The 2024 Bridging & Commercial (B&C) Awards, sponsored by West One took place on 6 June at the Hurlingham Club, with Spread a Smile delighted to be the official charity partner for the second year running.
It was an incredible event celebrating individuals and organisations across the specialist finance industry. The theme of Alice in Wonderland created a beautiful and engaging backdrop for proceedings.
During the awards, Paresh Raja, CEO of Market Financial Solutions (MFS), promised to match the donations made at the Awards, bringing the total raised for Spread a Smile to over £25,000.
Paresh Raja, CEO of MFS, said: “It’s so important that events like this, as well as celebrating the great and good of the industry, also support worthwhile causes and charities. The B&C Awards have consistently done that over the years, with Spread a Smile having been the partner of choice for the past two years. So, thanks go to the B&C team and, of course, to all those who donated on the night – it’s great that we’ve collectively manage to raise such a healthy sum for this wonderful charity. No doubt that money will further the amazing work everyone at Spread a Smile is doing.”
A huge thank you to Paresh and everyone involved in the awards and on the day for their support and kindness, helping us to bring joy and laughter to seriously ill and hospitalised children and their families during long hospital stays.
Lucy Jackson, Spread a Smile Chief Executive attended the awards saying, “An enormous thank you to the B&C Awards for having us back for a second year and to our partner and event sponsor, West One and to all those who bid on the silent auction and donated so generously. We are incredibly grateful to Paresh at MFS for his generosity. It was an incredible moment during the awards ceremony when he told me he’d be matching however much was raised on the day! All funds raised will support our work, spreading smiles to seriously ill children in hospital.”
In total, 750 guests attended, and 27 winners were announced in the bridging, commercial, development, and BTL mortgage markets. A special mention to our long-term supporter Danny Waters, CEO at Enra Specialist Finance who won the Outstanding Contribution Award. Read more about the Awards and winners here.