbeing and development are a priority at Vail Williams, as reflected in its Gold Investors in People accreditation.

Initiatives include:

• Positive Health and Wellbeing Strategy, with a focus on mental health, financial wellbeing, and work-life balance.
• Trained Mental Health First Aiders and Personal Development Managers (PDMs) to support staff.
• Menopause Matters campaign, including awareness training and ‘first aid kits’ in every office.
• Comprehensive learning & development programs, including APC support, apprenticeships, and career mentoring.

The firm ensures access to training for all its people, including a learning and development philosophy that incorporates a culture of self-improvement alongside practical aids like free-to-use online courses and funded external training.

With several APC assessors amongst their ranks, Vail Williams is committed to using its own knowledge and experience to help others through mentoring, advice and interview support, as well as their own apprenticeship programme.

Over a third of people operate out of Vail Williams’ South Coast offices and there were four key appointments to the South Coast team in 2024 – in valuation, building consultancy, development and LPA Receivership.

The valuation team has grown over the last 12 months, cementing its position as one of the largest advisory teams in the region.

Vail Williams’ asset management team is also one of the largest regional teams by mandate across the South Coast.